Flatiron School is a mission-driven institution, with a clear goal that serves as our north star – to empower a better life through education for all. Given this, it does not come as a surprise that many of our graduates go on to make meaningful impacts in causes that matter to them; their own north star guiding their careers to fields that matter. To support our students’ ambitious goals to contribute to the greater good, Flatiron School has developed partnerships with leading organizations across industries and provides unique opportunities for students to contribute to causes that matter. As we near the general election on November 5, two partnerships of particular interest are with DigiDems and WeVote, organizations at the forefront of political engagement and voting rights activism.
DigiDems: Supporting Competitive Campaigns with Technology
DigiDems, a company that provides technical specialists to the Democratic party, is another key employer partner. In fact, almost four dozen Flatiron School grads have worked at the company. Kane Miller, Executive Director of DigiDems shares that “DigiDems has proudly hired over 44 Flatiron School alumni since 2018 because of their grads’ unwavering commitment to professional growth and their ability to drive positive impact on political campaigns with creative applications of emerging technologies.”
These graduates have been instrumental in supporting some of the nation’s most competitive political campaigns, bringing their expertise to the frontlines of democracy. Miller adds, “The passion and dedication we’ve seen Flatiron grads bring to their work aligns exactly with what we’re looking for in each cohort, and we’re grateful to count on Flatiron as a valuable partner.”
Alumni are staffed in the six months leading up to Election Day allowing graduates to apply their technical skills in a high-pressure, real-world environment that contributes to an influential campaign. A recent data science alum spoke highly of the experience, saying “as a Deputy Data Director for DigiDems, I use data analysis to drive political strategies and ensure the campaign has the insights needed to win for candidates up and down the ballot. Some technical tools I’m using every day are python, sql, hex, studio looker, dbt, and big query.”
WeVote: Empowering Informed Voters
WeVote, a nonprofit technology startup, is revolutionizing the way voters engage with the political process. Their mission to create a digital voter guide is powered by a 100+ volunteer-driven community, offering a nonpartisan, open-source platform that connects voters with the issues they care about, through trusted sources.
Since November 2023, WeVote has accepted more than 10 Flatiron School graduates as volunteers into their team, where they have played critical roles in developing and enhancing WeVote’s Ballot Guide. “I appreciate how every Flatiron School graduate we work with comes ready to work, with their sleeves rolled up, “ says Dale McGrew, WeVote Co-Founder and CTO. “They have a strong work ethic and a burning desire for self-improvement.”
Flatiron School’s partnership with WeVote demonstrates the alignment of our graduates’ skills with the needs of organizations that are driving social change. Steven Smith, a 2023 Flatiron School graduate and WeVote Software Engineer says, “at WeVote, I’ve gained hands-on experience with full-stack development, improving my skills in both frontend and backend technologies. I’m particularly proud of contributing to new features that streamline the voting process, enhancing user experience and scalability while working with a great team!”
Dedicated to Finding North Star Partners
DigiDems and WeVote exemplify our employer partnerships’ impact on the unique careers Flatiron School students pursue after graduation. We are proud to see our alumni contributing to social causes and making a difference where it matters most, using the skills they honed while at Flatiron School.
Interested in becoming a Flatiron School employer partner? Email hire@flatironschool.com.
