POPVOX Foundation participates in the fifth Congressional Hackathon
On September 14, 2023, POPVOX Foundation’s Deputy Director, Anne Meeker, presented a prototype demonstrating how artificial intelligence could help caseworkers better serve constituents.
POPVOX Foundation, First Branch Intern Project, host Fall “Internapalooza” in Collaboration with the Committee on House Administration
On September 11, 2023, POPVOX Foundation and the organizations of the First Branch Intern Project hosted the seventh “Internapalooza” orientation and welcome event for the Fall class of Congressional interns.
Joint Letter to Chief Administrative Officer of the House in Support of Career Paths Features
As a bipartisan group of organizations working independently to support and encourage Congressional modernization, we commend the Chief Administrative Officer of the House for the development and release of “Career Paths” features within the House of Representatives’ Human Resources Hub (HR Hub).
POPVOX Foundation welcomes Aubrey Wilson as Director of Government Innovation
POPVOX Foundation welcomes Aubrey Wilson as Director of Government Innovation. Aubrey is a bridge-builder and an institutionalist; she is passionate about elevating the good work, innovation and collaboration that happens every day in Congress but rarely makes headlines. She has consistently worked to make government more transparent, accessible and responsive and will continue this work as Director of Government Innovation at POPVOX Foundation.
Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models
This written submission is offered jointly by Westminster Foundation for Democracy and POPVOX Foundation to the UK House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee with regards to its post-legislative scrutiny inquiry of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (“the Lobbying Act”).
Congressional Intern Diversity
The makeup of the three classes of congressional interns each year can provide clues into the future Capitol Hill workforce.
POPVOX Foundation hosts webinar on burnout and care for congressional caseworkers
Caseworkers' willingness to go above and beyond to help constituents in distress can easily cross over into burnout and compassion fatigue. In this webinar, experts from the Schwartz Center for Compassion in Healthcare shared their innovative approaches to supporting caregivers facing burnout and trauma in the medical field. Caseworkers explored ways these lessons may be applied to Congressional contexts.
Reflecting on Internapalooza Summer ‘23
In appreciation of National Intern Day, Lauren Fitzgerald, a POPVOX Foundation intern, shared her reflections on Internapalooza Summer ‘23.
POPVOX Foundation Submits Response to the OSTP’s RFI on National Priorities for AI
POPVOX Foundation submitted a response to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Request for Information (“the AI RFI”) on “National Priorities for Artificial Intelligence” focused on questions related to “bolstering democracy and civic participation” and “innovating in public services.”
POPVOX Foundation Shares a Roadmap for Congressional Casework Data
POPVOX Foundation has issued guidance on the implementation of “Recommendation 172,” drawing upon the POPVOX Foundation team’s technical expertise, personal experience as caseworkers, and ongoing interactions with district staff through the Casework Navigator program.
POPVOX Foundation hosts webinar for congressional caseworkers on listening for what’s important
Caseworkers bear witness to the stories of constituents experiencing the federal government, often in the most difficult and intimate moments of their lives. In this session, we took lessons from The Moth-style storytelling to consider what makes a compelling story and what storytelling can teach us about listening. Participants also learned how practicing the skills of a good story-listener or coach can help ground and de-escalate constituents, and how the stories we hear can build support for policy change.
POPVOX Foundation Cosponsors Large Language Model x Law: Hackathon
On June 25-27, POPVOX Foundation will cosponsor the Large Language Model x Law Hackathon in New York City with the open source research community working to build Large Legal Language Models (LLLMs) that better understand (and obey) law and regulations.
POPVOX Foundation, First Branch Intern Project, host second “Internapalooza” of the 118th Congress in Collaboration with the Committee on House Administration
On June 8, 2023, POPVOX Foundation and the organizations of the First Branch Intern Project hosted the sixth “Internapalooza” orientation and welcome event for the spring class of Congressional interns.
POPVOX Foundation hosts webinar on incorporating interns into congressional casework
District and state offices well know that interns are invaluable for handling typical tasks like answering phones, opening mail, and staffing the front desk. But it can be hard in the constant churn of three new classes a year to find appropriate tasks for interns in a casework program.
POPVOX Foundation hosts webinar on Legislation & Oversight for congressional caseworkers
Caseworkers' authority to help constituents comes from Congress's oversight responsibility. But what does that mean beyond writing bills and letters? This crash course will help caseworkers understand and be an asset to their teams' legislative work, from appropriations to NDAA.
Statement from POPVOX Foundation on Today’s Attack on Congressman Connolly’s District Office
We at POPVOX Foundation unequivocally condemn today’s attack on staff and interns serving in the district office of Congressman Gerry Connolly as a reprehensible act of violence.
POPVOX Foundation Adds Bi-Weekly Case Notes Blog to Casework Navigator Features
Casework news, observations, and tips from POPVOX Foundation’s Casework Navigator team
First Branch Intern Project Organizations Commend Establishment of House Intern Resource Office
The First Branch Intern Project (FBIP), a coalition of organizations supporting congressional internships, commends the House of Representatives for taking steps to establish a House Intern Resource Office (HIRO).
POPVOX Foundation hosts briefing on AI Tools in the Congressional Workplace
On April 21, 2023, Demand Progress, Foundation for American Innovation (formerly Lincoln Network) and POPVOX Foundation held a briefing for congressional staff — in cooperation with House Digital Services — to open a discussion on the use of new AI tools in the legislative branch workflow. The event built on the article “Bots in Congress: The Risks and Benefits of Emerging AI Tools in the Legislative Branch” and was the first of several related events.
AI Tools for Congress
Demand Progress, Foundation for American Innovation (formerly Lincoln Network) and POPVOX Foundation held a briefing for congressional staff — in cooperation with House Digital Services — to open a discussion on the use of new AI tools in the legislative branch workflow. The event builds on the article “Bots in Congress: The Risks and Benefits of Emerging AI Tools in the Legislative Branch” and is the first of several related events.