Idea to Prototype: A Civics and Elections Hackathon
Interested in using AI to solve a real world/life problem? Come find out. Let’s do it together.
This Hackathon is a fast-paced, one-day event where you'll go from idea to working prototype — with real teammates, real tools, and a real plan to test what you build.
The event builds on civics and elections challenges inspired by the Upskilling Labs' “Build Cycle,” a thematic 12-week program where participants work on real-world problems and build practical solutions. No previous involvement or AI-capacity required.
This event is for you if:
You're curious about AI but haven't gotten hands-on with it yet
You care about civic engagement and want to do something beyond reading about it
You want to meet people who are actually making things and working to change the status quo
*Note: This is a non-partisan, non-political event.
Come with an open and curious mind. Choose your Track:
If you are a Newcomer: Welcome! Join a beginner-friendly morning track where you'll get hands-on with AI tools and learn how to turn an idea into something you can actually show someone. In the afternoon, you'll get a look inside what the pods are building and get to:
See a real project up close and ask every "dumb question" you've been holding
Learn by doing — you'll leave with something you actually built
No prior experience needed; your outside perspective is genuinely useful here
If you are an Upskiller in the Civics and Elections Build Cycle, join the Pod Sprint: Welcome! You are invited to join a Pod (a small research team focused on a specific civic engagement challenge) in a Pod Sprint (a structured team problem-solving session).
During the day, each person:
Shares their perspective on the problem
Helps identify promising directions with their Pod
Chooses one idea to explore
Builds a simple prototype
Creates a plan to test it with a real user
By the end of the day, everyone leaves with a prototype and a plan to test it in the real world.
Schedule:
WELCOME
9am: Light Breakfast
9:30am: Welcome from Laura Marks, AU AVP Community & Government Relations
We'll then split up for the morning into two tracks:
NEWCOMER Track: for new Upskillers who are not yet part of the Build Cycle
POD SPRINT Track: For Upskillers who are already working in our pod
MORNING WORK SESSIONS
Newcomer
9:45am (Newcomer): About The Upskilling Labs and what to expect (Koryn Leslie-Arcaya)
10:00am (Newcomer): Workshop, Design Thinking with Emily Modde
11:00am (Newcomer): Working session, Download Github, tool wayfinding (Aaron McKeever, Madhu Jalan, Koryn Leslie-Arcaya))
11:30am (Newcomer): Pod Briefing
12:00pm (Newcomer): Lunch
Pod Sprint
9:45am-10:30am: (Pod Sprint) Synthesize & Prioritize. Everyone will have completed Assignments #1 & #2, and we'll be prioritizing a few problem frames to focus on for the day.
10:30am-12:30pm (Pod Sprint): Build & Prototype. Everyone will build their own portfolio of quick tests, supported by mentors and peers.
12:30-1:15pm (Pod Sprint): Lunch
AFTERNOON WORK SESSIONS
Newcomer
1:00pm (Newcomer): Workshop — From Prompt to Prototype: Building your Professional Website with AJ Bubb and Lovable.dev with AJ Bubb
2:30pm (Newcomer): Workshop — Working Backwards from the Outcome: A prompting workshop for people doing real work with Ashwin Jaiprakash
Pod Sprint:
1:15-3pm (Pod Sprint): Pivot & Expand. Take what you built in the morning and make it work for a different stakeholder group or a different take on the problem.
3-3:30pm (Pod Sprint): Pressure Test & Practice
All:
3:30pm: Lightning presentations
4:30pm: Depart for happy hour (at Silver, 3404 Wisconsin Ave).
About the Pod
Effort v. Impact
Some people would engage- if they believed a given action was worth the effort. The barriers are too high and the incentives are too low: it takes real effort just to find out what's available and determine whether it matters - and when the feedback loop is broken, people stop trying because they never see the results of their effort. If I go to a protest, what actually happens?
How might we make it easy for people to see what civic action is available, what it would take, and what actually happened — so showing up starts to feel worth it?
Getting to the Hackathon
Drive, bike or Rideshare to --> 3501 Nebraska Ave NW
Park in the East Campus Lot. Map here. Parking rate is $2/hour.
Metro: Tenleytown metro station is the closest (D90 bus drops you off out front). Check Metro for best route.
With Thanks to Our Sponsors
About The Upskilling Labs: The Upskilling Labs is an open, project-based learning community prioritizing building real things with real people. Every quarter, we run a “Build Cycle” themed around an industry or topic — participants form “pods” around real problems, develop and test AI-enabled solutions together, and showcase what they've built. No credentials required. Just show up ready to learn alongside others. theupskillinglabs.org
About (media partner) Technical.ly:
Technical.ly, an independent news org focused on high-growth entrepreneurship, jobs of the future and the local effects of technology, is a media partner for this event. Join Technical.ly's newsletters for the latest in regional tech news, startup moves, investor trends, career success stories, key resources and job opportunities.