When the opportunity came around to apply to and join TechCongress, I knew that this was the opportunity. I want to dedicate my life to having a more direct impact on social change. From my experience in the Net Neutrality fight, I knew what it was like to change the minds of one company on one issue; what excites me about working in Congress is the ability to have more of a profound impact. My fellowship is just beginning, but I’m incredibly excited about the work I’ll do over the course of this year.
The Congressional Digital Service Fellowship Report
House of Representatives to launch new digital services team
FedScoop announces the creation of the new House Digital Services (HDS) and mentions how TechCongress has contributed to its development:
The new service is tasked with building intuitive solutions that improve on member offices’ most significant challenges. It comes after nonprofit groups, like TechCongress and others, have for years looked to inject tech talent into Congress through digital service fellowships.
Measuring Diversity: Our 2022 Recruitment Report
Announcing Our 2022 Fellows
2022 Congressional Innovation Scholars Program - Recruitment Event Recordings
Our 2021 Diversity Referral Awardees
Meet the Scholars 2021: Blake Randolph
Since being placed, I’ve drafted bills, staffed hearings with Facebook, met with interest groups, and had countless other illuminating experiences about the legislative process that only working in the United States Senate can provide. It’s been very rewarding to combine my background in information privacy and emerging technology with the legal reasoning skills I developed from law school. There’s simply no other place quite like the halls of Congress, and no other place where I could apply my skillset in service of a goal as laudable as making sound policy decisions for the American people. This is just the beginning and I look forward to what the future holds.
Meet the Scholars 2021: Eleanor Tursman
As a Congressional Innovation Scholar, I have the opportunities to leverage my training and knowledge to help promote science-based regulation of AI and other technologies that can be used to disenfranchise and discriminate against minority groups, threaten democracy, and propagate disinformation. I am excited to grow and learn through the fellowship as I continue to support the pursuit of knowledge while also promoting a more equitable and better informed society.
Meet the Scholars 2021: Joshua Kravitz
During my short tenure on the Hill so far, I’ve become convinced that policy is only as good as its implementation, and that technology (along with good technologists who can build it) is one key to this implementation. Poor implementation means fewer people access the services they need and ultimately contributes to government distrust.
Meet the Scholars 2021: Marissa Gerchick
Applications are open for the 2022 Congressional Innovation Scholars Program
A better world with A BETTER TECH
A few weeks ago, TechCongress’ founder, Travis Moore, spoke as a panelist with A BETTER TECH alongside representatives of the Ford Foundation and Schmidt Futures. The theme of the discussion was how philanthropy can be used to build an ecosystem for public interest technology.
Watch the full discussion below:
Where They're Serving: Placements for our 2021 Congressional Innovation Scholars
The Selections Process for our 2022 Fellowships
Announcing Our 2021 Congressional Innovation Scholars
2022 Congressional Innovation Fellowship and Scholars Program - Recruitment Event Recordings
Over the 2022 Fellowship recruitment cycle, TechCongress will be hosting a series of informational calls about the 2022 Congressional Innovation Fellowship and Scholars Program!
If you’d like to listen to a prior call, you can listen below.
Applications are open for the 2022 Congressional Innovation Fellows Program
Meet the Fellows 2021: Mike Wacker
Many of the problems I had encountered, however, had reached the halls of Congress, and I understood the value that those experiences of mine would bring if I ever worked for Congress. Considering all of that, it’s hardly surprising that I joined TechCongress. I did not come here with some grand political ambition, nor do I have my path fully laid out, but I did make one important decision about my path: once again, I would not put my head down and ignore the problem.