What is a Social Justice Hackathon?

A weekend event where students, programmers, faculty, justice advocates, public servants, community legal providers, writers, storytellers, and members of the Philly community all come together to design creative solutions to respond to specific justice needs of Philly residents and neighborhoods.

What organizations are hosting this hackathon?

The Philadelphia Social Justice Hackathon is proudly hosted by the law schools of the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Villanova University, and Temple University. These four institutions are united in their commitment to community‑driven innovation and equitable access to justice.

Do I need any coding or technical experience to participate in this event?

No – this hackathon is designed for everyone. Teams benefit from a mix of skills and perspectives, and there is plenty of room for anyone with any background to contribute.

What happens after the opening night?

The opening night is Friday. At the end of opening night, people will have the opportunity to form groups around projects. On the Saturday and Sunday afterward, we'll open doors at 8:00am at the same venue (Penn Carey Law School) for participants to work on their projects.

Philadelphia Social Justice Hackathon 2026 Tickets, Friday, Mar 27 at 5:30 pm to Sunday, Mar 29 at 4 pm

Q: Do I need to pay any money to attend or participate in this event?

No – all events are free to attend and open to all participants, regardless of coding experience or affiliation with an organization or university!

Overview

Let's make Philadelphia stronger with access to justice for all!

Welcome! This hackathon will kick off on Friday at The University of Pennsylvania's Carey School of Law: 3501 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

The Philadelphia Social Justice Hackathon is a 36-hour event to bring students, programmers, and other “civic-minded hackers” together – to work in collaboration with justice advocates, public servants, community legal providers, and members of the community, to enhance the use of open data and develop technology solutions that respond to the specific justice needs of residents and neighborhoods most impacted by social, economic, and environmental injustices in Philadelphia. Bring your skills and interests, whatever they may be, and join us to get inspired about what we can do for Philly! For more information, including a full schedule, please check out socialjusticehackathon.com.

The event is free to attend and open to all participants, regardless of coding experience or affiliation with an organization or university.

The Format

The hackathon kicks off with an opening reception followed by an intensive sprint. Participants can form teams and have the option to either work on their own ideas, or on challenges provided by our community partners.

Teams will have access to experienced mentors and hear from inspiring speakers. The event culminates with final presentations, before an esteemed panel of community judges. Winning teams will receive small awards and where possible, connections to organizational support and key partners to further develop, validate and implement solutions created.

For more information, including a full schedule, check out socialjusticehackathon.com or reach out at info@socialjusticehackathon.com.

Follow us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linktree

Let's make Philadelphia stronger with access to justice for all!

Welcome! This hackathon will kick off on Friday at The University of Pennsylvania's Carey School of Law: 3501 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

The Philadelphia Social Justice Hackathon is a 36-hour event to bring students, programmers, and other “civic-minded hackers” together – to work in collaboration with justice advocates, public servants, community legal providers, and members of the community, to enhance the use of open data and develop technology solutions that respond to the specific justice needs of residents and neighborhoods most impacted by social, economic, and environmental injustices in Philadelphia. Bring your skills and interests, whatever they may be, and join us to get inspired about what we can do for Philly! For more information, including a full schedule, please check out socialjusticehackathon.com.

The event is free to attend and open to all participants, regardless of coding experience or affiliation with an organization or university.

The Format

The hackathon kicks off with an opening reception followed by an intensive sprint. Participants can form teams and have the option to either work on their own ideas, or on challenges provided by our community partners.

Teams will have access to experienced mentors and hear from inspiring speakers. The event culminates with final presentations, before an esteemed panel of community judges. Winning teams will receive small awards and where possible, connections to organizational support and key partners to further develop, validate and implement solutions created.

For more information, including a full schedule, check out socialjusticehackathon.com or reach out at info@socialjusticehackathon.com.

Follow us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linktree

#SJHPHL #CivicTech #AccessToJustice #LegalHack #CivicHacking #LegalInnovation #MakeLawBetter #JusticeInnovation #Innovation #Impact #Build #Policy #Empowerment #CommunityEmpowerment #LawAndTech #OpenData #LegalWriting #Philly #Philadelphia #Community

Good to know

Highlights

1 day 22 hours
In person

Location

Penn Carey Law

3501 Sansom Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

How do you want to get there?

Agenda

05:30 PM - 08:00 PM

Day 1: Hackathon Opening Night and Keynote

05:30 PM - 06:15 PM

Registration & Pizza

06:15 PM - 07:00 PM

Opening Keynote

Frequently asked questions

Organized by

S

Social Justice Hackathon

Followers--

Events10

Hosting10 years

Report this event