Code for Boston is a volunteer civic-technology group working on social and civic challenges in the Boston area. Its members include developers, designers, data specialists and community activists, and its work is not limited to software: the group brings residents together with government, nonprofit, academic and business partners to address local needs.125
The organisation’s activities centre on regular Tuesday hack nights, where volunteers contribute to projects, discuss local issues and welcome new members. It also holds larger hackathon-style events during the year and collaborates with other civic-technology communities.5 In-person meetings take place on the first and third Tuesdays at the Cambridge Innovation Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts; other weekly sessions are online.7
Current projects include the Home Energy Analysis Tool, which aims to turn a spreadsheet used by heat-pump coaches into a web application, and MAPLE, a platform for Massachusetts residents to share testimony and perspectives on legislation.6 Other work includes a tool mapping liquor-license distribution and a project connecting Greater Boston residents with circular-economy services.6 The group’s past work includes VaccinateMA, a vaccine-site directory that its former lead organiser described as able to withstand heavy traffic when vaccines became widely available.10
Code for Boston is part of the Code for America Brigade network, according to its website metadata, but says it is not affiliated with or sponsored by Code for America.1 LinkedIn lists the organisation as founded in 2012.3