A Civic Technologist's Practice Guide

A concise but thorough introduction to working in civic technology in the United States. — Kirkus Reviews

This friendly guide is for technology people who work, or want to work, in the public sector. In it, Cyd Harrell outlines the types of projects, partnerships, and people that civic technologists encounter, and the methods they can use to make lasting change. She focuses on principles and sets of questions to help technologists find the right way to do the most good, starting with finding the people already doing the work. Based on her years of government tech partnerships, Cyd offers practical advice on how to build alliances with public-sector partners, what tech (and non-tech) skill sets are most useful, and how to show up in spaces dedicated to stewardship rather than profit. You'll also find tips from experience on how to introduce new methods and tools, and how to connect with others in the field and work sustainably on hard problems.

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