Guilded Attends HOPE16

**Hacking the Daily Grind: Hope_Net**

Last weekend, Guilded Coop participated in the Hope.Net (Hackers On Planet Earth) Hope_16 conference at St. John’s University on the Queens campus. This three-day hands-on hacking conference brought together hacker freelancers from across the country and featured a variety of talks related to hacking and technology.

**5 Key Takeaways:**

1. We need to expand our efforts to challenge institutional power and build solidarity across our workplaces and communities. This is essential for changing how technology influences our world. [Source: Up Against The Firewall - Zine]
2. AI isn’t harmless. We must educate ourselves on how our use of AI tools impacts the climate.
3. Protect your data!
4. Archive your work and art. The internet is continually expanding, but access is increasingly restricted due to paywalls, government censorship, and corporate interests. Be sure to back up your work on a quarterly basis.
5. Small investments in your legal and digital safety are investments in your overall well-being, including your mental health. Consider using a VPN and having a standard template contract.

Did you know? Web designers, scrum masters, and hacktivists were among the first to adopt the Guilded contracting platform. In the current job market and under capitalism, all workers must be skilled, resourceful, and tech-savvy. Guilded is proud to support hackers and tinkerers within the 1099 community.

Freelancer protections must include the right to a free, accessible, and hackable internet.

Thank you, EVERYONE, for helping to make this weekend's HOPE conference such a blast! @HOPE.net

Big thanks to staff and volunteers, and everyone else who contributed!