NYU-2026 PIT-UN Tech for Change Urban Informatics for Safe, Just, and Thriving Communities Hackathon

Info Session Recording: https://nyu.zoom.us/rec/share/PvBp8R8zvd3uLpZMN4IuXEdU3KsZKlnaB7TlEDf6kFstFLMkcKULVHkUSnXHdIdG.RZJki8UFY8prFgOE Hackathon site: https://sites.google.com/nyu.edu/safejustthriving-hackathon/home?authuser=0 Join us for the three-day Tech for Change "Urban Informatics for Safe, Just, and Thriving Communities Hackathon" featuring keynote speakers, urban data science curriculum, and hands-on workshops—all designed to prepare you for team-based hackathon competition. This event is hosted by Debanjan Roychoudhury, Adjunct Faculty member at the Center for Urban Science + Progress at NYU Tandon, Gianna Campa, M.S. Candidate in Applied Urban Data Science at CUSP, Aunray Stanford, NYU Gallatin student and founder of Safe Step, Jerome Louison, Data and Evaluation Manager at Kings Against Violence Initiative, and the Public Interest Technology-University Network (PIT-UN).This hackathon will familiarize participants with data-driven approaches to building civic tech solutions addressing community challenges around public safety, justice, and equity. Along with project partner organizations and researchers, participants will develop asset-based, neighborhood-specific solutions for challenges to safety and wellbeing, as defined by community members for themselves. Participants will innovate justice tech while enacting participatory governance, building networks to last, across sectors both for employers and for emerging talent. This is a one-of-a-kind gathering of minds! Overview The NYU-2026 Tech for Change "Urban Informatics for Safe, Just, and Thriving Communities" Hackathon invites participants from all backgrounds and levels of (lived) experience with science, tech, policy, and data to assist in building civic tech tools to design and reimagine systems of safe, just, and thriving neighborhoods for tomorrow, today. The hackathon consists of several projects that fall under the Safe, Just, and Thriving track themes, consisting of datasets built by diverse teams of budding data scientists, including students, faculty, community members, continuing learners, loved ones, civic leaders, engineers, designers, planners, healthcare workers, and more. Certificate of Completion, Judging, and Prizes Participants who complete all three days of workshops, seminars, and hands-on projects for submission to award consideration will receive a digital badge from PIT-UN and NYU Tandon School of Engineering to be displayed on personal websites, social media, and for applications to employers.Hackathon submissions will be judged across three categories: Impact, Imagination, and Innovation. The top-ranking teams in each individual category will receive a prize for that category, and the team with the highest overall score will be announced as the winner of the hackathon. Prizes will be announced soon. Theme Data projects will revolve around the intersection of safety, justice, and the myriad attributes of what it means for a community to thrive. Guided by complex systems thinking and an ecological framework — meaning that safety and justice are elements of society that touch upon, and are impacted by, other aspects of community planning and institutional inequity — projects will take on different approaches to improving and building on community-based efforts to addressing intersecting crises of incarceration, violence, safety, and well-being. Urban data science curricular programming and hands-on workshops are designed and offered to train participants in data collection, analysis, and visualization toward pitching and proposing real-life solutions and approaches to longstanding cycles of poverty and punishment. We hope you will join us in unpacking the ubiquity of how "urban informatics" can be understood and utilized to uplift and empower civic engagement and participatory governance, both locally and around the world. Schedule This three-day, in-person event will take place at 370 Jay Street, Room 1201. Visit the google site at the top of this overview for the full schedule, which will include hands-on workshops, panels, and lightning talks.Thursday, March 5: 5:00 – 7:30 PM EST Friday, March 6: 1:00 PM – 5 PM EST Saturday, March 7: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST Eligibility This hackathon is open to students, faculty, community-based organizations, individuals with lived experience of the criminal legal system, or who identify as justice system impacted in any way, city workers, continuing learners, general public, loved ones, and anyone without a technical background but with curiosity about the intersections of tech, governance, transparency, equity, and justice. Participants without a valid NYU ID must complete advanced registration via Luma to ensure building access prior to the event. Your name as registered via Luma must match the name on a government-issued photo ID in order to access 370 Jay Street. Speakers Thurs 3/5: Opening Remarks: Maurizio Porfiri, NYU CUSPGianna Campa, NYU CUSPDebanjan Roychoudhury, NYU CUSP Keynote: Dennis Prince Mapp, Citizen App Panelists: Alaa Moussawi, City Council Data Team Jerome Louison, NYU CUSP Alum, KAVIAunray Stanford, NYU Gallatin, ManUp, Inc.Darcy Hauslik, Center for Justice InnovationJaeok Kim, Vera Institute of Justice Project Partners: Luisa Portugal, NYU Center for International CooperationFelipe Leichsnering Mendes, Prefeitura de NiteróiChelsey Anseeuw, Safe & Healthy Communities, EdmontonKetan Sinha, NYU CUSP, Office of Public Advocate of NYCTyler Richardett, FreeOurVoteJerome Louison, KAVIPriscilla Bustamente, CUNY GC, Community Safety ProjectSandhya Kajeepeta, NAACP Legal Defense Fund Fri 3/6: Workshops: Fabiha Islam, NYU TandonAlaa Moussawi, City Council Data Team Anamika Shreevastava, NYU CUSPMaurizio Porfiri, NYU CUSPAnton Rozkhov, NYU CUSPManny Patole, NYU CUSPPauline Ross, Offices of the New York State Inspector General Sat 3/7: Lightning Talks: Shayne Figueroa, NYU Alex Chohlas-Wood, NYU SteinhardtTyler Richardett, FreeOurVoteRuoyu Li, NYU CUSP, DarkSkySandhya Kajeepeta, Thurgood Marshall Institute, NAACPEdwin Grimsley, CUNY Baruch, Columbia QMSSFrankie Wunschel, Vera Institute of Justice Judges: James Dobbins, Guns Down Life Up, Lincoln HospitalToni Wilson, KAVILuz HernandezManny Patole, NYU CUSPAlaa Moussawi, City Council Data TeamClosing Remarks:Andreen Soley, Public Interest Technology-University Network Project Tracks Community Partner-led Tracks Project Restore BedStuy — Everyday Peace Indicators of Safety and Well-beingPathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies at NYU’s Center for International Cooperation (CIC)Niteroi, BrazilEdmonton, CanadaOffice of the New York City Public Advocate — Youth DetentionKings Against Violence Initiative — Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Resource MappingMan Up Inc. — Crisis Management System (CMS) Credible Messenger CanvassingFreeOurVote — Restoring rights for formerly convicted NYU Researcher-led Tracks Civilian Complaint Review Board — Police Misconduct AllegationsDistrict Attorney — Mass Conspiracy IndictmentsGender-based Violence and PolicingHousing ​Visitor Information ​​This event will be held in the CUSP Learning Commons, located on the 13th Floor of 370 Jay St. Please visit the NYU Tandon website for directions and a campus map. Advance registration through Luma is required for campus access at NYU for external guests.