
What we’re about
Code for the Carolinas is a community of people working together as civic tech volunteers to improve wellbeing in North and South Carolina. We are an online-first hybrid organization.
Projects: We work with community organizations, nonprofits, and government to improve public services and leverage open data to improve knowledge, transparency, and accountability. Current projects relate to housing, pedestrian accessibility, affordable broadband, and open government.
Partnerships: We use technology and people power to support the work of non-profit and community organizations that improve the wellbeing of underserved and marginalized communities in the Carolinas. Our projects center the needs of our partner organizations and accountability to our communities. As we collaborate, our team of volunteer civic technologists transfers knowledge to allow partner organizations to successfully take over ongoing operations. We build with–not for–our partners, who then sustain the innovations we co-create. Recent partners include the National Zoning Atlas, Sunshine Labs, and the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology.
Inclusive Approach to Technical Skills. There are plenty of opportunities to use your skills! Even if you are new to tech, or see yourself as more of a communicator, designer, or organizer, there will be opportunities for you to contribute. We welcome all skill levels and types - no coding or government experience is necessary. So come by and become part of a movement to improve our states!
Contact info: Join this Meetup group to stay informed about upcoming events!
For more info:
website: codeforthecarolinas.org
Join our Slack Workspace.
email: info@codeforthecarolinas.org
Code of Conduct: All events follow the Open Collective Community Principles as a code of conduct, with Meetup leadership team members Jennifer Miller, Matthew Mitchell, and Pamela Wood Browne as first point of contact. Open Collective can also be contacted here and will address concerns following this process.
History and Connections: Our organization's history dates back to at least 2015 and precedes our membership (~2017 to 2023) in the Code for America (CfA) Brigade Network, which CfA disbanded June 30, 2023. We look forward to continuing the work of civic technology in the Carolinas as an organization fiscally sponsored by Open Collective, made up of the combined memberships of the former Brigades Code for the Carolinas, Code for Greensboro, and Code for Greenville (SC). If you are in the Asheville, NC area, we encourage you to join Code with Asheville, who meet monthly to continue their strong tradition of local community civic tech. If you are in Durham, you can stay up to date with Code with Durham here.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Civic Hacking for Affordable HousingLink visible for attendees
Join volunteers at Code for the Carolinas as we help the National Zoning Atlas (NZA) team include North Carolina and South Carolina in their nationwide zoning atlas. "The National Zoning Atlas aims to depict key aspects of zoning codes in an online, user-friendly map." The Atlas aims to provide data for better solutions in transportation, environmental, and especially affordable housing policy.
This is a multi-dimensional project grounded in data science with an end-goal of contributing to a nationally influential dataset. Our current work session activities focus on internet search and integrating data from multiple sources. The project as a whole has occasional opportunities for U/X and outreach and opportunities to learn about machine learning and natural language processing through the work of the NZA team. Volunteering on this project will provide excellent exposure to the foundations of civic data science, with a focus on GIS data.
Even if you're new to this project and/or civic tech volunteering, you're welcome to join the meeting. Visitors are always welcome and no technical skills are needed. You can learn more about the project on our Slack Workspace in the #project-zoning-atlas channel.
Meetings start with brief introductions. New volunteers are offered a personal orientation, often in a breakout room, while experienced volunteers get right to work. By the end of the session, both groups of volunteers are working together. We also contribute to the project through asynchronous work and informal work sessions.
Meetings are on the Jitsi platform and the link is provided before each meeting. If you will be joining on mobile, install the Jitsi app in advance https://jitsi.org/downloads/ .
Learn more at codeforthecarolinas.org or reach out to info@codeforthecarolinas.orgMeetings follow the Open Collective Community Guidelines as a Code of Conduct.
- Civic Tech Volunteer Coffee Break (online, drop-in)Link visible for attendees
Are you curious about civic tech volunteering? Drop in for a few minutes or the full hour to learn about civic tech and how we make a difference in our communities.
Learn about our current projects and our online-first hybrid model making this movement available to all communities the Carolinas. Our current projects relate to housing, pedestrian accessibility, affordable broadband, and open government.
If you are involved with a non-profit or community organization, you're also welcome to stop by to discuss partnership opportunities with our civic tech volunteers.
Visitors are always welcome and no technical skills are needed.
Meetings are on the Jitsi platform and the link is provided before each meeting. If you will be joining on mobile, install the Jitsi app in advance https://jitsi.org/downloads/Learn more at codeforthecarolinas.org , join our Slack workspace, or reach out to info@codeforthecarolinas.org
Meetings and all of our online spaces adopt the Open Collective Community Guidelines as a Code of Conduct.
- Open Sidewalks Work Session / "Remote Mapping Party"Link visible for attendees
Join other civic tech volunteers from across the Carolinas for a Remote Mapping Party for our Open Sidewalks project. At these bi-weekly sessions, Code for the Carolinas volunteers work together to complete our project of mapping pedestrian access features in Downtown Raleigh. The area we are mapping is an important hub for public transit, state government, and recreation.
This project is a partnership with the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology at the University of Washington. The project involves using aerial imagery to code maps and metadata about features that make streets accessible to pedestrians--especially features that are important for pedestrians who face barriers to mobility and use wheelchairs or walkers.
Even if you're new to this project and/or civic tech volunteering, you're welcome to join the meeting. Visitors are always welcome and no technical skills are needed. You can find information about the project, including orientation videos from the Taskar Center, in our Slack Workspace in the #project-open-sidewalks channel. You can also learn more at codeforthecarolinas.org or reach out to info@codeforthecarolinas.org
Meetings are on the Jitsi platform and the link is provided before each meeting. If you will be joining on mobile, install the Jitsi app in advance https://jitsi.org/downloads/ .
Meetings follow the Open Collective Community Guidelines as a Code of Conduct.
- Welcome to Our Civic Tech Volunteer Meeting!Link visible for attendees
Code for the Carolinas is a community of people working together as civic tech volunteers to improve wellbeing in North and South Carolina, and we invite you to join us for our biweekly online meetings!
Our meetings start with introductions, updates on old and new business, and status reports on current projects, emphasizing how you can get involved. All are welcome and no technical skills are needed.Typical Agenda
Introductions
Organizational Updates
Project updates- Active projects, like Zoning Atlas and Open Sidewalks
- Proposal development, like Affordable Connectivity Program
Meetings are on the Jitsi platform and the link is provided before each meeting. If you will be joining on mobile, install the Jitsi app in advance https://jitsi.org/downloads/ If you joined on mobile and your audio isn't working, it might be because you joined through a browser and not through the app.
Learn more at codeforthecarolinas.org, join our Slack, or reach out to info@codeforthecarolinas.org
Meetings follow the Open Collective Community Guidelines as a Code of Conduct.