Editor’s note: This post is the fourth in a four-part series about making privacy-preserving cryptocurrency accessible and useful for underserved populations. Its original author, Violet Rollergirl, is a transgender sex worker who has modified the post from its original in order to speak to a broader audience. We are republishing her work here with her express permission.
Technology, taught collectively.
Looking to get certified? Look elsewhere. Looking to spark a revolution? We’ll show you how to become more powerful than the most well-funded adversaries, including corporate- and government-backed opponents.
Click here to subscribe for event discounts and announcements
Onion site mirror (Run your own!)
(Learn more about Tor.)
Using Private Electronic Money: Off-Ramping
Using Private Electronic Money: On-ramping
Editor’s note: This post is the third in a four-part series about making privacy-preserving cryptocurrency accessible and useful for underserved populations. Its original author, Violet Rollergirl, is a transgender sex worker who has modified the post from its original in order to speak to a broader audience. We are republishing her work here with her express permission.
Testimonials
“immensely valuable, and changed my core beliefs about my technological proficiency and potential.”
[I participated in] the “Tor: What is it Good For? (Absolutely Everything!)” workshop [and] I loved (LOVED!) the workshop.
The instructor was personable, friendly, and warm, with a keen vision of the change they want to see in the world and the ability to draw that vision into reality using self-direction and their unique and valuable gifts. They use analogies and examples to demystify complex subjects and connect, and anchor, abstract concepts to concrete understanding. They are kind, helpful, informative, and empowering to students.
The information was presented in an organized fashion, with step-by-step guidance that eliminated confusion in even the most inexperienced novice. The class is geared toward creating positive change in students’ lives by helping them better understand their use of internet security and privacy. Everything taught was highly applicable and useful to the common person. (These classes work to level the playing field between those with innate technological interest/skill and those without.)
The teaching methods used (analogies, examples, demonstration, verbal explanation, and hands-on practice) address the needs of all different kinds of learners in the classroom. The flow of the class was seamless. The incorporation of questions and answers was so helpful, and the progression of the material was logical and conducive to learning. There were frequent “comprehension checks” which made the material and instructor accessible to students throughout class.
I could go on, but TLDR: This class was immensely valuable, and changed my core beliefs about my technological proficiency and potential.
“an amazing educational organization that can teach you all about online security.”
In unpredictable times, we need to keep each other safe. To do so, you don’t need to be a tech whiz or fluent coder. Plenty of volunteer developers have already made tools and applications to help you and your team increase safety and privacy without sacrificing functionality.
[Tech Learning Collective is] an amazing educational organization that can teach you all about online security. I owe much of this guide to what I have learned from them and the personal research their work has inspired. TLC has recently started to do more webinars (event calendar), so their work is now accessible from anywhere!
“simply so illuminating”
I knew that I have a lot to learn about digital security and online privacy, but I didn’t know exactly what I had to learn, or how to start. After I took Tech Learning Collective’s Signal and Surveillance workshop, though, the things I didn’t know that I didn’t know became a lot clearer. At the same time, the workshop got me jazzed to take other courses from them. It was simply so illuminating!
“their students reclaim power over the work they do and are able to truly flourish”
We can see a glimpse of what’s possible in Tech Learning Collective[. …] By going back to their digital roots, students become more aware of their immediate environment. Numerous possibilities open up when these students realize they aren’t limited to the proprietary products of Big Tech; instead, they can build what they need on their own, thanks to free and open source software.
The school also advocates for cross-pollination. Their workshops are interdisciplinary, melding technical topics with the humanities, in subjects including history and philosophy. This allows for a more holistic development for the students. For instance, like they do with all their other courses, they teach cybersecurity through an explicitly political approach. They prioritize teaching security because of their audience, as many participants are also activists. They also cultivate critical thinking by encouraging their students to scrutinize technology from an ethical standpoint. […] Thanks to their programs’ technological and political immersion, their students reclaim power over the work they do and are able to truly flourish.