What is I/O?
I/O is a technology-centered project to cultivate autonomy in our communities. We connect grassroots organizations, nonprofits, and community members with free resources on technology, including info sessions, educational materials, and workshops.
When we meet, we set a space where we as individuals and small organizations become more aware of the power in our everyday tech and personal devices, and practice utilizing that power for the betterment of our lives and communities.
Our events are free to attend, with a suggested donation of $10.
Here you will find links to helpful resources, as well as instructions on how to subscribe to our calendar of events.
Our Programs
We hosted programs (nearly) every Sunday from – at one of several locally-owned venues. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, we are not meeting in person. Instead, we encourage you to visit TechLearningCollective.com for quality online/remote IT educational workshops. When we (eventually) meet in person, we alternate between programming that is generally oriented towards Individuals (I) and programming that is generally oriented towards organizations (O) or collectives.
Of course, anyone can attend either type of gathering — this distinction is made only to help you scope what you would like to attend, and the things you would like to learn. When the topic appeals to both, the event will be marked “I/O.”
Our Ethos
In computing, I/O is short for “input/output,” and is used regularly across a variety of contexts, but most often refers to some kind of exchange between external devices and internal devices, or, moreover, between machines and humans. It is this very exchange we concern ourselves with. “Io” is also the name of Jupiter’s innermost moon. The moon was named after a mortal figure in Greek mythology, who befriends imprisoned Prometheus, and whose descendent, Heracles, eventually frees him.
We are anti-(techno)capitalists, solarpunks, and radical technologists. Our ethics place us against “Adtech,” “Fintech,” and Silicon Valley. Our programs are not part of a “bootcamp” or coding school. We are not recruiters; we actively discourage everyone from getting jobs in the “Tech” sector. If you are employed by organizations in the tech industry, please be advised that our ideology is hostile to you or your employer’s profit motive, and that we are committed to shunning common behaviors that we have seen rewarded in many other “tech” groups. Among other things, this means we strictly enforce our no-tolerance policy against bigotry of any kind.
Racism, queerphobia, transphobia, sexism, capitalist advocacy, “brogrammer,” “manarchist,” or any kind of similarly awful behavior will result in immediate removal from the venue and you will be asked never to return. Starting arguments that hijack the experience of others, speaking condescendingly, or acting in ways that makes others less able to learn will result in the same. Never take a learning opportunity away from another participant, no matter how smart you need everyone to think you are.
We believe technology is an intangible earth, with which we can and should have an earthly relationship. It is power that we can harness through holistic methods as individuals and cooperative networks for the empowerment of oneself and of one’s actual communities. Our approach stands in contrast to isolationism, sterility, and authoritarianism by being participatory, flexible, and adaptive. If this sounds like you, welcome. If not, there are plenty of other places you can go.
Calendar
During the global COVID-19 pandemic, we are no longer meeting in person. Instead, we encourage you to visit TechLearningCollective.com for quality IT educational webinars and special events.