Everything Brigades need to know about the Code for America Summit 2020

Events Summit
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Welcome to DC!

Schedule At-A-Glance

To find other FAQ on the CfA Summit, including info on the Coronavirus (COVID-19), click here.

The full Summit agenda can be found here.

Wednesday, March 11

(arrive in Washington DC)
1:30pm Congress Meets Coding (RSVP link) Rayburn Building (on Capitol Hill)
5:30pm Work On Things that Matter Reception (RSVP Link) Marriott
7:15pm Brigade Bites Reception (RSVP Link) La Tasca
Thursday, March 12
8:00am First Timer’s Breakfast Marriott
9:00am–5:00pm Summit Marriott
5:00pm Tech Fair & Reception Marriott
Friday, March 13
9:00am- 5:00pm Summit Marriott

Getting here:

Accommodations & Venue Crystal Gateway Marriott

We will be staying at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Regency at Ronald Reagan National Airport located at 1700 Richmond Highway Arlington, Virginia 22202 USA. The hotel is a very short ride on public transit. Get on at DCA and get off at Crystal City. ($1.35 on way) Note: There is also a Crystal City Marriott is not our venue - but located very close.

If you are on travel support, you should have a room booked under your name. If you have any problems at check-in, the hotel has Christopher Whitaker’s contact information.

Summit Agenda and Event

When you get to the Marriott Crystal Gateway

Check-in will be downstairs; you must have registered for Summit in advance as there will be no on-site registration.

Wednesday/Evening Activities

  • Congress Meets Coding event on Capitol Hill
    Wednesday at 1:30 pm in the Foyer of the Rayburn Building (Southwest of the U.S. Capitol, bounded by Independence Ave., South Capitol St., First St., and C St., S.W.)
    This event is a meet and greet between Code For America Brigades and congressional staff. We hope to use this event to build connections between local Brigades and their local congressional offices. You can register for this event here. 1

  • Engaging Communities in Public Interest Tech (Summit Workshop)
    Wednesday from 1:30- 4:30pm at the Crystal Gateway Marriott
    As the Public Interest Technology (PIT) field grows and matures, we must consider ways to train students to enter the field. This workshop discusses this topic and may be of particular interest to Brigade members. If you’d like to attend this workshop, email brigade-info@codeforamerica.org to get a 20% off code.

  • Work on Things that Matter Happy Hour with a Brigade Booth
    Wednesday, 5:30- 7:30pm, Crystal Gateway Marriott
    Join Code for America and the United States Digital Service for a networking happy hour on March 11 to learn more about career opportunities nationwide. From jobs at Code for America and the United States Digital Service to opportunities in government, nonprofits, and for-profits, you can play a role in government working better in the digital age.

  • Brigade Bites (With Code for DC & Code for NoVA)
    Wednesday, 7:15- 8:30pm, La Tasca
    Evening convening for Brigade members, partners, and community members to meet, network, and mingle. RSVP for this free event here.

Sessions featuring Brigade leaders

  • (Lightning talk) Kupuna Kalo: A Fight to Preserve Ancestral Knowledge and Messages, Code for Hawaii (Thursday @ 2:30pm)
  • 2020 Census breakout, Open Oakland (Thursday @ 2:30pm)
  • Modernizing Congress: Activating Brigades and Volunteers to Bring Congress into the 21st Century, Code for Boston (Friday @ 11:00am)
  • Fellowship on Mainstage, Michelle Jones, Code for Indianapolis (Fri Morning Keynotes)
  • Civic DMV: How Hackers, Brigades and Government Inspired Digital Innovation at the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Code for San Jose, Code for Fresno (Friday @ 1:00pm)
  • Train the Trainer: Teaching the Fundamentals of Open Data to the Masses, BetaNYC (Friday @ 1:00pm)
  • Community Power Mapping to Build a Business Plan, KC Digital Drive, Hack for LA, Code for Miami, BetaNYC (Friday @ 2:30pm)

Additional Sessions of Interest:

  • Key Policy Issues for Open Data, Greg Jordan-Detamore (Thursday @ 4:00pm)
  • Digitally-Enabled Citizen Participation, Codeando Mexico (Friday @ 2:30pm)

During Summit Programming

  • Brigade Booth on Sponsor Row
    Thursday and Friday from 9am- 5pm on Sponsor Row
    There will be a Brigade Booth located on Sponsor Row representing Brigades and the work they do throughout the conference.

  • Unconference Space led by Brigade members
    Thursday: 2:30- 5pm, Arlington Ballroom
    Friday: 2:30- 4pm, Arlington Ballroom
    Bring your discussion ideas to the Unconference Space run by Code for America Brigade leaders! People who participate in the unconference space will have the opportunity to pitch their topic ideas, and attendees of the unconference space will choose topics to discuss in breakout groups for the afternoon in this informal setting.

  • Regional Networking
    Friday: 4-5pm, Multiple Breakout Rooms
    Meet Summit attendees from your geographic region during the Regional Networking hour. Find local connections and future partners who you can keep in touch with once you get home and potentially work on furthering civic tech initiatives in your community after Summit ends.

  • Tech Fair and Reception
    Thursday, 5:00- 6:30pm, Crystal Gateway Marriott
    The Tech Fair and Reception is an opportunity for companies and vendors to showcase their products and work. The fair and reception will take place on Thursday, March 12 right after Summit programming from 5:00- 6:30pm.

The full Summit agenda can be found at: https://www.codeforamerica.org/summit/agenda

There will be breakfast starting at 8:00 AM with mainstage talks starting at 9:00am.

Our Code of Conduct is in effect during Brigade Congress and can be found at c4a.me/coc.

Volunteer Opportunities

We are currently looking for Brigade volunteers to help us staff the following events. Sign up to volunteer here!

Brigade Booth on Sponsor Row - The Brigade Booth will be on Sponsor Row both days of the Code for America Summit (Thursday March 12 and Friday March 13) from 9am- 5pm. Please sign up to staff the booth: talking about your Brigade, Code for America Brigades, and Brigade work. We will help prepare you with information and training on how to capture information from people who stop by the booth.

Work on Things That Matter Happy Hour- The Work on Things That Matter Happy Hour is a Happy Hour taking place on Wednesday, March 11 from 5:30- 7:30pm. The Happy Hour is open to anyone interested in learning more about opportunities to do meaningful work in Civic Tech! Represent Brigade work at this fun and interactive Happy Hour, that is co-hosted by USDS. Sign up to volunteer using the form above.

Tech Fair and Reception- The Tech Fair and Reception is an opportunity for companies and vendors to showcase their products and work. The fair and reception will take place on Thursday, March 12 right after Summit programming from 5:00- 6:30pm. Represent Brigade work at this fun event. Sign up to volunteer using the form above.

Why are we not doing Brigade Day?

In the past, we’ve heard that while Brigade Day at Summit feels similar to Brigade Congress, the rest of Summit programming feels distinct from the needs of Brigade member attendees. Not having Brigade Day better enables us to achieve the key goals that we’ve heard from you for Summit. We believe we will create an even more fulfilling experience for Brigade members by focusing our attention on better integration of Brigades with Summit programming and facilitating connections between Brigade members/leaders and local government attendees.

While you’re in the “DMV”

Legend: :pizza:= Food, :tumbler_glass: = Bar, :clapper:= Experience

Crystal City:

Petworth:

Columbia Heights / Mt Vernon Sq: :

U St / Shaw / Cardozo:

Trinidad / Ivy City / Brentwood:

NoMa/ Galludet:

Logan Circle:

Adams Morgan:

Downtown / DuPont Circle:

Chinatown:

Silver Spring:

Foggy Bottom:

  • :tumbler_glass: Top of the Gate - (On top of the Watergate Hotel :clinking_glasses:, alleged best sunset views of DC, and can visit infamous room 214)

Further out:

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Thanks so much. Great to have this all in one spot. Kudos to CFA Brigade Team and NAC for all this Goodness for Brigade learning and connecting - as best we can within the needs for healthy interactions (you know what I’m NOT COUGHING about)… :wink: