Civic Tech in Action: Empowering Engagement Through Innovation
Help shape the future of democracy in Massachusetts! This State House event will spotlight how technology can open new doors for participation, amplify community voices, and strengthen the connection between constituents and lawmakers.
Join the Massachusetts Platform for Legislative Engagement (MAPLE) at the Massachusetts State House to explore how digital tools can better connect lawmakers with the perspectives, insights, and priorities of their constituents. By making it easier for people to participate and easier for legislators to listen, we can improve the quality of the laws that shape our lives – and build a more responsive, more collaborative democracy in the process.
Panelists and speakers will include:
Derek Mitchell, community organizer and President of LEADS
Alex Pascal, executive director of the Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society
Maggie Hughes, PhD Candidate, MIT Center for Constructive Communication
Matt Victor, attorney, technologist and co-lead of MAPLE
Nathan Sanders, data scientist affiliated with the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard and co-lead of MAPLE
Jerren Chang, President and CEO of Partners in Democracy
This event will spotlight Massachusetts’ opportunity to join the forefront of a national movement towards tech-enabled civic renewal. Hear from a dynamic panel of leaders and innovators working at the intersection of tech, government, and community organizing—followed by a live demo of MAPLE’s new website features—free for everyone to use and designed to make legislative engagement more accessible and impactful.
For legislators and State House staff: learn how to new technology can improve constituent relationships and public engagement.
For community organizers and advocates: learn how to leverage innovations to grow the voice of your organization in your community and in the legislative process.
For individuals / constituents: learn how to make your voice heard about the policy issues that matter to you.
For technologists: learn how to give back and impact civic engagement in the Commonwealth!
MAPLE is a 501c3 nonprofit project of Partners in Democracy-Education, led by volunteer developers organized through Code for Boston and panelists Victor and Sanders, and initially incubated by Northeastern Law's NuLawLab. LEADS is a 501c3 nonprofit operating the Leadership Development program and LEADS Fellowship.
Enjoy delicious food, network with fellow changemakers, and explore new ways to drive systems change in your community.
📍 Location: Massachusetts State House
🥗 Food & Networking Included