About this Event
Building with Neighbors is a free, one-day event where people bring real problems and ideas, then work alongside neighbors with different skills and experiences to explore them and build useful solutions. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Throughout the day, we'll work through real problems, explore where software and everyday technology can help, and create simple prototypes to test our ideas.
Each block has a hands-on component, so you'll get real practice with the discovery and build process.
Building with Neighbors is hosted by Bakita Labs as part of The Google Data Center Community AI Fellowship, powered by Watson Institute in partnership with Google.
Saturday, December 5, 2026 · Cedar Rapids Public Library, Busse Branch · Free to attend
Because space, snacks, and materials are limited, we’ll ask everyone to reconfirm their seat shortly before the event. If your plans change, no problem - just release your spot so we can offer it to someone on the waitlist.
12/5
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Welcome
Info: Meet people, open discussion on ideas, problems, skills, and questions, and see what knowledge is already in the room.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Understand the Problem + Make It Testable
Info: Learn how to get to the bottom of the real problem, identify and rule out assumptions, and turn ideas into something small enough to test.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch Break + Optional Demos/Q&A
Info: Eat, connect, or join informal demos of useful tools and approaches.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Community Problem Lab + CoLab
Info: Work through one example together, then apply the process to your own idea, someone else’s, or a guided activity.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM
What Changed + What’s Next
Info: Reflect on what you clarified or created, who you connected with, and your next step.
12/6
🕑: 01:30 PM - 01:45 PM
Welcome and project introductions
🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:30 PM
Solution Speed Dating
Info: The people bringing ideas or problems sit at stations. Everyone else rotates every 10 minutes.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:40 PM
Break Time
🕑: 02:40 PM - 03:00 PM
Hivemind Sessions
Info: Someone volunteers a challenge, the group spends 10 minutes swarming it.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 04:15 PM
Open Build Time & Help Wanted Board
🕑: 04:15 PM - 04:30 PM
Wrap-up
12/12
🕑: 09:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Open Office Hours & Open Build
Info: Now that you've had a week to mull everything over and digest it - keep the momentum going! Sometimes you need a little space for shower thoughts to develop.
Event venue & nearby stays
Cedar Rapids Public Library, Busse Branch, 1845 Sandberg Lane, Cedar Rapids, United States
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