Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 29, and get ready for NYC School of Data!
BetaNYC invites you to become an integral part of our community conference, which brings together the City’s technology, data, and design communities annually during Open Data Week.
We’re looking for dedicated volunteers to help make this year’s conference an unforgettable experience. Together, we’ll bring hundreds of people to CUNY School of Law for a jam-packed day of 30+ conference talks, workshops, and sessions.
Apply today. We look forward to meeting you!
Volunteering at NYC School of Data
Application Link: https://betanyc.forms.fm/nyc-school-of-data-2025-volunteer-application/forms/9976
Application Deadline: We are accepting volunteers on a rolling basis. Please complete your application by 3 March 2025 at 11:59 pm.
Application Details: We will notify volunteers of their acceptance by 5 March 2025. Please know that a submission does not guarantee entrance to the event. If your application is not selected, you will receive an offer to purchase a ticket at an early bird rate.
Who should apply? People who like to collaborate, solve problems, take initiative, and facilitate great experiences for others. We are passionate about public interest technology, NYC, and inclusive community events— it would be great if you are too, but it is not a prerequisite. Bring your experience, or come to learn! We hope you will create connections and find a home in our community.
Volunteering at NYC School of Data
When do you need volunteers?
We’re looking for people to support our team on Friday, 28 March (set-up) and Saturday, 29 March (production). In most cases, volunteer shifts are four hours.
Where does volunteering take place?
All volunteer shifts will occur at the conference venue: CUNY School of Law, 2 Ct Square W, Long Island City.
What will volunteers do? There are many ways to participate. Read the volunteer role descriptions in the next section for more details. In your application, select ALL of the roles that sound most interesting to you! We will do our best to make assignments according to your preferences.
What is provided?
- Breakfast, Lunch, Refreshments, Snacks
- On-site childcare is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Children must be vaccinated and registered under a childcare ticket.
- Free access to *most* conference sessions! Outside of your shift, volunteers are invited to participate in the conference events as general attendees.
Descriptions of Volunteer Positions
Captains: Captains are responsible for leading a small team of volunteers to success on their shift! Captains ensure that their team knows where to be and what to do at all times. They serve as a point of contact and are comfortable giving direction, resolving conflict, and being in a leadership role. Captains will need to spend a small amount of time preparing for their shift before the conference. This involves reviewing a run of show and checking in with BetaNYC staff to clarify any questions and understand expectations about the assignment. This is a great position (and resume builder!) for someone interested in harnessing their leadership skills.
Culinary Crew: You help ensure conference guests are well-fed! As a volunteer on the culinary crew, you will keep an eye on food and beverage stations, ensuring they’re set up nicely, well stocked, and accessible by attendees throughout the day. If you love bringing people together around food and thrive in a production environment, this role is for you!
Info Desk / Concierge: You are responsible for answering questions from conference attendees at our Information Desk. If you are a courteous and professional communicator, enjoy helping people, and are comfortable sitting at a desk for the duration of a shift, this role is for you! This role requires minimal physical activity.
Main Stage Tech: You are responsible for helping ensure all sessions on the Main Stage run smoothly. This is an all-day role for someone with technical knowledge and skills (experience in AV is a plus!) who likes to problem-solve and is generally unflappable.
Photographer: You are responsible for capturing conference moments! As a photographer, you will take photographs of guests, presenters, conference talks and workshops, special guests, staff, and volunteers. After the conference, you will send your photos to us in a timely manner. If event photography is your jam, you are comfortable with a camera and know how to be boldly inconspicuous, this role is for you!
Pinch-hitter: You are responsible for filling in where needed! Often, this entails delivering a message and being a point of contact for vendors (childcare staff, caterers, audio/visual) and speakers. If you’re professional, communicative, reliable, and comfortable making small trips around the venue, this role is for you! You will be on your feet in this role, potentially using an escalator or elevator to guide special guests to a designated room.
Registration Greeter: You are the first point of contact at the conference! You are responsible for welcoming and checking in guests at the registration tables. If you’re hospitable, a team player, and attentive to details, we want you! You should be comfortable sitting at a table for the duration of your shift and using an iPad or tablet to check in guests (we’ll show you how!).
Session and Tech Monitor: You are responsible for greeting and supporting presenters in their session room before and throughout their conference session. We’re looking for people who are sociable and supportive (presenters might be nervous!), punctual (keep things on time, even if it means interjecting yourself), and know how to operate Zoom on a desktop computer. This role requires minimal physical activity.
Space Navigator: You are responsible for controlling traffic and directing people to the correct location. If you like wayfinding, have a knack for exploring spaces and don’t mind being on your feet, this role is for you!
Thank you for your interest. We hope that volunteering at NYC School of Data will provide meaningful, everlasting connections. You can learn more about the conference at https://schoolofdata.nyc. The program and keynotes will be published there next month. If you have any questions, please contact us at < schoolofdata+vol@beta.nyc >.