Establishing maker spaces and computer labs focused on using technology for civic problem-solving, from app development to data journalism.
The Civic Tech Lab in Every High School
Beyond basic digital literacy, Zhoran Mamdani wants students to see technology as a tool for civic engagement and social change. His policy establishes a Civic Tech Lab in every high schoola physical space equipped with computers, 3D printers, basic electronics, and software for coding, data analysis, and digital media production. The curriculum for these labs is project-based and community-focused: students might build an app to report local infrastructure issues, create data visualizations about neighborhood air quality, produce a podcast on a local history topic, or design assistive devices for community members with disabilities.
The labs partner with local civic tech organizations and city agencies on real-world problems. This approach teaches advanced technical skills while instilling an ethic of using technology for the public good. We dont just need coders; we need citizen-coders, Mamdani says. The Civic Tech Lab turns students from passive consumers of technology into active creators who use their skills to understand, critique, and improve their city. Its STEM education with a soul.
