The Smart Chicago Collaborative put together a really good but incomplete list of civic technology groups and resources. Below are some of these resources. Please add anything that they missed!
Chicago Code for America Brigade
A "brigade" is a local chapter of Code for America, a national civic technology nonprofit based out of San Francisco. They run a weekly Open Government Hack Night.
Free Geek Chicago
This nonprofit provides electronics repair and recycling services, low-cost computers, free computer literacy training, and more. (See also: Free Geek Portland)
- Website
- Mailing list
- Open Hack: A weekly hack night!
Open Gov Chicagoland
A government transparency and civic innovation group.
- Email list
- Meetup group (open to the public)
Data Potluck
A data potluck! Come learn about what people are doing!
Connect Chicago
These folks work in the realm of digital divide--both access to hardware and access to computer literacy skills.
...there are way more resources here. Please add!