The Code for America Brigade Network can stay informed about local Brigade projects and updates by subscribing to the weekly newsletter ‘This Week in Civic Tech.’ The newsletter is also a fun way to highlight successes, keep members engaged, and inspire more people to contribute to Code for America’s mission.

Starting a Brigade chapter is no easy task. Brigade leaders must juggle everything from finding a good venue for regular in-person meetings to cultivating a local civic tech community to identifying projects that will improve local residents’ lives. Code for America provides resources to Brigade leaders to cover these important topics and many others, such as creating a safe space for attendees via a Code of Conduct.

Each month, a set of four or five Brigade leaders host an online workshop on a specific topic in the civic tech field. The workshops give Brigade leaders tools and best practices on running inclusive groups, hosting successful events, and overcoming shared challenges. Workshops can facilitate a feedback loop with local leaders to determine which topics resonate the most with them. Other Brigade leaders can view the workshop live, or access the recordings at a time that is most convenient for them.

EA few years ago, Code for America created the NAC in response to an observation that it was hard to share feedback between the organization and the volunteers in a distributed community. The NAC is made of nine elected Brigade members, and acts as a liaison between Code for America staff and the Brigade community. It connects Brigades to one another to share learnings and ideas and supports community leaders. “The NAC is a very important component of having an inclusive network. Its members quickly and efficiently respond to community concerns and needs, and provide essential feedback to Code for America staff.” —Tom Dooner, Developer Evangelist, Network Team

The whole Code for America family gets together once a year for their annual Summit, with a full day dedicated to Brigades. The organization encourages Brigade leaders to join the event and facilitates travel arrangements for them.

Brigade members are also invited to join an annual Brigade Congress, held in a different city with a Brigade presence each year. This event provides leadership training for Brigade leaders, as well as knowledge sharing and networking opportunities for the community members. Brigade members are involved in building the agenda, which ensures the event is curated to their needs and interests. Brigade Congress is just a few years old, but Brigade members and leaders have consistently given very positive feedback on the event—it’s an opportunity for Code for America to support the community and bring members from all across the country together to learn from each other!

Because everyone loves free t-shirts! Gifting branded swag is an easy, fun way to create a sense of belonging within your community. Brigade members are proud to show off their affiliation with an organization they believe in. Code for America even creates exclusive swag for their Brigade leaders as a way to reward them for their hard work.