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Two hyperrealistic sculptures of young girls with solemn expressions sit side by side on a swing suspended in front of a gold-framed screen. They wear ornate white dresses adorned with colorful embellishments, Puerto Rican flags, and boxing gloves. One girl has light skin and blonde hair; the other has dark skin and black hair with beads. Sneakers peek out from beneath their dresses, blending tradition and contemporary elements.

From the Big Apple to the Capital: Insights from Code for America Summit 2025

Naeema Haque

The 5 AM Amtrak whisked me away to the land of monuments, memorials, and museums. With suited-up professionals and ducks waddling along even on the stormiest days, I began to wonder if “DC” actually stood for Ducks & Collars.

Rainy window reflections on the Amtrak into DC.
People in business clothing cross a wide zebra-striped crosswalk in Washington, DC, under umbrellas on a rainy day. Traffic and tall buildings fill the background.
DC pedestrians powering through the rain in business attire.
A mother duck and her ducklings walk casually on a wet sidewalk near some grass, seemingly unfazed by the urban environment.
Sidewalk ducks, unbothered and on brand for DC.

This past May, I had the privilege of representing BetaNYC at Code for America’s 2025 Summit in Washington, D.C., after my proposal to speak on BetaNYC’s Mapping for Equity Project: Open Data for Civic Innovation was selected. This year’s theme, “Designing for Change, Delivering for the Future,” featured four tracks, with ours focused on People Power + Community.

I presented on how BetaNYC leverages NYC’s Open Data Portal and OpenStreetMap to drive equitable urban change through civic technology. I also demoed SCOUT, an open-source tool now maintained by BetaNYC that helps users connect datasets across city, state, and federal portals. The goal? To show how open data and community-centered tools can foster transparency, innovation, and inclusive public participation to spark a more just city.

I was especially thrilled to present to an audience full of people who were not only excited about our Mapping for Equity work and open data, but also enthusiastic lovers of New York. Folks came up afterward to chat and snag some of our limited-edition zines and stickers—a proud BetaNYC tradition.

A laptop showing a presentation sits on a podium in an elegant conference room with chandeliers and wood trim.
A speaker presents at a podium in a formal room with red curtains and tall windows during a Summit session.
Sharing our work at the Summit stage in the Diplomat room.

Throughout the Summit, I joined keynotes, panels, lightning talks, breakout sessions, demo presentations, and even themed social hours. Attendees came from all corners of the States (and beyond!) and brought a wide range of expertise: students, consultants, government leaders, CEOs, and more.

I had the chance to chat with Andrew Lui, a Torontonian and Code for Canada representative, and we bonded over shared qualms with the current affairs of our governments and experience with Canadian cities. Also, I explored the Summit’s Demo Lab with early-career civic tech friends Jayalakshmi (Jaya) Marella and Allison Wan, a highlight that added both camaraderie and curiosity to the experience.

I learned how local governments and organizations across the country are using open data and generative AI to create real impact—from transforming customer service in city call centers to using AI to assist with unemployment benefit appeals. The energy and thoughtfulness behind each session of the Summit were palpable, creating a well-rounded and inspiring space for both learning and connection.

Exploring how AI can be used in shaping public services with live innovation at the Demo Lab.

A quote that’s stayed with me came from Code for America’s CEO Amanda Renteria:

“The new world isn’t just struggling to be born—it’s waiting for us to build it.”

The Summit’s Tree of Becoming invited attendees to reflect on what they’re taking into tomorrow, whether a wish, a lesson, a promise, or a possibility, speaking to how we are building our new world.

One of my favorite moments was attending the curated social hour themed Cards for Humanity: Tarot as a Catalyst for Change in Yourself and Your Community, where tarot cards were used to spark self-reflection and storytelling of our most meaningful experiences. There, I met Eva Cheng, Principal Data Engineer for the City of Burbank and a former New Yorker, who sweetly supported me at my presentation. I also met Tyler Gindraux (a fellow Brooklynite!) who shared the incredible work she’s doing with Blue Tiger to improve government services for veteran communities, alongside Shashank Khandelwal, Blue Tiger’s CEO—both who shared their moments of discovery and change through the tarot card activity.

You can check out all the inspiring mainstage programming on Code for America’s YouTube channel, including keynotes, panel discussions, fireside chats and more.

Amanda Renteria speaking words of wisdom at the keynote.
The Tree of Becoming, where ideas take root.
Two woman wearing professional attire and conference badges smile for a photo in a conference room with draped tables, round-backed chairs and presentation screens amongst other attendees.
Naeema and Eva at the Cards for Humanity social hour.

Outside of the Summit, this was also my first solo trip outside NYC and my first time at DC! The two cities felt surprisingly similar—walkable with a navigable transit system, but the sheer open green spaces and gorgeous brutalist architecture train stations were a refreshing contrast. I managed to visit several memorials and monuments in one long loop, clocking in at over 21,000 steps for the day.

Gallery Pl-Chinatown Station’s bold, brutalist welcome.
A person with bright pink hair stands in front of the Lincoln Memorial, partially turned toward the camera. Abraham Lincoln’s statue is visible in the background, along with other visitors.
Abraham Lincoln and I, mid-walk.
A quiet moment at the World War I Memorial.

While I didn’t get to many museums due to tight post-Summit schedules, I did squeeze in a visit to the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum, both housed in the historic Old Patent Office Building and featuring stunning art installations and exhibits. I closed out my trip with Japanese fusion Detroit-style pizza at Tonari in DC’s Chinatown, then promptly got drenched in a downpour walking back to my train.

The Luce Foundation Center’s quiet brilliance.
“Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii” by Nam June Paik lights up the museum.
A vibrant evening in DC’s Chinatown.
close-up of a rectangular slice of Detroit-style pizza topped with creamy sauce and garnishes, served on a white plate with pickled peppers and a drink in the background.
Detroit-style pizza meets Japanese flavors—perfection.

I’m deeply grateful to BetaNYC for giving me the opportunity to represent our work on such a national stage, and to Code for America for creating space for innovation, impact, and collaboration. I return with new ideas, meaningful connections, and a renewed sense of how civic technology can and must center equity and community. The civic tech community was ever-welcoming and I look forward to continuing to building, learning and co-creating in spaces like this and beyond.