Civic “hackathons” are the good kind of hacking. They bring together government officials, non-profit leaders, and volunteer technologists, data wranglers, and designers to develop technical solutions to local or national challenges.  Past challenge projects have included Mapping Wells and Water Quality, a Seed Swap Database, a Different Path for Teen Mothers, Mapping Safety Net Service Needs, and more. 

To submit a challenge:

1. Read These Instructions

2. Log in as a project manager or team organizer

3. Complete this form: https://hackforwesternmass.org/node/add/challenge

How it Works

On the morning of June 7, selected organizations will pitch their challenges to hackathon attendees, who will form teams and decide which projects to work on. If your challenge is accepted, someone from your organization will work with the team throughout the weekend to provide expertise about your needs and goals. Teams will present their efforts on Sunday afternoon, June 8, and all projects will be open sourced and featured on the Hack for Western Mass website. If you’re not quite sure what to expect, don’t worry. We’ll make the process fun and easy.

A good challenge:

• Is related to an ongoing problem which your organization works on.
• Has context and is relevant to the community.
• Has an understandable impact. How many people would benefit if the problem was solved? Which organization(s) would use the solution?
• Has data. What data would help solve this problem? Is it publicly available?
• Can be owned by a person or organization with relevant expertise.

When defining a challenge, here are some possibilities to consider:

Any questions? Email [email protected]. The planning team will evaluate the challenges based on their viability and invite chosen organizations to make an official pitch at the hackathon.