It may surprise you to hear this, but I don’t get very excited about technology by itself. Really. The way I see it, technology is just a tool, the hammer and chisel that make it possible to crunch ones and zeros, and secondary to that which is being created. What excites me is creating something good; making software that helps solve real-world problems and provides tangible social value.

This is why I am so excited to be joining the inaugural class of Code for America fellows. From the Code for America website:

Code for America was founded to help the brightest minds of the Web 2.0 generation transform city governments. Cities are under greater pressure than ever, struggling with budget cuts and outdated technology. What if, instead of cutting services or raising taxes, cities could leverage the power of the web to become more efficient, transparent, and participatory?

In short, I will be using web technology to make cities better in a real and tangible way.  Sounds like a great fit, don’t you think?

It is not often that a person gets to be present at the beginning of something great.  As a fellow during the first year of the program, I will have the responsibility and privilege of not only building great software for the City of Philadelphia but also shaping the future of Code for America for many years to come.

I’d like to thank Azavea for being supportive throughout this process.  It hasn’t been easy to figure out how to pick up my tent stakes and move to San Francisco for the fellowship while supporting a family, but Azavea has been nothing short of amazing, and has even agreed to supplement the fellowship stipend.   Thanks Azavea! I couldn’t have done this without you.