NourishAI Hackathon: Hack for Food and Health Equity in NYC

About 2.8 Millions of New Yorkers rely on food benefits to survive, 1.6 Million households —but most receive no guidance on how to turn those funds into preventive, culturally relevant care.

in collaboration with G.I.V.E. Inc. proudly presents the NourishAI hackathon. We’re building a WhatsApp-based AI agent to help at risk communities in NYC:

• • Women, Infants, and children (WIC programs)
  • Optimize Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)
  • Get personalized meal plans according to dietary restrictions
  • Receive weekly nutrition guide and nudges to inform the families
• Outcome: Prototype MVP chatbot that listens, learns, and supports families like a neighborhood health and nutrition worker.

1) Go ahead and register here on Eventbrite and a QR code.

2) Register as a volunteer on the DSSG-NYC volunteer form.

Posted on the Hackathon Github Page.

• Registration & Check-In
• Volunteers at desk, participants receive badges/swag
• Coffee & light snack

• Kickoff & Welcome
• Intro to schedule, rules, deliverables
• Quick orientation on APIs (ChatGPT + WhatsApp demo)
• Introduce captains, volunteers, and judges

• Hacking Session #1: If there is enough participants, Split two teams competing with each other
• Teams brainstorm, form groups (if not pre-formed)
• Mentors circulate to assist
• Pacers check on setup of ChatGPT and WhatsApp APIs

• Lunch & Networking
• Relax and mingle with other participants and mentors

• Hacking Session #2
• Focused development sprint
• Pacers check teams’ progress and encourage testing
• Organizers keep reminding about deliverables submission process

• Break

• Submission Deadline Reminder & Final Touches
• Timekeeper announces countdown (15 min left, 5 min left, final submission call)
• Collect all project links (Google Form/Devpost/etc.)

• Project Demos & Judging
• Each team presents demo (5 mins each, adjust if many teams)
• Judges score based on criteria: Innovation, Impact, Functionality, Presentation
• Winners Announced & Group Thank You
• Prizes awarded, photos taken, closing remarks

• Happy Hour at local bar
• Casual networking, celebration of winners, and socializing after event

Also check out other Contests in Brooklyn, Health & Wellness events in Brooklyn.