Code for America's Code of Conduct

The Code for America community expects that Code for America network activities, events, and digital forums:

• Are a safe and respectful environment for all participants.
• Are a place where people are free to fully express their identities.
• Presume the value of others. Everyone’s ideas, skills, and contributions have value.
• Don’t assume everyone has the same context, and encourage questions.
• Find a way for people to be productive with their skills (technical and not) and energy. Use language such as “yes/and”, not “no/but.”
• Encourage members and participants to listen as much as they speak.
• Strive to build tools that are open and free technology for public use. Activities that aim to foster public use, not private gain, are prioritized.
• Prioritize access for and input from those who are traditionally excluded from the civic process.
• Work to ensure that the community is well-represented in the planning, design, and implementation of civic tech.
• This includes encouraging participation from women, minorities, and traditionally marginalized groups.
• Actively involve community groups and those with subject matter expertise in the decision-making process.
• Ensure that the relationships and conversations between community members, the local government staff and community partners remain respectful, participatory, and productive.
• Provide an environment where people are free from discrimination or harassment.
• Code for America reserves the right to ask anyone in violation of these policies not to participate in Code for America network activities, events, and digital forums.