Come support our young people by sharing your professional skills and experiences in our programs. Read on to learn how you can get involved!
Hack the Hood aims to foster a strong community—one wherein young adults feel supported and can build trust with our staff and reliable adults who will forge mentor-like relationships. We are looking for patient and open-minded volunteers who have an empathetic understanding of various forms of privilege and intersectionality, especially in the context of the tech industry and the Bay Area. Volunteers must recognize that they too can step back and learn from the young people we serve, and strive to meet program participants where they are, both emotionally and skill-wise.
While we welcome volunteer applications from everyone, we especially encourage folks from under-represented backgrounds in tech, including women, Latinx, Black or African-Americans, and people with untraditional educational pathways (i.e. self-taught or attended a bootcamp).
Volunteer Roles
All our volunteer roles currently fall on weekdays during a typical work week. We occasionally seek additional professional skills (for example, event planning or guest instructors). Our roles are seasonal and we recruit volunteers before each program season begins. Check this page for current volunteer roles.
We have three program seasons:
Spring: February - May
Summer: June - August
Fall: October - November
We have three program seasons:
Spring: February - May
Summer: June - August
Fall: October - November
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Tech Coaches
Tech Coaches get the first hand look at what our students are learning and creating in the classroom by leading a group of 4-6 students in a coding or Raspberry Pi activity. Following a lecture led by the instructor, the class will break into small groups and the Tech Coach will facilitate a hands-on activity for one group. The ability to build rapport with our students and instructors is key for this role, as these volunteers are like an extension of our staff. Tech Coaches commit to once a week in the Raspberry Pi or Tech Prep Coding course. Volunteers are not expected to create curriculum or activities, but act as an additional facilitator and tech expert in the room. |
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Job Readiness Tutors
This is a great role for folks who are passionate about building up students’ soft skills and confidence. Although it’s helpful, it’s not necessary for Job Readiness Tutors to have experience in the tech industry. Tutors help a small group of 3-6 students write and speak about their accomplishments in workshops addressing resume-building, LinkedIn profiles, and networking skills. Hack the Hood graduates often say they’ve become more confident speakers and that is in large part due to our Job Readiness Tutors. Tutors commit to at least two workshops per program. Please check back in December for Job Readiness Tutor updates. |
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Photographers
Photographers are instrumental for the success of our Web Development Bootcamps, where our students build websites for small business owners. Photographers capture the small business clients and their business, and students include these photos on the small businesses’ websites. Without these photos, students would not be able to create a compelling website for their clients. Photographers commit to around 5 hours of work. We are not actively recruiting photographers at this time. Please check back in December for Photographer updates. |
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Copywriters
Our copywriters get to know our small business clients and their stories by editing and crafting copy that students include on their small business clients’ websites. Strong captions and business descriptions are key for a professional website, and like the work of our photographers, our student cannot create a strong website without our copywriters’ text. Photographers commit to around 5 hours of work. We are not actively recruiting photographers at this time. Please check back in December for Copywriter updates. |
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Corporate Volunteers
Local tech companies host our Bootcamp students for a business trip to their office. These trips typically include a tour of the space, and interactive skill building activity, Q&A with the team, and lunch. This is a time-commitment of 4-6 hours the day of with several hours of advanced planning. Email us today if your company that is interested in hosting a Business Trip! |
