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Citizenship & Tech Initiative

Learn About Tech For Community Wellness

Citizenship & Tech Initiative

The Citizenship & Tech Initiative addresses one of the defining challenges of our time: ensuring that rapid technological advancement strengthens rather than erodes our civic institutions. We operate on the philosophy that true 'digital citizenship' requires more than just technical literacy; it demands the ethical framework and critical agency to navigate an automated world.

The CGCS acts as a collaborative hub, bringing people together around technology to solve shared citizen and community challenges. We design programs that impart technology skills while developing stronger community bonds and enabling participants to make real-world contributions. Our goal is to empower every member of our community, to build resilience and agency to master the digital tools that shape our lives, optimizing their ability to participate in our democracy.

Our Programs

Badges

ACC Technology & Civic Leadership Badge

TECHNOLOGY & CIVIC LEADERSHIP BADGE

Earn a Technology & Civic Leadership badge by attending three qualifying events and completing a short reflection in Suitable. Be sure to check in with the CGCS! We are working to create more badging opportunities.

Qualifying Event Badges

Attend any 3 events from the options below to earn the Technology & Civic Leadership Badge

Austin AI Alliance Austin on Technology & Society Austin LangChain AIMUG

Propose a Collaboration

Contact us to explore partnership opportunities

Contact Us
RiverHacks: ACC's Official Hackathon

RiverHacks: ACC's Official Hackathon

RiverHacks is a biannual, student-focused hackathon hosted by Austin Community College that assembles tech talent to develop innovative solutions addressing real-world civic challenges. The event fosters community engagement while providing opportunities for emerging developers to tackle meaningful problems.

32 hrs Event Duration
5+ Focus Areas
Event Format & Structure

A 32-hour intensive event where teams collaborate to build technology-driven solutions for civic challenges.

  • Teams code, build prototypes, and present solutions
  • Focus on real-world civic challenges and community impact
  • Mentorship from industry professionals
  • Prizes and recognition for innovative solutions
Focus Areas

RiverHacks addresses pressing challenges across multiple civic domains.

  • Public Safety – Building tools to enhance community safety
  • Housing – Addressing housing accessibility and affordability
  • Education – Creating technology solutions for learning
  • Sustainability – Developing environmental solutions
  • Space Industry – Partnering with NASA for global challenges
Who Can Participate

RiverHacks is open to students and aspiring innovators in the Austin region.

  • ACC students and students from partner institutions
  • Aspiring developers and technologists
  • No prior hackathon experience required
  • Teams formed on-site or register with existing team

Looking Ahead

RiverHacks continues to grow with each edition, expanding partnerships with organizations like NASA, SerpApi, and WebAI while tackling new civic and technological challenges facing our communities.
Skill Building Workshop

Skill Building Workshop

Skill Building Workshops in Citizenship & Tech are hands-on learning experiences that develop practical, human-centered technology skills. Our workshops range from applied AI literacy to ethical decision-making and strategic communication—all designed to empower you in an increasingly digital world.

Applied AI Literacy & Productivity

Build practical understanding of how AI tools are used in real-world professional contexts—not theory, but hands-on application.

  • Learn to use AI tools effectively in professional settings
  • Understand AI capabilities and limitations
  • Hands-on practice with current AI platforms
  • Build workflows that leverage AI productivity
Strategic Communication & Collaboration

AI-centered environments demand stronger human communication skills—especially when working across technical and non-technical roles.

  • Communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences
  • Collaborating effectively in mixed-skill teams
  • Presenting ideas and solutions clearly
  • Building consensus and managing feedback
Ethical & Civic Decision-Making in Technology

Strengthen your ability to make responsible, values-driven decisions when technology impacts people, institutions, and communities.

  • Understanding ethical frameworks in technology
  • Evaluating technology's impact on communities
  • Making responsible decisions in digital contexts
  • Balancing innovation with societal responsibility

Looking Ahead

Join us for the AI Summer Intensive, a 3-day event presented by the Austin AI Alliance (AAIA) with CGCS support, where Executives, Developers, and the general public can get trained on the latest trends of AI in the real world.
Monthly Tech Events

Monthly Tech Events

CGCS hosts monthly tech-related events that connect technology, civic engagement, and community impact. Through workshops, talks, and collaborative meetups with local partners, participants explore how emerging technologies influence society—no technical experience required.

ATX Design Jams

Collaborative design sessions addressing local nonprofit and civic challenges through human-centered design and rapid problem-solving.

  • Hands-on design thinking workshops
  • Address real challenges from local nonprofits
  • Rapid prototyping and ideation sessions
  • Build portfolio-worthy project experience
Austin AI Alliance (AAIA)

Community events and workshops exploring artificial intelligence applications and their social, ethical, and civic implications.

  • Learn about AI developments and applications
  • Explore ethical implications of AI technology
  • Network with AI practitioners and enthusiasts
  • Hands-on demos and interactive sessions
Austin Forum for Technology & Society

Public conversations examining how emerging technologies intersect with democracy, ethics, public policy, and society.

  • Panel discussions with experts and thought leaders
  • Explore technology's role in democracy
  • Examine public policy implications
  • Engage in meaningful civic dialogue
Austin LangChain AIMUG

Practitioner-focused meetup for developers and enthusiasts learning about building AI applications using modern frameworks.

  • Technical deep-dives into AI frameworks
  • Hands-on coding sessions
  • Learn from experienced practitioners
  • Build real AI applications
ACM Austin Chapter Meetups

Gatherings featuring technical talks, live demos, and peer discussions on software practices, cloud computing, and applied AI.

  • Industry-standard software best practices
  • Cloud computing technologies
  • Applied AI implementations
  • Live demonstrations and Q&A sessions

Looking Ahead

Earn ACC-verified digital badges through Suitable by attending our monthly events. Badges can be shared on LinkedIn and stacked to show real growth beyond the classroom.