Mark your calendars for the weekend of March 28-29, 2026, as we gear up for our biggest public interest tech events!
- Saturday, March 28, 2026: NYC School of Data
- Sunday, March 29, 2026: UnSchool of Data
BetaNYC is recruiting volunteers to help bring our two-day community conference to life at CUNY School of Law during NYC Open Data Week. Each year, NYC School of Data convenes New York City’s technology, data, design, and civic communities for a hands-on day of learning, sharing, and building practical skills for public good.
This year, we’re celebrating ten years of NYC School of Data! To mark this milestone, we’re planning a jam-packed weekend with 30+ sessions on Saturday, followed by UnSchool of Data on Sunday, an unconference-style day where participants pitch sessions and shape the agenda together in real time.
To make it all happen, we’re looking for friendly, organized volunteers to support roles such as check-in and registration, wayfinding, room support, meals, and general event help.
Help us create a welcoming and inclusive experience for everyone who attends, and build skills, connections, and community along the way!
Volunteering at NYC School of Data & UnSchool of Data
Application Link: https://betanyc.forms.fm/nyc-school-of-data-2026-volunteer-application
Application Deadline: We are accepting volunteers on a rolling basis. Please complete your application by 3 March 2026 at 11:30 pm.
Application Details: We will notify volunteers of their acceptance by March 10, 2026. Submitting an application does not guarantee a volunteer spot or entrance to the events, but all applicants will hear back from us. If your application is not selected, you will receive access to tickets at an early bird rate as a thank you for applying.
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. Bring your experience, or come to learn! We hope you will create connections and find welcome in our community.
Volunteer FAQ
When do you need volunteers?
We’re looking for people to support our team on the following days:
- Friday, March 27 (set-up)
- Saturday, March 28 (Day 1 conference production)
- Sunday, March 29 (Day 2 unconference production).
Inmost cases, volunteer shifts are four hours, and volunteers typcially work one shift per day. We welcome volunteers who are free, willing, and able to take on more than one shift or several days!
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, Queens.
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, and 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 conference events as general attendees.
Accessibility and Inclusion: We aim to make volunteering accessible to people with different abilities and needs. If you have questions or require accommodations, please contact us at < schoolofdata+vol@beta.nyc >.
Descriptions of Volunteer Positions
Board Builder (Day 2 UnSchool of Data only): Volunteers staffed at The Board will oversee setup of The Board and handle submitted session pitches. As attendees “vote” on the sessions they want to attend, you will arrange session pitches on The Board to build out the schedule. A dedicated volunteer will transcribe the sessions from The Board into the Virtual Board, while another volunteer sends emails to those whose sessions are selected.
Captains (Days 1 & 2): Lead a small team of volunteers to success on your 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 directions, resolving conflicts, and taking on a leadership role.
Captains will need to spend a short 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 (Days 1 & 2): You help ensure conference guests are well-fed! As a volunteer on the culinary crew, you will keep an eye on the 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 (Days 1 & 2): 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 throughout shift, this role is for you! This role requires minimal physical activity.
Main Stage Tech (Days 1 & 2): You are responsible for helping ensure that all Main Stage sessions 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 (Days 1 & 2): 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 own a camera and are comfortable using it, are boldly inconspicuous, this role is for you!
Pinch-hitter (Days 1 & 2): 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), as well as 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 (Days 1 & 2): 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 detail-oriented, 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 Scribe (Day 2 UnSchool of Data only): You are responsible for supporting unconference breakout sessions, including kickoff and notetaking. We’re looking for people who are sociable and supportive, punctual (able to keep sessions running on time, even if it means interjecting yourself), and comfortable with Google Docs and notetaking. This role requires minimal physical activity. Scribes must bring a laptop to support in notetaking.
Session and Tech Monitor (Day 1 School of Data only): 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 use Zoom on a desktop computer. This role requires minimal physical activity.
Space Navigator (Days 1 & 2): 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 in supporting the School of Data community. We hope that volunteering at NYC School of Data will lead to meaningful connections. You can learn more about the conference at https://schoolofdata.nyc. The program and keynotes will be published there in February. If you have any questions, please contact us at < schoolofdata+vol@beta.nyc >.
