You guys...

Huge thanks to Ariel and Slack Technologies, Inc. for hosting us yesterday for a phenomenal training, a moving panel of our participants, and a rocking happy hour (and for the espressos before the happy hour!).

This was the first time that many of our participants had been introduced to Slack, and it has already been a game changer. Our panelists were Kat Sabine from Abortion Fund of Arizona, Cory from YWCA San Francisco & Marin, Maha Hilal from @dcjusticeformuslimscoalition, and Margarita Villa from @sadienashleadershipproject. They were so generous with their time and perspectives on how technology can and should help them in their work. Thanks all around!

If you're here, you've heard about #Tech2Empower USA because we've been flooding your feeds with the amazing women's rights activists from all over the country who have come to participate.

But what exactly is Tech2Empower USA, and why did we start it? Our wonderful co-Founder Trish Tierney explains more in this spotlight by Philanthropy Journal. Special thanks to Nicole Wood for her work in getting this published!

https://pj.news.chass.ncsu.edu/…/2018-a-year-for-womens-ri…/

#Tech2Empower USA day two is well on its way! Beth Kanter kicked us off by diving deeper into Digital Strategy (start where you are! use what you have! do what you can!) and now we have Google-ers (noun/adjective) working with our participants on the power of free Google collaboration platforms and how to make them work for your organization.

We'd tell you more, but the WAKE team is too busy paying attention...

Beth Kanter helps our #Tech2Empower USA participants articulate self care strategies to avoid burnout (have you read The Happy Healthy Nonprofit? if not, now is the time!). We'll share with you the secret self care superpower tips we have all agreed we will do MORE of going forward:

--> more running, professional therapy, plans to do nothing!, being in nature, accountability buddies, more sleep, more water, more healthy meals, loving to hear yourself say no, reading for pleasure, less screen time, massages! more cats....!

What strategies for self care are you going to devote more time to this year?

We're starting today by sharing origin stories. We have nearly 50 people here together who are coming to their gender and social justice work from different perspectives and experiences. Some are at the beginning of their work, and some have been involved heavily in this space for over 30 years. From reproductive rights to immigrant justice to justice for women of color, it is incredible to connect and learn from one another.

Here's to a strong and united movement for justice! Thanks to Lisa Kessler for the beautiful shots.

#Tech2Empower USA is officially happening people!! We're at Symantec Corporation today with 48 amazing women's rights leaders from all across the country. The fantastic Beth Kanter is kicking us off with her session on Digital Strategy.

Amazing things happen when women come together. We can't wait to see where the week takes us!

#Tech2Empower USA launches TOMORROW!!!

Our amazing participants and women's rights leaders are officially here in San Francisco, after traveling from over 20 states. Check out why Taylor S., helping to represent Planned Parenthood Action Council of Utah, is excited to participate.

Welcome, Taylor!

We've said it before and we'll say it again - a movement isn't a movement unless it's together.

That's what #Tech2Empower USA is all about: coming together from many differing perspectives, states, communities, religions, and races in the name of gender and social justice. Alana K. from Collective Impact is such a valuable addition to our team of participants. She works at the intersection of public health, empowerment of women and girls, and social justice by building a multidisciplinary consortium of researchers and activists that contribute to policy debates through strategic policy-oriented research.

We welcome Alana to San Francisco all the way from Washington, D.C.!

Four (and a half) more days until #Tech2Empower USA!

We have a very full five days of networking, workshops, trainings, and more starting this Monday. However, our incredible women's rights activists and participants are what will make this program truly unique.

Darakshan R. from Justice for Muslims Collective is no exception! The DCJMC envisions a world where Muslims around the world are treated with dignity and respect while being afforded equal access to human and civil rights. WAKE envision the same, and we are thrilled to welcome the DCJMC team to San Francisco all the way from the other side of the country!

A movement isn't a movement unless it's together. We're launching #Tech2Empower USA to bring together all facets and intersections of the fight for gender and social justice across the United States. Lourdes R., from Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA), shares with us why she's participating:

"I think Tech2Empower USA will be an important opportunity to be with other women from different places and experiences, I am thrilled by the idea that among us we can share knowledge about technology that can make our voices go further and enhance our work as a women's movement."

Only five more sleeps until we officially launch #Tech2Empower USA!

Meet Jessie N., one of our rockstar participants from New Orleans Abortion Fund, Inc.. As part of this important organization, Jessie works with local medical providers to provide compassionate and empowering assistance to women seeking abortions who are unable to fully fund their abortion.

We can't wait to meet her and her team member, Amy I., traveling all the way from Louisiana, and work with them throughout the week to leverage the latest tech + communications tools so they can scale this crucial work.