Geeks for Social Change6d ago

What’s been happening at our drop-ins?

We launched our four community drop-ins at the start of the year, and we’re now a couple of months in. Here's some of what we've learnt – and when you can drop in and join us next.

Here are just a few snippets of what the groups had to say. See the article for more!

You can read the more substantial summary on our blog: https://gfsc.community/whats-been-happening-at-our-drop-ins/

What’s been happening at our drop-ins? Present & Future

We launched our four community drop-ins at the start of the year, and we’re now a couple of months in. Here's some of what we've learnt – and when you can drop in and join us next.

Geeks for Social Change
Show threadGeeks for Social Change6d ago

Tech Developers and Creators

Community organisation has become a kind of folklore.

Councils stopped printing guides to what's on because they assumed computers would solve it. Computers didn't.

Now if you want to find a yoga group, for instance, you have to rely on knowing someone who knows one.

That's the problem we're all trying to solve.

Show threadGeeks for Social Change6d ago

PlaceCal Community Organisers

Local knowledge is everything.

The people making the best use of PlaceCal have been able to connect groups they already know.

PlaceCal works best when local people who already know and understand their community are involved in shaping how it's used there.

Show threadGeeks for Social Change6d ago

Artists, Creatives and Freelancers:

How do you leave Instagram when your audience is there?

Everyone knows corporate platforms are bad for you – the algorithm buries your posts, you don't own your audience, and the whole model is designed to extract from you rather than serve you.

There's no easy answer here, though some more independent platforms do exist, including Faircamp for self-hosting music, Merlot for creative projects, and ActivityPub for decentralised social networking.

Show threadGeeks for Social Change

Our Writers and Researchers meeting has been space for people writing about technology, community, and social change.

Several of the discussions have led towards posts for the GFSC blog, and some are going to lead into the revival of our podcast later this spring.

Watch this space, or (listen to it), if you will.

Mar 14 at 4:12pmWeb
Show threadGeeks for Social Change6d ago

Going Forward:

We found the audience of the various drop-ins overlapped significantly, so we're making some changes to our drop-ins

• PlaceCal
- Wednesday 18th March 12-1pm, Google Meet

• Peer Support, for creatives using technology & technologists being creative
- Tuesday 24th March, 4-5pm, Discord

• Collective meetup for staff & volunteers
- Tuesday 7th April, 4-5pm, Discord

Show threadGeeks for Social Change6d ago

Come along

All our drop-ins are free, online, and open to anyone.

You don't need to be technical, you don't need to prepare anything, and you're welcome to just listen.

Find us on Discord at discord.gfsc.studio or just turn up.

Show threadGeeks for Social Change6d ago
All of this has been a summary of a summary, so if you'd like to read a more in-depth look at what was discussed in recent meetings, the full piece is on our blog: https://gfsc.community/whats-been-happening-at-our-drop-ins/
What’s been happening at our drop-ins? Present & Future

We launched our four community drop-ins at the start of the year, and we’re now a couple of months in. Here's some of what we've learnt – and when you can drop in and join us next.

Geeks for Social Change