Boulder, Colorado — Google announces that the City of Boulder has been selected for their Google.org Fellowship Program, in which small teams of Google employees provide up to six months of pro bono work, using their technical expertise across product management, software engineering and UX design to help nonprofits or local governments enhance services and accelerate social impact.
Boulder is among the first cities to be selected for this program, in which Google expects to deliver 50,000 hours of pro bono work worldwide in 2019.
Google established a presence in Boulder in 2006, and has made several philanthropic investments in the community through its philanthropic arm, Google.org, including a recent veterans’ resume workshop, STEM education programming for girls, and digital coaching for small businesses and job seekers. This most recent initiative furthers the company’s commitment to creating opportunity for everyone.
Over the past few months, city staff from several departments worked to prioritize Boulder-based projects reflecting community values, addressing unmet needs, and meeting Google.org’s program criteria. Google.org expressed interest in assisting with several projects, the first of which has been selected for program support this fall.
Together, a team of 8 “Googlers” and staff from five city departments will develop a way to help households, in particular underserved populations, to more easily access city services and programs online. City programs such as recreation center discounts and scholarships, affordable housing programs, food tax rebates, childcare subsidy, financial assistance program for older adults, and energy rebates will be easier for residents to access across city functions and through an online tool.
“The city is grateful to Google and excited to explore this improved service for our community,” said Boulder City Manager Jane Brautigam.
“This is the first time we’ve done a civics project outside of the Bay Area and we are thrilled to have the Google.org Fellowship program and our dedicated group of Fellows in Boulder — a city we’ve called home for thirteen years,” said Lauren Lambert, head of External Affairs for Google. “We cannot wait to see how this project goes over the next six months and hope that by providing pro bono support to the City, we will be able to create a lasting positive impact for residents in the local community.”
The project will simultaneously explore whether the tool can be delivered online in Spanish.
Two other City of Boulder finalist concepts – technology aiding engagement with residents of all abilities including those with hearing impairments or who require language translation, and a permitting process navigation tool – may also be explored during the Fellowship.
Once the project launches, more information will be available on the city’s website at bouldercolorado.gov.
Published: Oct. 11, 2019
Media contacts:
Yvette Bowden, Director, City of Boulder Community Vitality Department, 303-413-7215
Laura Schwinkendorf of Barefoot PR for Google, [email protected]
GOOGLE.ORG
Google.org connects nonprofit innovators with Google resources to solve complex human challenges, and ensure that everyone can participate in the digital economy. The same technology that makes our lives easier every day can also help solve some of the world’s largest problems. That’s why we’re applying advanced technology to some of our greatest challenges, like using artificial intelligence to help predict natural disasters. Everyone should be able to participate in the digital economy, so we’re providing digital skills training for job seekers, supporting online safety and media literacy, and investing in computer science education for students — particularly in underrepresented communities. We know that the best answers often come from those closest to the problem. That’s why we join forces with nonprofit innovators, committing Google volunteers, technology, and over $200 million in grants every year to help scale their impact.
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