Alternative Technologies

We believe that everyone deserves access to reproductive care, and that medical decisions should always be between a patient and their doctor. Texas law SB8 is a harsh reminder that many people in the U.S. face barriers to medical care - whether it's because of socioeconomic status, or unnecessary legal barriers. Abortion Funds are grassroots organizations that can help navigate these barriers and get people the care that they need. If you want to help, why not donate to an Abortion Fund today?

Alternative Technologies provides cabling, telecom, IT services to thousands of nonprofits, schools, shelters, and small to medium sized businesses in the Bay Area and beyond. #telecommunications #telecom #ITServices #techcompany #bayarea

#Bitcoin-mining operations worldwide now use energy at the rate of approx the annual domestic electricity consumption of the entire nation of Sweden. A single bitcoin transaction uses the same amount of power that the average American household consumes in a month, and is responsible for roughly a million times more carbon emissions than a single Visa transaction." #responsibletech #crypto

What are you most looking forward to this year that you missed last year? If live music, poetry, comedy or karaoke was on your list, why not enjoy those at a worker-owned venue? Hope we'll see you there!

Here's Wired's deep dive into Google's firing of AI ethics expert Timnit Gebru: a worthy read into a situation that touches on issues of artificial intelligence, racism, gender, ethics and workers' rights.

The Worker-Owned Recovery California (WORC) Coalition is fighting hard to ensure that the California budget includes financial support for worker ownership transitions of small businesses. Right now, we need you to tell CA leadership that this budget item has your support. This effort is being championed by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) and Senator Josh Becker (D-San Mateo) and will preserve the economic backbone of our state, reward both workers and selling business owners, and set California on the path to a more equitable economy! Click here to find out more! https://www.theselc.org/worc_coalition

Happy #Pride Month! Check out CNET's lists of activities and readings for Pride month! #Pride2021 https://www.cnet.com//june-is-pride-month-2021-lgbtq-even/

Alternative Technologies lost one of our own, Susan Forster, on May 13, 2021. Susan started at Alternative in 2013, hired by Catalin for the Telecom Department. Susan had had a long career before that, working for the beloved East Bay bookstore, Pegasus Books. By the end of her time here, she was an expert in our cloud platforms, supporting both our clients and the entire Telecom staff with her deep knowledge and ability to explain anything to anyone. In 2014, Susan was diagn...osed with advanced ovarian cancer. Having successfully defeated non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the early 1990s, Susan was not daunted by this new challenge, and after surgery, treatment, and a grueling physical therapy routine to regain her ability to walk after an unexpected side effect from the surgery, Susan was again declared cancer-free for a time. In 2017, when the cancer came back, Susan again fought with fierce hope and determination. From Alternative’s founder, Jerry: Though quiet by nature, Susan had an iron will and a can-do attitude. To say she was smart is an understatement. Her influences on our various administrative systems were key to making Alternative what it is today. But that does not define Susan. She lived with closeness to cancer and mortality with extraordinary grace and equanimity. There are few people I can say are a true inspiration, but Susan is just one of those people. Her passing reminds us that we are all here for a limited duration and that we should use this time to be better people to all those around us. Susan loved books, movies, music (she had a beautiful singing voice and played piano), gardening (she made her garden a haven for birds), textile and fine arts (crochet, knitting, sewing, painting), the podcast Pod Save America, and generally learning and trying new things. She was a self-taught expert at Excel and PhotoShop, dabbled in writing code, and picked up new technical skills whenever they would come in handy. She was an immensely competent, thoughtful, and kind member of our community, and she will be deeply missed. We send our love and our thoughts to her friends and family, including her two cats, Frosted Mini and Cocoa Puff.

"...This is a problem the federal government is getting ready to fix. President Biden has proposed $100 billion in broadband funding as part of the American Jobs Plan." Investing in infrastructure means building out fast internet for everyone, no matter where they live. It's 2021, and fast internet is an equity issue. So let's get to work.

Happy Belated National Teacher Day and Star Wars Day! Let’s show some appreciation for our hardworking educators who spend their time and energy to shape our children’s education. Or teach them to use the Force to move your X-wing out of a swamp. May the Fourth be with you all!

Alternative Technologies provides cabling, telecom, IT services to thousands of nonprofits, schools, shelters, and small to medium sized businesses in the Bay Area and beyond. #telecommunications #telecom #ITServices #techcompany #bayarea

Happy Earth Day from Alternative Technologies! Here is one thing that you can do to help the Penguins and Polar Bears: The e-wasteCollective is a computer and technology recycling center. They give free computers to individuals, schools, non-profits and those in need. Check them out here: ewastecollective.org #earthday #earthday2021

Today is National Soup Day! How about this recipe for success: Alternative Technologies helps our non-profit clients work with Tech Soup’s NGO Tech Marketplace to purchase licenses and hardware as needed at a discount. What is Tech Soup? Great question! TechSoup's mission is to build a dynamic bridge that enables civil society organizations and social change agents around the world to gain effective access to the resources they need to design and implement technology solutions for a more equitable planet. https://meet.techsoup.org/ #NationalSoupDay #AlternativeTechs #AlternativeTechnologies #TechSoup #WeLoveOurClients #WeHelpYouDoGood

Happy #BlackHistoryMonth! Today we'd like to highlight the excellent work of @BlackGirlsCode, whose mission is "to introduce programming and technology to a new generation of coders, coders who will become builders of technological innovation and of their own futures. https://www.blackgirlscode.com

The Website is new, but the mission is the same. We empower progressive organizations with the technology infrastructure they need to change the world. Check it out! Go to https://www.alternativetechs.com/ #alternativetechs #alternativetechnologies

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. -MLK

"Feeling grateful for this beautiful gift that President Roosevelt left for us. I turned my dreams into reality this summer by being able to visit Yellowstone National Park for the first time and hanging out in the sunset with my favorite animal in the whole world; the majestic bison." Tanesha, Project Manager #tech #techsupport #Yellowstone #bison #BayArea #HumansOfAlternative #AlternativeTechnologies

#phishing is an attempt to trick you into giving up your personal information by pretending to be someone you know. Can you tell what's fake? Take the phishing quiz! https://phishingquiz.withgoogle.com/

Fergus is the furry companion of Jen Senlio, Alternative Technologies Project Manager Lead #techcats #cats #tech #GOTV2020 #gotvcats #gotv #AlternativeTechnologies #alternativetechs

Are you wondering what to do for Indigenous Peoples’ Day this year while you and your family are home? https://www.smithsonianmag.com//indigenous-peoples-day-20/

Did you know that Alternative Technologies is headquartered in a historic landmark? Our home was once used for producing Heinz ketchup! You can read more about Berkeley's most beautiful industrial building here. ... #tech #BayArea #AlternativeTechnologies http://www.berkeleyheritage.com/berkeley_landmar/heinz.html

Aspiration Tech's thoughts and practices on: "Power Dynamics and Inclusion in Virtual Meetings" Check it out! https://aspirationtech.org/blog/virtualmeetingpowerdynamics

"Beauty and wondrousness can always be found if you are willing to look!" - Catalin (wearer of many hats, wielder of magic wands, wader into deep waters, weaver of tenuous threads, waxer poetic) #MtTamalpais #Richmond #SanRafael #EastBay #humansofalternative

Which one is your favorite caption for this photo? "Waiting on my Windows upgrade..." "* Hacker voice * I'm in."... "Have you tried running a CAT scan?" "If your computer looks like this, it's time to replace it with a dog"

We are here when you need us. #tech #ITSupport #alternativetechs

"Every time a Black life is gunned down, whether in Oakland or Sacramento or Louisville, we feel that because we know every time we walk out the door that could be us" said Cat Brooks with the Anti Police Terror Project. #BreonnaTaylor #blacklivesmatter https://www.nbcbayarea.com//we-are-not-valued-bay/2368739/

Alternative Technologies provides Cabling, Telecom and IT Services to thousands of nonprofits, schools, shelters and small and medium sized businesses in the Bay Area and beyond. Visit us at https://www.alternativetechs.com/

"Times may be tough right now, but things will get better." -Jason, Alternative Technologies, IT Consultant #humansofalternative

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