What happens when thousands of middle schoolers and high schoolers show their apps to Congress? In this episode, we talk to Joe Alessi of the Congressional App Challenge about how more than 40,000 middle schoolers and high schoolers from around the US have participated in one of the largest hackathons in the US every year and even influenced how Members of Congress think about the role of technology in their home districts. Listen to Joe talk about how the Congressional App Challenge got started in 2015 and has since seen participation in more than 75% of Congressional Districts on a bipartisan basis. Joe also discusses what kinds of apps students are working on, how many students are overcoming the challenges of limited computer science resources as well as the additional burdens of the pandemic, and how participating in the Congressional App Challenge has enabled many students, who may be too young to vote, to express their concerns through technology to Members of Congress. Now that many alums of the Congressional App Challenge are in college and even starting their careers, Joe talks about how there is an ever-growing community of past participants who can support each other and pay it forward by guiding the next generation of young students looking to make a positive impact with technology. 

Guest bio:

Joe Alessi is the Director of the Congressional App Challenge, a congressional initiative dedicated to the cultivation of future computer science talent through a series of annual coding contests hosted by Members of Congress. The contest challenges middle and high school students from across the United States to use their knowledge and creativity to design apps that are unique to their own skills and interests. Joe is a career non-profit management professional, having worked to transform the educational initiatives of NGOs, trade associations, and charitable foundations. Under his leadership, beginning in January 2019, the Congressional App Challenge has reached record heights, increasing congressional participation by nearly 50% while doubling student engagement.

Related links:

Congressional App Challenge. https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/ 

About the podcast:

How Tech Becomes Law is a weekly public interest tech podcast about technology, public policy, and career advice. We are your co-hosts, Jinyan Zang and Dhruv Gupta. Each episode uncovers insights from leaders in government, business, journalism, and academia to highlight how technology can be built in the public interest. Interviewees discuss how technology can move society forward, what role they play in shaping this, and how students and young professionals can impact the path forward.

We are supported by the Public Interest Tech Lab. Listen to us on your podcast platform of choice. You can find us online at howtechbecomeslaw.org and on social media channels @techbecomeslaw.