“CAN YOU PLEASE SEND ME THE AGENDA IN ADVANCE?”

NO.

But here are some cool videos we made to distract you.

Here’s a fast spin through our first day in Boston for GovCity 2 on November 13/14, 2019. This should give you a sliver of an idea of the energy and the activities, but to be sure, if you apply to GovCity, this won’t be your experience.

The city, location, weather, itinerary, and especially the dynamic in the room changes as the people change and as GovCity continues to evolve. To be sure, you aren’t having a repeat experience if you join us a second, third, hopefully even more times. We’d love to see you three times a year!

Nearly 50% of our alums (who we lovingly refer to as the #GovCityCouncil) return for their second GovCity in a row, and we’re very proud of that fact because it’s a sign of fullness. Of the experience, that you leaned into the group and you want more of it. We’re also proud of that stat because we’re VERY aware that there’s no shortage of demo days, pitches, industry events, conferences, innovation workshops, hackathons, innovation theater tours, and so much more. There’s a time and a place for everything, but there’s not time and you’re never in that exact place, every time. When our alums return, we throw them at the group in leadership roles — if they want it. So far, they all do!

Here’s a good spot to mention that we’re working hard to establish a fellowship/scholarship opportunity to help with travel costs. Obviously you’ll need to check with your agency or corporation to ensure that’s within the legal and ethical guidelines, but if you clear it on your side, and we supply it on our side — that’s a win. Look for more on this in our summer Cohort when we head to Chicago!

Here’s trouble. #GovCityCouncil members Rashad, Greg and Prescott dig into the finer sides — or not — of bureaucracy at one of our 7 kickoff sessions in Boston on November 13, 2019. Truth be told, these three incredibly diverse thinkers from all walks of government and service could likely solve all our nation’s problems if we only had enough coffee on hand and a much bigger whiteboard.

“I like the scientific spirit—the holding off, the being sure but not too sure, the willingness to surrender ideas when the evidence is against them: this is ultimately fine—it always keeps the way beyond open—always gives life, thought, affection, the whole man, a chance to try over again after a mistake—after a wrong guess.”

― Walt Whitman

Here’s a sneak peek at Day 2 of our GovCity 2 Cohort in Boston. Relationships matter. Relationships formed over a great BBQ meal and strategy all day? Even better.

“When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are.”
― Donald Miller

Pictured in the freeze frame, our Founder Molly Cain, inducting the GovCity 2 cohort into the #GovCityCouncil on November 19, 2019 in Boston, MA.

Freeze frame capture of the great Adam Furtado, Branch Chief of the famed Kessel Run, one of the sharpest software groups in the USAF.

GovCity by its mere design and the nature in which we’re organically growing, is a collective. A self-selected one, through not only the raw ambition and go-getness of our civil servants who often have to find unique routes to even have the opportunity to walk in our door, but also through the genuine referrals we get from our most inspired alums. As a rule, we do not allow you to transfer your invitation to GovCity — YOU applied for that spot. And as an even more important rule, we do not allow anyone to delegate their seat to a subordinate. We have high-ranking SES colleagues, GS-14, GS-15 and you’ll generally spot a General or UnderSecretary popping in to the experiences if they hear that a GovCity is happening in their vicinity. That’s not because it’s elite, but rather, because it’s worth being there.

If you’re accepted into GovCity, you were accepted on purpose. We encourage you to trust that invitation and grip it like a Willy Wonka ticket.

With the spirit of becoming a collective unit in mind, comes great responsibility to let it become what it wants to be. Yes, we absolutely send our GovCity cohort participants into certain directions to get things started, but it doesn’t take long until one of you crazies takes the reins. We try to lay off the expectations (this is why you’ll never receive an agenda in advance) and let the collective do what it’s there for — work together, differently, every time.

“The Seven Social Sins are:
Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principle.
Frederick Lewis Donaldson in Westminster Abbey

BOSTON 2019 GRADUATION NIGHT

Graduation is a rite of passage, regardless of the achievement. We honor that special walk, whether that be to get your badass shirt, or a high five, or paper, or something shiny. You get it.

On November 14, 2019, we proudly graduated our second GovCity cohort. Congratulations to the 60+ individuals who made it through the uncomfortable, exciting and chilly adventure.

Special thanks to Red Hat for opening their Innovation Labs to us for the experience.