At CityCamp NYC, you’re not just a conference attendee —you’re contributing to our public interest technology ecosystem. 

Unlike traditional conferences, CityCamp NYC is an unconference: a participant-driven gathering where attendees collaboratively shape the agenda. Facilitated by BetaNYC, the event aims to foster hands-on collaboration and creative problem-solving across various sectors.

Expect sessions on everything from public transportation, how to start a community garden, virtual learning platforms in public schools, library talks, and more. If it touches public life, it has a place at CityCamp NYC!

We firmly believe that public interest technology is just one tool in the toolbox of social democracies. CityCamp NYC is where we explore all the tools —  proposed legislation, data analysis, modeling, participatory discussions, and more — that equip communities to thrive. 

CityCamp NYC is a space for networking and learning. Let’s build a better city, together!

Learn more about unconference 101’s, and get ready to share.

Who is CityCamp NYC For?

Everyone! CityCamp NYC brings together city residents, civic leaders, students, advocates, policy nerds, government staff, elected officials, technologists, journalists, designers, and more to tackle some of the most pressing issues in New York City and beyond.

CityCamp NYC has these underlying goals:

• Convene community members to share civic insights and ideas.
• Create processes/projects that people will use for further action.
• Foster formal and informal communities of practice, advocacy and action.

Conversations will cover a breadth of topics and civic issues affecting life in our city, including but certainly not limited to:

Why an unconference?

BetaNYC grew from organizing community events based upon the “open space” model. We value our Open Data Week partnership, yet can’t always fit in all the things we want to discuss.

As 2025 has brought us unprecedented challenges, we’re bringing back community unconferences to complement our annual community conference. We want to ensure there is ample space for a new generation to learn what makes NYC’s public interest tech community special AND to provide a space where we can deliberate, discuss, and build solidarity with our neighbors across our diverse communities.

While all open to participate and present, CityCamp NYC is not affiliated with New York City nor State government. It is a independently organized community event. Opinions shared at CityCamp NYC are governed by BetaNYC’s Code of Conduct and Anti-harassment policy and are not representative of Fund for the City of New York/BetaNYC nor funders of Fund for the City of New York/BetaNYC’s programs.

How it works

The day begins with a blank page, a schedule (aka “The Board”) that is empty except for time slots and room locations. After informally brainstorming over breakfast, we will gather for a facilitated Brainstorm-and-Pitch session during which anyone can propose a session by writing the proposal on a session card and submitting it to BetaNYC volunteers stationed at The Board.

Sessions can take many forms: discussions, workshops, demos, or mini-hackathons, and cover a variety of city-focused topics like civic technology, housing, transportation, and education. Once the initial schedule is built, the first round of sessions kicks off and participants decide which to attend. Participants who propose a session are expected to attend that session and step in as an informal leader.

The Board

The Board is where the live schedule lives. It’s a large physical grid showing times and spaces for sessions. At CityCamp NYC, there will be three time windows (one hour each) and 10 session locations inside CUNY School of Law. So we’ll have about ~30 total slots for sessions, although there may be some adjustments depending on the total number of attendees. 

During the brainstorming and pitch time, sessions will be added and rearranged in open time slots by BetaNYC volunteers using submitted session cards with titles and short descriptions. Participants can browse the Board (both physical and virtual) throughout the day to see what’s happening and where to go next. Sessions may be added or shifted as the day goes on—check back often!

Often, participants will suggest sessions with similar titles or aims. Rather than filling up the schedule with similar sessions, BetaNYC volunteers may ask participants to co-lead with each other.

Unconference Principles

CityCamp is guided by a few key principles:

• Whoever shows up are the right people. Trust that the people in the room are the ones meant to be there.
• The law of mobility. If you’re not learning or contributing, move somewhere else. While participants who propose a session are expected to show up initially as that session’s leader, a session group can collectively decide to dissolve early or reinvent itself, and a leader can move on from a session if it has its own momentum.
• Conversations over presentations. Sessions are informal, participatory, and collaborative.
• Respect, curiosity, and openness make for better conversations. Assume good faith, listen generously, and challenge ideas, not people.

How to Propose a Session?

How do I learn more?

Join the CityCamp NYC mailing list for updates and check back at CityCamp.nyc for Announcements.