PTP Blog

What you can do to make your database more secure

There’s a story making the rounds about a group in Utah calling itself “Concerned Citizens of the United States” who sent a list of 1,300 mostly Latino names to the press and law enforcement agencies in Utah.  The list is apparently a list of people that the group claims are undocumented, and includes a pretty chilling set of personal information: names, addresses, workplaces, social security numbers, even kids’ names and due dates for pregnant women on the list.  As you can probably guess, the group is demanding that the people on the list be deported immediately.  You can read the full article here. Read more »

Filed under Database, PowerBase

PowerBase project now open!

After more than a year in development with a great team of organizers from APEN, SCOPE, EHC, and NYCAHN, PTP is happy to announce that we're accepting sign-ups to get up and running with PowerBase, PTP's new database designed to meet the needs of community organizing groups.

Check out the PowerBase website for more information, to request a demo, and to get started with PowerBase.

Here's the rundown on the process for getting PowerBase: Read more »

Announcing PTP’s New Executive Director!

Arif  Mamdani

Dear friends,

The Board and Staff of PTP are thrilled to announce Arif Mamdani as the new Executive Director of the Progressive Technology Project!

We're especially excited to have Arif because of the leadership role he has played in increasing PTP's commitment to adding value to the organizing community through deeper and more comprehensive engagement. He has been exceptional as PTP’s Capacity Building Director in the last six years, leading our Community Organizing and Technology Institutes (COaTIs), TechCamps and workshops.

Arif's Biography Read more »

Raising Change

Did it feel like Change or charity?

Doing a workshop at the “Raising Change” conference (San Francisco) had me reflecting a whole lot on fundraising strategies for the movement. A lot of those wonderings revolved around “social networking sites and fundraising” - the topic I presented. Is it a viable new way? Is it worth trying out? What can you expect to gain or lose in the short and long run? What does it mean to your offline fundraising? Really meaty questions I would say. Fortunately I had a large energetic group in the workshop which enhanced the usefulness of the session: there was a lot of wisdom passed around from our collective experience.

It was an impressive turnout by the way: the total number of people at the conference hovered around 600. As a young fundraiser, its invigorating being around peers in this sort of setting: “a social justice fundraising conference” (as described by the organizers). Albeit the fact that I’m reminded that we have a long road to travel. The gospel according to my workshop was simple: Social Networking sites are yet another possibility to raise change but are anything but a magic formula for fundraising. Read that as: Good fundraising communications and strategies used offline are relevant to online fundraising.

One of the more important lesson’s I’ve picked up from our Power of Change campaign is to remember we’re raising support for Change not begging for charity! The basic ingredient of a movement is a committed people. People, who commit time, People who commit to hard work, people who commit their resources, etc. Raising change is establishing a partnership with folks that support the movement and making sure we have the resources we need to further small “d” democracy.

If you’re interested in using social networking sites to fundraise and wonder how to do it effectively, this little exercise below could be a start in thinking about it.

Read more »

! Muy pronto, el gran estreno de TechCamp en Español en Chicago, IL ¡

Se llevara a cabo el 25 de Agosto (12:00 del mediodía) hasta el 28 de Agosto (12:00 mediodía)

Inscríbase  ahora (Hay becas disponibles para cubrir la matricula de TechCamp)

¿Necesitas desarrollar tus habilidades básicas de computación?

¿Estás interesado en mejorar tu confianza y habilidad en el área de computación?

¿Prefieres aprender sobre tecnología en Español envés de en Ingles?

Si respondistes "SI" a alguna de estas preguntas entonces inscríbase ahora mismo para atender TechCamp.

PTP ha diseñado un programa especial de entrenamiento para organizadores comunitarios que están interesados en desarrollar sus habilidades y conocimiento en el área de tecnología

El entrenamiento TechCamp está diseñado para desarrollar las habilidades en el área de tecnología que son esenciales para la organización comunitaria

Lo siguiente es lo que puedes esperar aprender durante 3 días en el TechCamp de PTP:

  • Desarrollaras habilidades y conocimiento en el área de tecnología, basada en la organización comunitaria:

o   Estas incluyen habilidades básicas de computación: mecanografía, manipulación de archivos, tipos de archivos y más.

o   Introducción sobre las más comunes aplicaciones de base de datos: Filemaker y Access

o   Entrenamiento en una actual base de datos: manipular datos e información, generar informes, y generar consultas de datos..

o   Correo electrónico (e-mail) y la red (internet): cómo utilizar el correo-e, manejar la bandeja de entrada (inbox), lidiar con spam, utilizando la red – hallando y manejando información. 

o   Mantenimiento de hardware (equipo físico), resolución de problemas comunes, fundamentos de red informática (network), técnicas de supervivencia básicas sobre el servidor de archivos (file server).

o   Sostenibilidad financiera de tu Tecnología: Como recaudar fondos para mantener la infraestructura tecnológica.

  • Aprenderás sobre la tecnología en un ambiente de colaboración y apoyo mutuo, con otros organizadores que viven los mismos desafíos suyos.

Clic aqui para mayor información sobre TechCamp en Español Read more »

Filed under General

VOTER TECH TRAINING SESSION ADDED: Atlanta August 20-21

This is an exciting year for organizing groups engaged in voter turnout projects. The data collection and management can sometimes get out of hand though - especially if your technology skills are shaky. PTP has a solution for you.

VOTER TECH TRAINING SESSION ADDED: Atlanta August 20-21

We've been getting requests to offer our Voter Technology Training again. Read more »

Martial Arts Instructor Joins PTP as Technology Knowledge Director

PTP is excited to announce the addition of Alice Aguilar to PTP's staff team.  Alice joins PTP as our Technology Knowledge Director, where she'll be responsible for coordinating technical support for participants in our VOTER Project.  As part of her work, she will also be leading the Power on Network - PTP's community of practice on technology and organizing.Read more »

Filed under Uncategorized

PTP's Special Projects Coordinator in American Prospect

The American Prospect recently published an article by Christina Roessler, PTP's Special Projects Coordinator on "Changing Water Policies in the Dry Southwest."  Read it here.

Filed under environment, General, media

What's media justice?

We're attending the National Conference for Media Reform here in Minneapolis. We recorded Malkia Cyril's speech on the occasion of receiving an award from Funding Exchange's Media Justice Fund. Hint: it's not about the media.

Check it out. Read more »

Bad Telephone numbers for phone canvassers

I recently heard a comment from Roberto in New Mexico about the low quality of the telephone numbers in a voter file from a nationally known data provder.  One of the causes may be the demise of land line phones. Read more »

Filed under Database, voter
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