Code for America is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Service Year Alliance on the Service+Tech initiative. Service+Tech provides free professional development to active service year corps members and alums. The term “service year” refers to a paid opportunity to develop real-world skills through hands-on service. Service year organizations include AmeriCorps, City Year, FoodCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Teach for America, and so many more. To help facilitate this, we’re leveraging the expertise of our network — where we’ve accumulated eight years of experience in navigating the nuances of civic tech — to provide inspiration and leadership. We’re also opening ourBrigade doors to the 60k+ active service year corps members, plus alumni. At the time of this writing, we have 77 Brigade locations across the US where service year corps members and alums can get involved and be supported.
Service+Tech is an opportunity for service year corps members and alumni to develop essential technology skills, discover pathways into tech careers, and leverage technology to solve society’s most pressing challenges. The initiative gives participants access to programming — from speaker series to career fairs — that connects them with opportunities to utilize technology-centered approaches to solving America’s most pressing problems. Crucially, it also expands who can see themselves in tech, and recruits groups historically underrepresented in the technology sector. Learn more at ServicePlusTech.org
One way Code for America will be contributing to the Service+Tech initiative is through a new network speaker series. The series kicks off in January with a panel of service year alums currently working at Google, Amazon, and Facebook, who will share stories of working in both service and tech, and provide advice for others interested in following their path. The series will continue on a biweekly basis where we, along with partners such as LinkedIn, will share insights and opportunities to get engaged in the tech community. Participants will be exposed to tech training opportunities in a variety of formats, ranging from technology-focused boot camps to postgraduate-level training.
Additionally, Code for America Brigades are a fantastic place for new and aspiring technologists to gain exposure to civic tech opportunities. Our volunteer chapters are filled with service-minded folks with a wide variety of digital skills who often work in and around local government. Brigade members meet regularly to volunteer their time while meeting people with the skills and connections that allow them to leverage tech skills for good.
We’re excited about this partnership due to the natural synergy with our Talent Initiative , as we continue to work on building and diversifying the talent pool of public interest technologists. Find a Brigade near you and check out our Public Interest Tech Job Board for current opportunities within local government.