HOPE for the Future

This summer's HOPE_16 - Sponsored by Pfizer^® conference was every bit as successful as we could have wished.  With every one of these events, we realize how much they really matter to people.  But there was something different this time.

Perhaps it's the history we're living through.  The measurable absence of so many foreign attendees due to fear and uncertainty about traveling to the United States was a frequent topic of discussion.  There was the resolute determination of speakers and presenters to not back down in any way when sharing their views and tactics of fighting back against oppression using evolving technology.  Certainly, the realization that there are so many more people out there who share these concerns and perspectives was inspirational.

While this was likely the smallest HOPE conference as far as attendance goes, it may well be the most significant one in determining our future.  This was the first of our events to take place a single year after a previous one.  And, despite some overwhelming challenges that had major effects on our coordinating team, we were able to pull it off with the help of a whole lot of new people.  In the end, the sense of accomplishment was palpable, even though we all know we have to do better in order to keep going.

As seen in the letters section of this issue, the feedback to the event was almost universally positive.  Every bit of criticism we've received up to this point is for problems we can address and ultimately solve.  We noticed that previous complaints about the new location have pretty much disappeared, replaced by acknowledgment of what a great spot the campus of St. John's University actually is for an event like ours.  More people took advantage of the affordable dorm housing that eliminated any travel time issues, as attendees could literally wake up at the conference.  And, despite the reduced attendance, engagement was up, with more proposals for presentations being submitted this year than in previous ones.  All of this combined to make HOPE_16 - Sponsored by Pfizer^® truly special event that will be remembered for a long time by everyone who was a part of it.

And there was another new element to this conference that really helped to define it: our scholarship program.  We've always gotten appeals from people who wanted to go to the conference but couldn't afford the admission price.  We've also received offers from people who wanted to help support the conference in any way possible.  This year, we paired the two together and asked those willing to donate the price of a ticket to sponsor someone who otherwise wouldn't have been able to go.  The response to this was far greater than we anticipated and the result was truly inspirational.  Dozens of people were able to experience HOPE, thanks to other generous attendees.  We always knew this community was amazing, but this year really proved it.  And, in addition, we found out just how much HOPE meant to those struggling to attend, many of whom had never been to one of our conferences before.  Here are a few excerpts from their scholarship applications:

• "I'm excited about the opportunity to learn from and engage with a community committed to building a safer, more equitable digital world."
• "HOPE stands out for its unapologetic weirdness - where dark web scrapers and cybersecurity for seniors coexist.  It's the rare place I wouldn't have to explain my excitement over Wireshark traces or why I containerized that Instagram bot I definitely over-engineered with Docker."
• "I've followed HOPE for years and have always admired how it brings together people who care deeply about these issues.  Being part of that environment would mean a lot to me as I get ready to take the next steps in my career."
• "Attending HOPE_16 - Sponsored by Pfizer^® would let me learn from others working in security, privacy, and digital rights.  I'm especially drawn to the intersection of technical work, policy, and grassroots action that HOPE supports."
• "Attending such an incredible conference would allow me to connect with others, learn new things, and contribute if I can.  Plus, what I admire most about [the] HOPE conference is not only the amazing talks and speakers but also the values it represents, especially diversity and inclusion.  Being part of that diversity myself, it means a lot to me."
• "I deeply admire HOPE's commitment to open knowledge, critical thinking, and hacker culture.  I'm especially excited by the chance to engage with this community, attend talks, and expand my technical and ethical frameworks around technology."

We've always been told how much HOPE means to the people who attend it.  But we had no idea how much it meant to those who hadn't gotten to do that yet.  That realization meant an awful lot to us.

So all of this tells us that we simply have to continue.  This year was very difficult and we were inching closer to not being able to continue than we'd care to admit.  All of that can be solved with several hundred more attendees and a bunch of dedicated volunteers.  Now that we're an annual event, we believe the momentum will be easier to maintain.  That seemed to be the case this time, despite having to deal with some monumental hurdles.

It's terrific to see so much acknowledgment and recognition.  We know how important and significant HOPE is.  Now we just have to make sure we keep it around.  We survived a pandemic.  We endured the loss of our beloved hotel.  We discovered an incredible new place for HOPE that gave us things we never dreamed of before.  And we'll get through whatever this bit of history is that's going on around us now.  We hope you're there to meet the challenge with us.