2018 Code for America Summit

Birds of a Feather sessions bring people struggling with similar issues together to network, learn from each other and overcome isolation. Each session will focus on a different topic but all sessions will be facilitated networking where participants talk with others and share their perspective; and an opportunity for small group discussions. Birds of a Feather sessions are either “Group Therapy” focused on common challenges or “So you’re working on” focused on common elements of work.

So You’re Working on: Recruiting and Hiring Outside the Usual Suspects Facilitator:

FACILITATOR: David Huebner, Principal, Lalo Consulting

DESCRIPTION: Hiring into government isn’t easy. Navigating the government hiring process isn’t easy either. This session will feature emerging work in the government hiring space and discuss how the hiring process becomes a user centered experience. Bring your hiring and recruiting challenges and tried and true practices for discussion.

Birds of a Feather sessions bring people struggling with similar issues together to network, learn from each other and overcome isolation. Each session will focus on a different topic but all sessions will be facilitated networking where participants talk with others and share their perspective; and an opportunity for small group discussions. Birds of a Feather sessions are either “Group Therapy” focused on common challenges or “So you’re working on” focused on common elements of work.

So You’re Working on: Innovating in a Smaller Locale

FACILITATOR: Emma Burnett, Brigade Captain Code for Maine; 2018 National Advisory Council

DESCRIPTION: 
Smaller locales have smaller budgets and tiny teams. So much work comes out of big cities that it is easy to forget that small locales are redesigning their digital services too. This session goes out to the small places and considers how to make real change without the support of a big city or state.

Birds of a Feather sessions bring people struggling with similar issues together to network, learn from each other and overcome isolation. Each session will focus on a different topic but all sessions will be facilitated networking where participants talk with others and share their perspective; and an opportunity for small group discussions. Birds of a Feather sessions are either “Group Therapy” focused on common challenges or “So you’re working on” focused on common elements of work.

Group Therapy: Haters Gonna Hate or Overcoming Human Obstacles

FACILITATOR: Dan Willis, USDS

DESCRIPTION: When you’re trying to do things differently, you often run into people who simply will not budge. Maybe they’re afraid of change. Maybe they’re worried about failure. Likely it's keeping you from feeling like you can get anything done. This is one of the realities of the work: it’s hard and it can be frustrating. Come talk to others experiencing human obstacles, and share and learn how others have handled these situations so you can borrow what works and walk away with a few new ideas to try

Birds of a Feather sessions bring people struggling with similar issues together to network, learn from each other and overcome isolation. Each session will focus on a different topic but all sessions will be facilitated networking where participants talk with others and share their perspective; and an opportunity for small group discussions. Birds of a Feather sessions are either “Group Therapy” focused on common challenges or “So you’re working on” focused on common elements of work.

So You’re Working on: Design Literacy

FACILITATOR:  
Jesse Taggert, Director of Service Design and User Research, Child Welfare Digital Services

DESCRIPTION: Come meet others who are working on design literacy across organizations large and small. Topics of discussion will include design and literacy at the executive level, within teams, understanding what’s a successful project, what’s in flight and what are the principles of design literacy. This is a good session for seasoned designers working in a new environment or people new to design.