Tech Summit 2018 Recap
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM TECH SUMMIT 2018
The month of July is always jam-packed for the Safety Net team. This past July, we hosted the 6th Annual Technology Summit in San Francisco, California. This year saw more participants, more sessions, and more ways to connect than ever before. We welcomed over 300 staff, victim service providers, law enforcement, trainers, and technology partners to engage, connect, and learn more about the intersections of technology misuse and intimate partner violence.
Here are some of the highlights from this year’s spectacular summit!
1. “Technology isn’t the problem, abuse is!”- Our very own Erica Olsen, Director of the Safety Net project, opened the week with foundational principles. She centered the training with reminding participants that we need to hold perpetrators accountable, while also allowing for survivors to choose what is the best option for them during their tech safety planning process.
2. “Technology is often misused, but technology can also empower survivors” - Malika Saada Saar, Google - Our 2018 tech summit speakers and presenters left us feeling empowered and energized to continue this work. We had representatives from Uber, Facebook, Google, law enforcement, and many other phenomenal presenters who not only shared their knowledge and expertise, but their own stories and ways they work to end gender-based violence. We couldn’t have done this without them.
3. “Technology can be used to reach those at the margins and provide them with a safe space”- This year we had sessions that really spoke to the intersections in which many survivors live. We offered sessions on technology and accessibility, working with immigrant survivors, and the impact of technology on LGBTQ survivors. These sessions were an added bonus to our agenda and provided new and innovative approaches for advocates to do this work. Likewise, we held our 3rd annual Women in Technology reception where technologists and advocates came together to discuss emerging tech and the use of technology in communities of color.
4. “Lots of work, but lots of fun”- #TechSummit18 wasn’t just all work, we were able to have fun with our participants. From live polling, tech themed coloring pages, our daily prize drawings, and of course karaoke and trivia, this year we engaged with participants in ways we haven’t in the past. We were able to enjoy each other and really provide connections that will foster new friendships and networking relationships.
We thank all of the participants, speakers, sponsors, and you for making Tech Summit 2018 a huge success. Until July 2019.
