# Launching a (Civic Engagement) Launchpad \[WIP\]
**URL:** https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/t/launching-a-civic-engagement-launchpad-wip/57
**Category:** Event Planning
**Created:** [May 25, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/t/launching-a-civic-engagement-launchpad-wip/57 "2018-05-25T19:13:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@GreenItalics](https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/u/GreenItalics)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/t/launching-a-civic-engagement-launchpad-wip/57/1 "2018-05-25T19:13:38Z")
Hey all!
My name is Sean and I’m based in the Code for Philly brigade. In this post I want to share how we put together one of our biggest and most anticipated events of the year and reflect on what we learned. This is a living document, so please check back often and post below if you have questions/comments!
**Background**
> The core idea of a **launchpad** is for the organizing team to create the space and time for citizens to collaborate and hack together new projects and teams that will last.
The original idea for this type of event comes from college hackathons such as PennApps. Both college hackathons and launchpads share core values such as creativity, teamwork and enjoyment. However, where traditional hackathons are usually brief, intense bursts of energy - launchpads are slow, steady burns. Both have their places in an active, engaged community, but this post will go over some core ideas and best practices specifically for Launchpads from here on out.
**Outline**
The following sections are arranged semi-chronologically. The ordering reflects how early or late in the process the organizing team could focus on those areas. BUT, this is not the be-all-end-all of throwing a launchpad. In all honesty, putting together these types of events is different every time and always ends up reflecting the values & energy of the community. So it’s perfectly okay (and encouraged) for each event to have it’s own flavors and textures. These are the types of events that build communities, so be unique!
1. Let’s do this!
- **Organizing**
- **Sponsorship**
- **Locations**
- **Branding**
1. Kick-off Event
2. Other Events
- **Maintaining Energy**
- **Workshops**
- **Logistics**
1. Closing Event
2. We did a thing!
- **Lessons Learned**
- **Getting Feedback**
**Conclusion**
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### Author:  [@JBStephens](https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/u/JBStephens)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/t/launching-a-civic-engagement-launchpad-wip/57/2 "2018-08-27T20:32:43Z")
Sean / Code for Philly - this looks like a great start. Are you (or Code for Philly colleagues) going to keep building out the information from “2. Kick-off Event” and on down? If you have done this before, do you want to share a sample Excel/Google Sheet?
Thanks - John - Code for Durham
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### Author:  [@GreenItalics](https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/u/GreenItalics)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/t/launching-a-civic-engagement-launchpad-wip/57/3 "2018-09-01T16:57:54Z")
Hey John,
Thanks! I will definitely be finishing this up, thanks for the reminder/encouragement, it kind of fell off my radar for a little bit!
I will work on getting a sample google sheet, but I can’t give a good eta on that atm, sorry!
Best,
Sean
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### Author:  [@Mari](https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/u/Mari)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2023, 7:03am UTC](https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/t/launching-a-civic-engagement-launchpad-wip/57/4 "2023-07-01T07:03:34Z")