Community Engagement through Open Source Civic Tech Projects

We envision to build a thriving ecosystem where aspiring technologists can upskill, collaborate, and make meaningful contributions to civic technology.

We believe civic tech should be inclusive, accessible, and community-driven. That’s why we’re working to:

  1. Build a Cross-Sector Tech Coalition Through our partner network—including universities, tech bootcamps, meetups, and mission-aligned companies—we’re creating pathways for new technologists to engage in Public Interest Technology. Our goal is to make civic tech participation a normal part of tech career development.

  2. Create Long-Term Impact Through Open Source Open Sprints goes beyond short-term events by supporting open-source teams and maintaining projects that benefit the public. We evaluate all proposals using three pillars—Community-Driven Tech, Skills-Building, and Social Good—to ensure each project creates lasting value. Full criteria here.

  3. Promote Participatory Design with Local Impact We champion participatory, grassroots-led projects like The Equitable Mapping Project, partnering with groups such as Data + Women and Superbloom Design. By tapping into public datasets. With an existing platforms such as NYC Open Data, we help transform information into a tool for awareness that support equity and local well-being.

Community Partners

  • Femmecubator Project

    Femmecubator is 501c3 fiscally sponsored project by Aspiration. Femmecubator's mission is to elevate careers of women of color in tech through mentorship and community.

    In 2024, Femmecubator hosted its first flagship program, Open Sprints, where technologists are guided by industry experts to collaborate on Civic Tech Open Source Projects.

    Check out Femmecubator

  • Superbloom

    Superbloom leverages design as a transformative practice to shift power in the tech ecosystem. We apply a critical lens to technology development, and view design as an intervention opportunity to center people and their needs. We collaborate closely with others in the space to grow the community focused on shaping our collective online future. Our vision is a world where everyone has the knowledge, network, and digital tools needed to enrich their lives.

    Check out Superbloom

  • Data + Women NYC

    Data+Women NYC aims to recognize and support women in the data community. Our quarterly meetings provide opportunities to connect with others over a shared love of data and a mission of uplifting members of the data community. We welcome perspectives from all roles and levels of expertise, and people of any gender identity are invited to participate!

    Check out Data + Women NYC

What is the Equitable Technology Policy Framework?

Our initiative prioritizes 3 of the 9 policy areas within the Equitable Tech Policy Framework drafted by the Kapor Foundation. It focuses on creating fair and inclusive policies within the technology sector. It aims to address systemic inequalities by advocating for policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech-related fields.

  • Invest in new models of inclusive tech workforce development, including new models for upskilling, reskilling, and hiring

  • Combat the harmful consequences of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, and create standards for the future development and deployment of artificial intelligence systems

  • Increase deployment of capital to diverse startup entrepreneurs.