Take Action
Why do we need to take action?
Around the world, people in power are deciding whether tech will enable human flourishing—or empower exploitation and division.
To build the future we want, it’s critical that the people most impacted by emerging technologies have meaningful control over them. That’s especially true when tech impacts where they live (housing) and the conditions under which they work (labor).
That’s why our work is centered on real people’s experiences. The stories of workers and renters are core to everything we do—from our research to policy to implementation. They make the case for the interventions needed to redistribute power, mitigate harm, and ensure that tech works for everyday people.
With the rise of AI and automation touching almost every element in our lives, it’s more important than ever to hear from those most impacted by these technologies.
Whether you’re a contract worker or renter—or an advocate, a directly employed tech worker, or simply someone interested in our work—we’d love for you to join our community and stay connected.
We know from experience that your participation will have ripple effects, on both the people in power who need to hear your side of the story and the people who live it with you.
Our community’s impact
- In 2021, our team of civic tech volunteers built the Tenant Protections Rent Calculator, which empowers renters to know their rights in the face of unfair rent increases and unjust evictions—and connects them with resources to fight back.
- The powerful testimonies of our community convinced legislators to pass the Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act in 2022
- 30 contract workers shared their experiences with our team and nearly 800 took surveys for our 2022 Contract Worker Disparity Project Report. This helped us identify major disparities across pay, treatment and protections
- In 2023, 48 workers gave us an update to our research on the Contract Worker Disparity Project and shed light on how AI is changing the future of work.
- Melissa Ingle talked to the San Francisco Chronicle, NBC, Business Insider, and more to share how she (and other contract workers) lost her job at Twitter without notice.
- David Jones-Krause talked to the Mercury News about how Google excluded thousands of workers from benefits.
I’m a contract worker or a renter: how can I take action?
Closing equity gaps in housing tech is only possible by learning from renters where those gaps are. Has housing tech made it harder for you to secure affordable, stable housing?
Workers who share their stories illuminate disparities in contract work and help us convince people in power to change these conditions. Can you help us paint an accurate picture of what it’s really like to power the tech industry?
Share your story with us! We’ll work with you to frame key pieces that can make the case for change and you can keep it as anonymous as you’d like. Even if you want to remain anonymous, being able to tie tech’s impact to the experience of everyday people has the potential to inspire and mobilize others.
I care about these issues: how can I take action?
No matter your background, if you’re interested in our work you can help us build a more equitable tech industry.
Learn: Attend an upcoming event or follow us on social media where we explore the most pressing issues impacting our communities.
Amplify: Share our social posts, newsletters, and resources with your network to help more people learn about our work. Keep an eye out for opportunities to reach out to legislators to advocate for equitable public policy. Or tell your personal story to the media or lawmakers in support of our policy campaigns.
Donate: You’ve got a ton on your plate, but still want to make an impact. Great news—you can still contribute and ensure we shape the tech industry so its prosperity can benefit everyone.
Volunteer: Stay tuned as we share future opportunities to volunteer technical skills, like software engineering or data analysis, for specific projects we have in the works as we build tools, data visualizations, and apps that support the movement for economic justice.
Take the first step: join our community
The first step to getting involved is by joining our community! Sign up to get up-to-date information on opportunities to take action, the latest news on equity and tech, and hear how our community is coming together to make an impact.
"*" indicates required fields