Glossary of Terms

A glossary to define the language we're using in this draft.

This glossary serves to align understanding of terms and concepts used both within the text of Revisioning Recommendation and what may be used throughout the ReVisioning process going forward.

Defining Code for America Principles

Our movement.

A dynamic, democratic, action-oriented mission for at-scale social change in the digital age.

The moment.

Meeting needs wherever and whenever underserved and marginalized communities call for human-centered technology to raise awareness and effect change in their lives.

Justice through equity, diversity, inclusivity and parity.

Evolving community practices to explore personal and collective identity, autonomy, and the inherent dignity and value of all people as self-determined and self-described.

Human-centered, people-powered technology.

Placing the human experience, rather than machine efficiency, first in the creation and contribution of all tools, practices, and skills related to engineering, design, data science, data analysis, product management, user research and all other relevant disciplines within the field.

Mission-aligned intention, implementation, and impact.

Listening and being held accountable to those with lived experience in order to effect authentic, sustainable change that definitively upholds our values and truly uplifts our communities.

Defining Code for America People

Peer

Anyone who engages with work under the Code for America name as a paid or unpaid participant rather than a partner or impacted community member.

The Network

A collective name for the muti-faceted individual and group identities operating under the Code for America name; may also be used to collectively refer to Brigades as the Brigade Network.

Volunteer member

A self-identified non-paid participant in Code for America practices, programs, projects and events. An active volunteer is anyone who shows up for at least one one-day event or activity hosted by Code for America’s organization or Network.

Brigade

A geographically organized chapter of Code for America peers engaged with local community interests and responsive to their needs for civic technology tools and support.

Brigade member

A self-identified participant in a Code for America Brigade chapter; each Brigade may define activity expectations and guidelines for self-identified members differently from other Brigades.

National Action Team

A mechanism to get involved in the Code for America volunteer community on the national scale; national teams focus on supporting national-level issues and interests (e.g. “Get Your Refund”, “Reimagining 911”).

Community of Practice

A group of people organized around specific skill-sets and experiences, who are positioned to share those skills with one another.

Participatory Governance Body

An assembly of recognized Network peers who gather to participate in decision-making strategies for the Network in regularly scheduled and at-will meetings.

HQ/Organization

The 501(3)(c) non-profit organization known as Code for America.

Organization staff/CxO

A paid employee or executive of the Code for America 501(3)(c) non-profit organization.

Fellowship member

A compensated community member with project-related lived experience whom Code for America partners with their local government to more effectively address inequities in service delivery.

Board of Directors

Leaders who share the Code for America vision for how to improve government in meaningful ways.

Board Observer

A non-voting attendee to Board of Directors meetings.

Defining Code for America Partners

Community

A collective of individuals sharing one or more commonalities; intersections of these commonalities may mean a community is also identified as underserved or marginalized by majority rule.

Government

Elected, appointed, and civil service authorities at national, state, and local levels.

Non-government organization

An organization that is not part of the government, including non-profit (charitable) organizations, community-based groups (mutual aid), political organizations, and firms (for-profit and benefit corporations).

Funder

An individual or entity who contributes financially to the growth of Code for America’s organization and Network.

Defining Code for America Pathways

Priority Action Area

A need-based civic issue that shapes relevant programs, projects, events and activities for Code for America initiatives; chosen in 1-2 year cycles.

Program

A targeted, on-going initiative that involves multi-faced participants, partners, and projects.

Project

A targeted, time-sensitive initiative led by community needs and interests and in partnership with community-based leaders and organizations.

Event

A one-time or recurring gathering (virtual or in person) of Network peers lasting one or more days.

Activity

A one-time or recurring task performed by Network peers lasting one or more hours.

Defining Code for America Practices

Evaluating, ideating and creating “Code” for America.

Although Code for America’s use of the word code has held a tech industry’s meaning as its primary understanding, it's a word that can be understood as three pillars of coding for America: what is so (legislative code), how to be (moral code), and what to do (program code).

Values and data-driven iteration.

A human-centered approach to the interpretation, ideation and implementation of new ideas and the data used to support them so that reiterations of functional processes effectively disrupt generational, systemic cycles of injustice.

Accessible, distributive and participatory decision making.

Socializing collaborative, inclusive learning methods and decision-making processes embodies the “building with, not for” ethos of Code for America’s mission being powered for the people by the people.