Brag & Borrow Archives - Community Tech Network

September’s Breakfast Brag & Borrow at the Women’s Building

Laurie Sanchez — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 18:01:23 +0000

We were a small but mighty group, graciously hosted by Kristen Acosta, food pantry coordinator and programs assistant at the Women’s Building. Others in attendance were Willy Franklin (Healthright 360), Soraya Okuda (Electronic Frontier Foundation), Bret Putnam (U.S. Census Bureau), Ned Raggett (Zuckerberg SF General Library), and Laurie Sanchez (Community Tech Network). Bret Putnam, partnership specialist of the Los Angeles Regional Census Center (bret.i.putnam@2020census.gov), talked through key elements of the 2020 census. The census is to be completed online. Households will receive a PIN, but they may complete the census without the PIN. The census form will be available in English and Spanish. Other parties may do a literal translation of the survey into additional languages. Phone assistance will be available in 60 languages, including ASL (we are unsure if it will be a video call). Each household will be contacted five times to complete the census. The fifth contact will be someone in person to complete the census with a primary resident. Everyone in the household is to be counted, infant to elder, citizens and noncitizens. Citizenship is NOT asked or reported on the 2020 form. Data collected is legally mandated to be kept confidential and not shared with […]

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Breakfast Brag & Borrow: June Recap

Eric Babb — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 19:12:47 +0000

The June Breakfast Brag & Borrow was hosted at 826 Valencia for the first time. 826 Valencia is a nonprofit that serves San Francisco youth by helping them develop their creative and expository writing skills. Founded in 2002 with the support of author Dave Eggers, 826 Valencia believes that strong writing skills are the foundation to future success. Each student who takes part in a 826 Valencia program has their work published. A recent addition to the 826 Valencia repertoire is podcasting. Students can hop in the recording booth, and with the help of staff and a little bit of that 826 Valencia magic, a podcast is born. This new option gives students more creative freedom to find their voices. Also new to Breakfast Brag & Borrow was ShelterTech. Everyone deserves access to technology, including those experiencing homelessness. ShelterTech partners with community shelters and transitional housing sites to provide free Wi-Fi with the goal that patrons can use it to make progress toward their own goals. Community Tech Network continues to find avenues for community organizations to make connections in the area of digital inclusion. If you or someone you know might be interested in telling us about your […]

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Breakfast Brag & Borrow: November Recap

Eric Babb — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 19:04:54 +0000

On November 8, Breakfast Brag & Borrow returned to the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) to share success and seek answers from fellow nonprofit technology providers. As the host, SFPL gave a tour of The Bridge @ Main resources, including a set of Windows computers with the full Adobe suite installed. Any San Francisco resident with a library card can use the computers in the Learning Center on the 5th floor for an unlimited amount of time. Techtonica also had some great news to share. In an effort to increase the number of women in tech, Techtonica offers free coding apprenticeships, workplace training, and job placement opportunities to women and nonbinary individuals. The program lasts for six months and includes a living stipend with childcare for the duration of the apprenticeship program. The great news is that Techtonica successfully placed all of its first cohort of students in the Bay Area. What’s more, they are looking to repeat the process with the start of their second cohort in January 2019. If you would like more information on supporting an apprenticeship, please contact Techtonica. There were too many other participants to give each their due: BAVC, Tenderloin Tech Lab, Little Brothers Friends of […]

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Breakfast Brag & Borrow: Summer recap

Laurie Sanchez — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 15:07:35 +0000

As might be expected in a month filled with momentous graduations, transitions from school to summer schedules, and closing the San Francisco fiscal year, our June meeting hosted by Tenderloin Tech Lab was smaller than usual. Attendees were dedicated regulars: Tenderloin Tech Lab (TTL), The Women’s Building, Tech in the Tenderloin, and UCSF Zuckerberg SF General Hospital. We took this opportunity to dive deeper into the shared challenge of gaining participation in the spectrum of amazing programs we offer. The Bay Area is well above 90 percent for access to broadband, defined as high-speed service necessary to meaningfully use the Internet. But we know there is still a significant, not well measured gap in knowledgeable users. Many with and without access still do not understand the personal relevance of learning computer skills. They don’t see the positive impact it could have on meeting basic needs like communication and healthcare and on improving quality of life. We discussed conditions that draw visitors, like having charging cords for a range of mobile devices. We considered ways to broaden our reach so more learn of available services, like engaging places of faith practice. A theme for all present was providing instruction that is beyond […]

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Breakfast, Brag and Borrow: February/March recap

Laurie Sanchez — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 20:36:04 +0000

Breakfast Brag & Borrow met at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in the Tenderloin in February and March. In February, resident organization, Tech in the Tenderloin made a presentation about their work and let us know about the upcoming 2nd Annual Tech Festival coming June 29, 2018 at the Kroc Center. Staff from the Kroc Center joined us, sharing information about their after school program and providing a tour of the facility that includes a huge game (available for events) room and a computer lab that is available to host training/classes. In March, we filled our meeting room with 16 attendees and welcomed first time participants from the Tenderloin Equitable Development Project and Miracle Messages, and new representatives from the SF Main Library and JVS (Jewish Vocational Services). GoodSocial made a presentation about their new platform to engage volunteers. We had a lively discussion about challenges and needs when it comes to recruiting and retaining volunteers. GoodSocial welcomed people to try their app and provide feedback. The energy in the room was high as many engaged with questions and suggestions throughout the heart of the meeting—hearing and learning about each other’s work, accomplishments and needs.

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November Brag and Borrow Recap

Laurie Sanchez — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 22:56:03 +0000

CTN hosts a monthly gathering called Breakfast, Brag & Borrow (BB&B). Our executive director, Kami Griffiths, launched this regular meeting in 2014, hoping that people would show up (there were pastries) and … interesting things would ensue. Kami is a master at engaging people and connecting dots many don’t readily see. She is like a matchmaker, looking to foster partnerships and opportunities that reach and serve more people and that capitalize on the huge resource of the work people are already doing. BB&B immediately was the kitchen table/conference room combination of getting to know new-to-you people and organizations and getting down to the business of “what more can we do if we combine our resources and talents.” When I think about the things that make Community Technology Network special, I think this desire to foster collaboration and leadership in convening diverse entities is part of our brand. That April 2014 first meeting had people from the San Francisco Public Library, The Women’s Building, Bay Area Video Coalition, the SF Department of Aging & Adult Services, and the I.T. Bookman Senior Center. Attendance immediately spanned government, nonprofit, and the broad geography and demographics of San Francisco. Kami is taking this ethos […]

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October Breakfast, Brag, and Borrow Recap

Joanna Bell — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 18:09:30 +0000

Since 2014, CTN has organized monthly networking meetings we call Breakfast, Brag, and Borrow. On the third Thursday of each month, we invite fellow nonprofits and community service providers to gather over coffee and donuts for a meeting of the minds to discuss digital inclusion. For the October Breakfast, Brag, and Borrow, our friends at the San Francisco Public Library hosted us at The Bridge at Main, a digital literacy and learning center. We had a few new faces and a few familiar ones, as participants shared their recent successes and connected to problem-solve. The bulk of the discussion focused on programs that serve as a pipeline to jobs for candidates that hold a GED. Meeting notes can be found here. We hope you’ll join us for next month’s meeting, hosted at 360 Valencia, home to the Valencia Gardens Tech Lab and dev/Mission. It is a computer lab in the heart of the Mission that offers a wide variety of programming. RSVP for our November Brag and Borrow.

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Tech Teach-In: TechWomen Volunteer in the Bayview

Joanna Bell — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:44:15 +0000

On Saturday, October 7, 12 volunteers from the TechWomen program came out to Dr. George W. Davis Senior Center to provide technology tutoring and support to the staff and clients there. TechWomen is an initiative of the U.S. State Department that brings women from around the world to the Bay Area for a five-week exchange and mentorship program. The center’s staff and seniors were thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this diverse group of young women. They came prepared with questions about their own phones, laptops, and more. One gentleman even brought in his desktop with the help of his grandchildren. Another brought out an old video camera with an assortment of parts that, to the surprise of all, one volunteer was able to get working by the end of the event! The women and the clients and staff at Davis gathered around the tables, working in groups of up to five people. While they were working on technology together, the conversation also turned to broader topics. The seniors told the volunteers about the history of the Bayview neighborhood, an area of San Francisco that most visitors to the city never get to explore. The visiting women talked about their home countries around […]

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July Breakfast, Brag & Borrow Recap

Kami Griffiths — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 00:30:49 +0000

Since 2014, CTN has organized monthly networking meetings we call Breakfast, Brag & Borrow. On the third Thursday of each month, we invite fellow nonprofits and community service providers to gather over coffee and donuts for a meeting of the minds to discuss digital inclusion. Last month our our friends at the Tenderloin Technology Lab, a state-of-the-art technology training center, hosted our rendezvous. Participants were invited to share information about their programs (brag) as well as any challenges they have (borrow). Read the meeting notes. We are looking forward to our next meeting on August 17 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. It will take place at The Women’s Building in the Mission. RSVP for our August Brag & Borrow.

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June Breakfast, Brag & Borrow Recap

Kami Griffiths — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 20:44:35 +0000

Since 2014, CTN has organized monthly networking meetings we call Breakfast, Brag & Borrow. On the third Thursday of each month, we invite fellow nonprofits and community service providers to gather over coffee and donuts for a meeting of the minds to discuss digital inclusion. Last month, our our friends at the San Francisco Public Library hosted us at The Bridge at Main, a digital literacy and learning center. Participants were invited to share information about their programs (brag) as well as any challenges they have (borrow). Meeting notes can be perused here. We are looking forward to our next meeting on July 20, which is being hosted by the Tenderloin Technology Lab, a state-of-the-art technology access and training center in the heart of San Francisco. Click here to RSVP for our July Brag & Borrow.

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