What is Slack?
Slack is a messaging app that lets our members quickly chat and organize. It can be used through your browser, computer, or mobile device. Members are not required to use Slack, but it is recommended, as the bulk of our conversations are done within. There are also time-sensitive discussions and events, where we need quick feedback, that only happen within our Slack.This guide will hopefully help you feel comfortable using Slack. If you still don’t feel comfortable after reviewing the contents below, please
contact us and we can help out!
Getting Started
Not long after filling out the “Join OCDSA” form on our
Join Us page, you should receive an email invite to our official Slack workspace (the email will come from feedback@slack.com).

After clicking the green
Join Now button, you will be asked to set up a
Name and
Password.
- We recommend using your first name, or first name and last initial, as your name will be visible to everyone.

Working In Slack
After you create your account, you’ll be taken to our Slack! There will be a large
Welcome page you can scroll through, with options to
send a message to our general chat, or
upload a profile picture.In addition, you’ll see our
Channels listed in the left-hand column. Channels are where we talk about
specific subjects (Mutual Aid, Direct Action, Reading). Just click on one of these channels to join the conversation!

You may notice that you don’t have the same Channels as shown above, but that’s easy to change.First, you’ll want to click the
Plus Sign (+) located next to the Channels menu. Then, click
Browse Channels.
- On the mobile app, you just need to tap the Plus Sign (+).

This space lets you view every open Channel in our Slack. We recommend sorting the Channel Browser by
Most Members, so that you can see where we’re most active.
- On the mobile app there’s no sorting options, it’s just listed alphabetically

From there, scroll through the list for any Channels you’d be interested in joining. As you find them, just click on their names, then click the
Join option towards the right.Slack can be used through the web, but you can also download it to your device by clicking the links below!