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 climate and energy 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 climate 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
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 environmental 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:
9:00am — Light Breakfast
9:30
Newcomer Track: About The Upskilling Labs and what to expect
Pod Sprint Track: Frame and orient problem statements
10:00
Newcomer Track: Workshop —
Pod Sprint Track: Lightning Talks, How Might We statements (turning problems into questions worth solving)
10:50
Newcomer Track: Workshop —
11:20
Newcomer Track: Pod Briefing
11:30 — All: Lunch
12:30pm — All: Newcomer fresh eyes on Pods
1:00
Newcomer Track: Workshop —
2:30
Newcomer Track: Workshop —
3:30 — All: Pod member prototype presentations
4:30 — All: Depart for Happy Hour
Resources:
Details
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