div Hackathon

Our Inaugural <div> Hack is the first ever youth and diversity-focused hackathon at SXSW!

We are selecting 50 phenomenal high school and college students for this opportunity! The selected students will be paired with professional mentors to collaborate and build a web or mobile-based app hacking the Education, Health, or Justice sectors.

If you are a student or know of a student, who is interested in using technology to solve a real-world problem, encourage that student to apply. You do not have to know how to code to gain access to this opportunity; and this opportunity is open to all majors. Applications are due no later than Saturday, March 7th.

The JUSTICE TRACK seeks solutions related to balancing the scales of justice for marginalized people of color. This track will also focus on strategies empowering ex-offenders to make successful transitions to fully-contributing members of society.

The HEALTH TRACK will focus on issues related to improving the experience and health care options available to people of color. Additionally, this track will focus on solutions for increasing diversity in the medical profession.

The EDUCATION TRACK will address issues related to disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline system, college readiness, acceptance and completion and career guidance for minority students.

A majority of our youth participants, referred to as TRAILBLAZERS, will include Black, Latino, Native-American and under-represented Asian and Pacific Islanders. Our Hackathon is 100% dedicated to inclusion of transgender youth, women, and girls.

Our trailblazers will spend two days on teams working alongside adult professionals supporting them as they build websites and mobile apps that will positively impact their community and improve their life outcomes.

At the end of our Hackathon, participants will walk away with a sense of accomplishment, inspired by experiencing what is possible when brilliant people get together to solve problems.

Information changes situations.

And this Hackathon is about serving as an information conduit for talented students to diversity in the technology space. We want our target students to understand that they can be more than consumers of technology; they too can be creators, innovators, and disruptors of today’s technology.

WHAT IS A HACKATHON?

Hackathons gather together technologists (coders), artist (designers), problem solvers (innovators), and industry/area experts (students, educators, parents, activists, community leaders, YOU) to build a web or mobile app that can change the world, create a business, or do both!

OKAY – ALL OF THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING, BUT WHAT IF I DON’T KNOW HOW TO CODE?

While we’re calling it a hackathon, we’re explicitly welcoming everyone, regardless of their skill or talent. At our hackathon, we are combining professionals, mentors, and youth to collaborate on building technological tools that can transform their environment, their neighborhoods, and their lives!

WHERE WILL THE HACKATHON TAKE PLACE?

On the HBCU campus of Huston-Tillotson University, located on the Eastside of Downtown Austin at 900 Chicon St. The hack will take place in the Student Union Building. Coming east from downtown on E. 7th St, turn left on to Chalmers Ave. There is a parking lot on the backside of the campus. The officer on duty at the Campus Security Booth will direct you to the Student Union Building.

Click here for directions via Google Maps.

WHAT DOES THE DAY’S AGENDA LOOK LIKE?

DAY ONE | SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

DAY TWO | SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

LAST QUESTION, HOW MUCH, AND HOW DO I REGISTER?

We thought you’d never ask. 🙂 See the embedded form below to save your seat. We only have room for 50 students – so register today to apply for your spot!