I led the transformation of the Make the Breast Pump Not Suck Hackathon 2018 from an event to a multi-year research project and community-based design program. In addition to a hackathon, we undertook a national-scale research project, hosted an art exhibition, published a book, ran a nine-month community design program and hosted a policy summit called the Make Family Leave Policy Not Suck Summit.
300+ hackathon participants worked in groups to design telehealth lactation services, better nursing spaces, milk bank technology, nursing clothing and community-based interventions, in addition to hacking the breast pump itself. The hackathon was preceded by a qualitative research project and community design program where we worked with leaders in racial equity in breastfeeding to develop their ideas and co-design the hackathon event.
