NYC Mesh

Volunteer

Maintaining and growing NYC Mesh wouldn't be possible without a dedicated community of volunteers! We welcome people with diverse skill sets and backgrounds to help, contribute and lead. We are open to new ideas and initiatives, especially if you are self-motivated and enjoy collaborating with others.

Volunteer Areas

Outreach

  • - Tabling
  • - Social media, Design & UX
  • - Building & neighborhood internet sign-ups
  • - Grant writing

Installation & Maintenance

  • - Rooftop installation of nodes
  • - Node configuration
  • - Large hub maintenance
  • - Fiber install in large buildings

Software

  • - Database management
  • - Mapping visualization tools creation
  • - Frontend & UX enhancements
  • - Networking automation
  • - Data & reporting tools

Networking & Infrastructure

  • - Supernode installation
  • - Network monitoring & diagnostics
  • - Network routing
  • - Server design, installation, maintenance

How To Volunteer

  1. 1

    Join Our Slack Channel

    Join our Slack – Slack is our main form of communication. Once you’re in Slack, check out #new-volunteer-onboarding channel.

  2. 2

    Visit In-Person Open Mesh Night

    Every Tuesday 7pm - late(ish) at 53 Bridge St, Unit 509, Brooklyn. Open Mesh Night is our weekly event to discuss current projects, meet other volunteers, and hangout in the mesh room.

  3. 3

    Fill Out New Volunteer Sign-Up Form

    Register your interest and skills by completing our short form.

  4. 4

    Join On-Boarding Introduction

    Attend a new volunteer onboarding session. Not required to volunteer, you can also just show up :)

Volunteering at NYC Mesh

FAQ

What type of volunteers are best for NYC Mesh? ▼
All types! We welcome people with diverse skill sets - from technical networking and software to outreach, grant writing, and graphic design. Self-motivated people who enjoy collaborating do great here.
Do I need to have tech experience to volunteer? ▼
Not at all. While tech skills are useful for some roles, we also need help with outreach, event coordination, grant writing, graphic design, and community organizing.
Do you train new volunteers? ▼
We have a collaborative culture in which all new volunteers will learn from experienced volunteers.
What is it like to volunteer with NYC Mesh? ▼
NYC Mesh is a non-hierarchical, collaborative, welcoming community. Most volunteers don’t have a specific ‘job description’ - we work on whatever projects we find interesting. You are welcome to start your own project, or join an existing one.
Do I need to be based in NYC? ▼
For installation and maintenance work, yes. But for software development, design, outreach materials, grant writing, and other remote-friendly tasks, you can contribute from anywhere!
Who do I contact for more information? ▼
The best way to get in touch is Slack. You can also email us or come to an Open Mesh Night in person.
What do you currently need the most help with? ▼
We need help with a variety of technical and non-technical tasks, such as project management, outreach, grant writing, and community organizing.
What days and times are new volunteer activities? ▼
Most volunteer activities are nights and weekends. Our main weekly event is Open Mesh Night, every Tuesday at 7pm at 53 Bridge St, Unit 509, Brooklyn. We also hold monthly Meetups - check Meetup.com/nycmesh for dates.
Does NYC Mesh offer paid opportunities and internships? ▼
NYC Mesh is primarily volunteer-run. Occasionally there are paid positions, grants, and internships. Please post in Slack if you’re interested in doing an internship.
I have a similar project, how do I learn about NYC Mesh? ▼
Join our Slack and check out the NYC Mesh Wiki for documentation, guides, and technical resources.
Is NYC Mesh in my neighborhood, or can I expand it? ▼
You can check to see whether your neighborhood is on NYC Mesh using our map tool. If it is not, volunteers are welcome to propose an expansion into their neighborhood.
Do you accept space, equipment, and/or financial donations? ▼
Yes! NYC Mesh accepts donations of working and reasonably modern networking equipment and antennas. We also welcome donations of space for meetups and events, and monetary donations are tax-deductible.

Upcoming Events