Matching Data Skills With Social Impact – Alex's Data Lab Journey
Alex Socarras studied Arabic and Philosophy at the University of Virginia, but after graduating and kicking off a career in translation and advocacy work, he found himself being pulled towards a more technology and data-focused path.
“I knew I wanted to transition into practical work that made a difference, and pursuing a data engineering career allowed me to bring together a little bit of each of my interests – math and statistics, software development, social good, and even philosophy. When I found the Data Lab Fellowship role, I was drawn to it because it aligned me skills and experience with a great learning environment in practical, real-world projects.”
Alex moved from Virginia to Delaware and joined the 2024 cohort as a Data Engineer. During his time as a Fellow, he had the opportunity to work with a small team of Data Scientists and Front-End Developers that collaborated on a variety of government, foundation, and nonprofit projects. One of his favorite experiences was working on a long-standing project addressing the benefits cliff in the US – a term coined for when individuals advance in their pay scale through a promotion or new job, but then are no longer eligible for social benefits including housing vouchers, food stipends, and more. “We got to work with people who were passionate about the project and committed to the work we were doing which was exciting and motivating. Not only that, but it was a great technical challenge and an experience in needing to develop multiple different approaches to find the right one. Opportunities to work on projects like this made me a much better programmer, project manager, and project leader.”
Unique aspects of the Data Lab Fellows Program, including the collaboration between Data Engineers, Scientist, and Front-End Developers, all coming from diverse backgrounds, degrees, and experiences, help Fellows like Alex leave with a variety of experiences and the opportunity to learn from other peers in practical, real-world applications of their skills. “It is such a valuable program, particularly for those of us early in our career, to be able to research new tooling and new software and to work autonomously trying different methods or techniques on real-life challenges. Not only do I get to work on implementation work, which is where my skills are focused, but I get to work on the design and presentation aspects which I wouldn’t normally get to experience.”
Now, Alex is on to his next venture, returning to the Washington, D.C. area to join fellow nonprofit organization World Center Kitchen as a Data Engineer, supporting the creation of data infrastructure and reporting pipelines to help advance their mission of providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. “This is a really exciting step in my career that aligns my skills, experience, and passions in one place.”
When reflecting on his time at Tech Impact and the Data Lab, Alex is reminded of his commitment to using his skills for social impact and bettering the world around him. “Technology skills are powerful and can be a formidable force when used for good. But, we’re in a world today where the overwhelming majority of use cases for these skills are attached to what can be seen as harmful to society. I knew I wanted to be associated with positive and impactful causes – ones that make me and everyone around me feel good about our choices.”