All the talk about “a new generation” and the average age of the coders involved smacks of ageism, even though she admits to being older herself. Does CFA try to recruit “older” coders? A lot of us have the skills, decades more experience in software development, and believe in things like CFA. 

[...] (9) Jennifer Pahlka at TED [Video] | Code for America [...]

[...] (13) Jennifer Pahlka at TED [Video] | Code for America [...]

[...] (15) Jennifer Pahlka at TED [Video] | Code for America [...]

[...] (16) Jennifer Pahlka at TED [Video] | Code for America [...]

[...] (16) Jennifer Pahlka at TED [Video] | Code for America [...]

 As a 2011 CfA Fellow I can answer this. They recruit anyone who’s got the passion, skill, and talent to do this kind of work… on a meager stipend. We had fellows in their late 30′s/early 40′s and of course the 22 year-olds too. It’s hard to find someone in their middle-ages or better that can survive on ramen and relocate across the country if needed. Not that those people don’t exist, it’s just harder to find them.

[...] (18) Jennifer Pahlka at TED [Video] | Code for America [...]

I am very impressed by Jennifer Pahlka’s TED talk and by the concept of CFA. I look forward to see the approach being spread throughout the world.

Jan Ruijgrok The Netherlands.

[...] in Public Service, as well as our founder Jen Pahlka’s keynote (get a preview by watching her amazing TED talk!).  Finally, don’t forget to sign up for the Brigade Launch Party here.  See you soon! [...]

[...] Pahlka’s recent TED talk sums it up perfectly: Our input into government is primarily via voting and supporting candidates. [...]

Great explanation of separation between politics and government. A workable, cost effect and walking the talk idea.
Stealing from another TED presentation,(you will have to find out which one), “If not now, then when?” If not me, then who?” Thank you Jennifer for answering both questions.

[...] TED talk about Code For America [...]

This is a real way to see improvement in government.  Basically, making local government local again.

[...] http://codeforamerica.org/2012/03/08/jennifer-pahlka-at-ted-video/ [...]

[...] Jennifer Pahlka at TED. This reminds me of my personal blog where I over-linked to Grantland articles because I basically read and enjoy everything on Grantland that isn’t related to baseball. In the sense that I could probably link to any TED video. But I really love Code for America’s mission and it’s been great to follow them and see their growth. [...]

How about questioning big business that are ruining our world? How about putting forward a true altarnative to capitalism? I am sorry to say, I do not see “apps” fixing our world any time soon.

a general statement to specific details.paragraphs 2,…

3, and 4: each paragraph covers one of the three points outlined in paragraph 1.paragraph 5: summarizes the points covered in the earlier paragraphs and draws a conclusion about them.while very common and useful in many situations, the five-paragraph f…

[...] Social entrepreneurship and the startup world may offer some models. Code for America, founded by Jennifer Pahlka, in 2010 has adapted the Teach for America model to “connect technologists with cities to work [...]

[...] Social entrepreneurship and the startup world may offer some models. Code for America, founded by Jennifer Pahlka, in 2010 has adapted the Teach for America model to “connect technologists with cities to work [...]

[...] Social entrepreneurship and the startup world may offer some models. Code for America, founded by Jennifer Pahlka, in 2010 has adapted the Teach for America model to “connect technologists with cities to work [...]

If we apply and get accepted… what is the next step ? Do we get relocated? If so, where? Is there an age limit? What if we are currently in school? Do we get paid? Will this be like a job? 

Some one please answer this… I know about 50 people that want to know this question. 

She is very beautiful and smart. I really admire her. Her ideas are innovative and she really knows what she is talking about. Thanks for sharing the video.

Lynn J. Smith

As a civil servant who is but a cog in the wheel, I think she misses something fundamental when highlighting failed IT projects and cost way too much.  When I put out an RFP, I have no control over what companies come back with when it comes to bids.  In my experience there are very few companies who do not see government contracts as cash cows.  When the civil servants try to put into place rules to prevent such abuses (e.g. fixed-price contract versus cost-plus) these companies run off to elected officials to have them overturned, crying that “insert government agency here” is being unfair and overly burdensome.  She is right that politics is a very small part of government, but it packs quite a punch compared to the civil servant who, believe it or not, tries pretty hard to be a good steward of taxpayer money because guess what, we’re taxpayers too.

I don’t think she is discrediting past efforts to pull off government IT projects.  To me, her message is simply that the paradigm has shifted such that government bodies now have the ability to leverage a community of coders and builders that exist in the form of organizations like CfA and even private citizens.

I understand, all I am saying is there are some pretty innovative thinkers in the lower ranks of civil service who have had similar great ideas and have been stymied by politically appointed leadership who have goals of steering work to certain companies.  It is a bit disingenuous to portray the solution to the problem as private tech professionals coming in to save the day.  Civil service has just as innovative people.  And small project like an app to take ownership of fire hydrants is one thing, but think of the massive DoD software endeavors, at that point you have to agree this model sort of breaks down.

Hi Ataipe5,

Most of your questions are answered on the 2013 Fellowship application page here:

http://codeforamerica.org/fellows/apply/

In short: Fellows move to San Francisco for the duration of their Fellowship, there is no age limit, there is a living wage stipend, and yes — it’s definitely a job.  It’s the most interesting, most rewarding, and coolest job that most of us have ever had

–Jim (2012 Fellow, Team Santa Cruz)

Kudos to this effort. Wish I’d heard of this earlier in time to apply.

I’m a guy in his late 40s with a degree in Poli Sci and 15+ years in software looking to do some good for country and community. Most of the corporations have lost their civic mindedness — if they ever had any — and seem to be hell bent on looting both country and communities.

But all the fellows profiled look pretty young to me. It would be nice to have a  mix of young and older. Perhaps include older mentors from software, government, and business using an apprenticeship model.

http://ofps.oreilly.com/titles/9780596518387/foreword.html

Still, wonderful mission and effort.

[...] This TED talk by Jennifer Pahlka, the founder of Code For America, is inspiring. [...]

[...] as well as each other. For more information, watch founder Jennifer Pahlka’s TED talk: codeforamerica.org/TED [...]

[...] technologists with innovative city governments to build new solutions to civic problems — they call it a peace corps for geeks.  Last year, Google.org made a grant to Code for America to expand [...]

To put it (Code for America and Ms. Pahlka’s TED talk) in perspective and give you some context, I recommend Gavin Newsom’s recently released book, Citizenville.