How Maps Speak: A Mapping Commons Hackathon

Build public-facing mapping tutorials, examples, and workflows using NYC Open Data.

How Maps Speak is a collaborative virtual hackathon focused on building Mapping Commons, an open educational resource for public mapping. Rather than centering on a single technical product, this event brings together participants from different disciplines to co-create beginner-friendly tutorials, annotated examples, and community-oriented workflows that show how maps help people understand places, data, and communities.

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Virtual
Register Here

This hackathon is designed as the starting point for [Mapping Commons], a shared resource that can grow over time into a broader collection of tools, examples, and teaching materials.

Who Should Participate

This hackathon welcomes an interdisciplinary group of participants, including:

• students and researchers

• urban planners, designers, and architects

• community organizers and advocates

• educators, librarians, and journalists

• data visualization practitioners

No advanced technical, coding, or GIS experience is required. Experience thinking about how maps communicate with non-expert or community audiences is especially welcome.

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