Running Resistance Tech on a Shoestring - 2026
(link)Summary
This talk provides a framework for applying technology to local activism and civic engagement, particularly for groups with limited budgets and resources. The speaker outlines strategies for building tools that educate and activate communities, drawing on personal experience with campaigns and civic data projects like Civic Band and VaccinateCA. The core focus is on maximizing impact using accessible technologies and community skills.
Key Takeaways
- Civic tech efforts should focus on two core goals: educating people (providing citable data) and activating people (driving behavioral change).
- Data collection and presentation should follow a 'data iceberg' approach, prioritizing data existence, availability, and searchability over complex personalization.
- Effective activation strategies range from indirect action (shares, signatures) to direct action (in-person organizing), and technology must support these human actions.
- When building tools, prioritize longevity and maintainability by ensuring data ownership is public and the technology is simple enough for future, less-technical successors to manage.
Sections
The Goal of Resistance Tech
The goal of using technology for social change (or 'resistance tech') is not perfection, but rather to educate people and activate them. Education must be grounded in citable data, and activation involves influencing decisions, which can range from choosing to recycle to organizing in person.
Data Strategy: The Data Iceberg
When gathering data for civic projects, consider a tiered approach: 1. **Existence:** Does the data even exist locally? 2. **Availability:** Can anyone outside the governing body access it? 3. **Searchability:** Is the data easily searchable? 4. **Localization:** Can the data be scoped down to a specific region, state, or block? Progressing down this list, even incrementally, represents significant improvement.
Activation Strategies and Impact
Activation is about getting people to *do* something. The speaker categorizes actions by energy level: 1. **Decision Influencing:** Changing minds or choices (e.g., choosing a different product). 2. **Indirect Action:** Sharing posts or signatures online. 3. **Direct Action (Remote):** Organizing via letters or phone calls. 4. **Direct Action (In-Person):** Protests or attending local meetings. The key is to build tools that support these human actions, not just digital ones.
Technical Best Practices for Low-Resource Projects
For maximum impact with minimal budget, focus on simplicity and maintainability: * **Static Sites:** Use static site generators (like Jekyll or 11ty) as they are easier to maintain and archive than complex, generative backends. * **Embedded Backends:** Use services like Airtable with minimal JavaScript to create search functionality, rather than building and maintaining a full, complex search backend. * **Data Ownership:** Ensure data is public, exportable, and belongs to the community, not the project. * **Localization:** Design for mobile-first usage and consider multi-language support from the start, as language barriers can exclude large populations.
Building for Longevity and Successors
The most critical aspect of civic tech is ensuring the project survives the founding team. Key considerations include: * **Documentation:** Clear processes for content updates, social media ownership, and content approval. * **POSSE Model:** Adopt the
Local Infrastructure and Scope
Local political parties and community organizations often have basic digital needs. Check for fundamental elements like an updated website, active social media presence, and a reliable newsletter. The goal is to provide simple, functional information so that anyone can quickly understand the organization's purpose and how to get involved.
Keywords: civic tech, activism technology, open source, data visualization, local government data, static site generators, community organizing, low-resource technology