2026-07-09 –, Linden Theater
In this talk, Mitch will draw from his lifelong personal experiences as a community organizer to show why community is so important to all of us and our future -- individually and collectively. He will share some of what he has learned, some challenges, and how we can all live better lives when we teach and learn and share within communities of our choosing.
We all need community to live a way worthwhile life. One form of community that has grown tremendously in the last 20 years is hackerspaces. These are physical spaces where each member is supported to explore and find projects and activities that they find meaningful. Because people find meaningful projects at hackerspaces, many find that they can make a living from their projects. Hackerspaces are great learning environments, where people teach and share and learn together. Because of all of this, hackerspaces are also good for personal growth. Drawing from his experiences co-founding Noisebridge hackerspace in San Francisco in 2007, and from visiting hundreds of hackerspace communities around the world, Mitch Altman will share some challenges, what works well (and not so well), and show you that hackerspaces, and community spaces in general, may be the key to solving the serious problems we face, as well as the key to open doors for you and the people around you.
Mitch Altman is a hacker and inventor, known for inventing TV-B-Gone, a keychain that turns off TVs in public places. He co-founded a successful SillyValley startup and did pioneering work in Virtual Reality. He is an author and teacher, and goes around the world giving talks and workshops. He also performs spacey noise music on his self-made synthesizers. Mitch promotes hackerspaces, open source hardware, and mentors others wherever he goes. He is a co-founder of Noisebridge hackerspace in San Francisco, and is founder of Cornfield Electronics.