From pandemic to community power: Mutual Aid Network wins FutureHack for Good

Community Tech, comprising Monica Flores and Giesha Nuñez, won the Best Hack in the Hack for Good track at FutureHack 2021 for creating a Mutual Aid Network app designed to facilitate neighborly support within communities. Inspired by the spontaneous mutual aid networks that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, the app aims to streamline requests for assistance, such as grocery deliveries or eldercare, by categorizing and managing them in a self-organizing, time-bound, and filterable manner. Developed in a 24-hour hackathon using tools like Drupal, Pantheon, and New Relic for monitoring, the app's prototype showcases how technology can support community-driven solutions. The project highlights the potential for open-source technology and collaborative efforts to address local needs effectively, and the team's next steps include refining the app and possibly launching it beyond the pilot version.