Civic Technologists From Across the U.S. Gather in Orlando for the First In-Person ACT Congress, Oct. 16-18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: Caroline Nickerson, Executive Director, Florida Community Innovation, caroline.nickerson@floridainnovation.org, (407) 562-7793

Florida Community Innovation hosts national gathering connecting civic technologists with Central Florida nonprofits

ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 1, 2026): Civic technologists, nonprofit leaders, and volunteers from across the country will meet in Orlando Oct. 16-18 for ACT Congress 2026, the annual gathering of the Alliance of Civic Technologists (ACT). Florida Community Innovation (FCI), a Florida civic technology nonprofit, is hosting the event at The Conduit, 1001 N. Orange Ave., in downtown Orlando’s Ivanhoe District. It is the first time ACT Congress has met in person; the 2025 gathering was held online.

ACT formed in 2023 to keep local civic tech – tech for social good – volunteer groups going after Code for America ended its Brigade Network. Its 18 member organizations include BetaNYC, Chi Hack Night, Code for Boston, Code for Philly, SF Civic Tech, and FCI. Organizers expect 50 to 100 people in Orlando, with more joining online.

On Saturday, Matt Zagaja of Code for Boston will explain how his group chooses projects and recruits volunteers, then lead a discussion on how volunteer projects are handling AI coding tools. Other sessions cover using public records requests in civic tech projects, and how students from Indiana University are using civic tech and citizen science to help farmers. Sunday is an unconference, where attendees set the agenda together. The weekend opens Friday evening with a welcome gathering at The Greek Corner.

Central Florida nonprofits are invited to bring real tech problems to Saturday’s nonprofit help power hour, where visiting volunteers will work with them directly. The hour opens with a conversation on community resource directories and referrals with representatives from area nonprofits. The FCI volunteer program is made possible through a partnership with Central Florida Foundation and Rally, Central Florida Foundation’s social enterprise accelerator.

“Central Florida is full of people who want to help their neighbors, and civic tech gives them practical ways to do it,” said Caroline Nickerson, executive director and co-founder of FCI. “We’re proud to bring this national community to Orlando and put it to work alongside the nonprofits that serve our region.”

“ACT exists so that local civic tech groups don’t have to figure everything out alone,” said Christopher Whitaker, executive director of the Alliance of Civic Technologists. “Meeting in person for the first time, and spending part of it working with Orlando nonprofits, is exactly what this network is for.”

People who can’t travel can attend free online. Virtual attendees will have their own host, live streams of Saturday’s main sessions, and online-only sessions on both days, including a remote working session that helps nonprofits improve their listings on FCI’s Florida Community Resource Map.

The conference also comes as Florida civic organizations continue to navigate the state’s 2023 restroom law, HB 1521, which governs the use of restrooms and changing facilities in certain government buildings, schools, colleges and universities, and correctional facilities.

Nickerson said she personally plans to travel to Tallahassee during Florida’s 2027 legislative session, which begins March 2, to advocate for repeal of the law, after multiple trans people told her they wouldn’t be attending the conference because of the discriminatory law. She also plans to meet with Central Florida legislators ahead of the session and participate in opportunities for public comment.

“We want ACT Congress to be a place where everyone feels welcome, including our trans and nonbinary attendees,” Nickerson said. “That’s important to me personally, and I plan to be in Tallahassee this spring to share that perspective with lawmakers.”

The Conduit, a private venue, has an all-gender restroom, and the event follows ACT’s code of conduct, which prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

FCI is also supporting student attendance. Through its Patrick Orr Scholarship, named for Caroline Nickerson’s late cousin who was a queer advocate, FCI is covering travel and lodging for a student passionate about LGBTQ+ issues to attend.

Registration for in-person and online attendance is open at floridainnovation.org/act-congress. Each ACT member organization can register two delegates for free.

For media: Reporters are welcome all weekend. The best time for photos and interviews is the nonprofit help power hour, Saturday, Oct. 17, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at The Conduit.

About Florida Community Innovation

Florida Community Innovation (FCI) is a civic technology nonprofit that works with paid students and volunteers to partner with communities on research, outreach, and technology for a better Florida. Its projects include the Florida Community Resource Map, a free web tool that helps people find healthcare, food, housing, and education resources, and CityCamp Gainesville, a community-led unconference and hack day. FCI is based in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. Learn more at floridainnovation.org.

About the Alliance of Civic Technologists

The Alliance of Civic Technologists (ACT) is a national network of local volunteer civic technology organizations. Formed in 2023, ACT supports and connects these groups so that government and public services reach people more effectively and equitably, and so that government uses technology in ways that protect human and civil rights. Learn more at civictechnologists.org.