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Good morning! How are y'all doing today? Let me try that again.
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Welcome to the RubyConf keynote. I'm your host, Saron Yitbarek, and today we're
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talking about how to build authentic and engaging communities. That's right! The key word in today's talk is 'communities'.
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To really dig in and explore this topic, I need to share a bit about my childhood.
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I'm an immigrant from Ethiopia. I was born in the capital, Addis Ababa. My father was the first in our family to come to the U.S., followed by my mother and me a year later.
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I grew up in a very traditional Ethiopian immigrant household. If you aren't familiar with the stereotype, don’t worry, I'm here to tell you about it.
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My father was quite strict. He was a disciplinarian who deeply valued education. He believed that if you achieved good grades—specifically, A-pluses—you would eventually get into a prestigious college. Harvard was the dream.
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He might not have known much about Ivy League schools as a concept, but he understood that that was the goal.
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So, I was raised to think that if I achieved these milestones, I would ultimately become a doctor and have a respectable career. My father's aim was to set me up for a successful—not necessarily happy—life.
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Needless to say, I didn't have much of a childhood filled with distractions. I had friends over for fun only when they were studying. Hanging out with others who weren't doing homework was simply not an option, nor was going to the mall—where boys undoubtedly lived.
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So I didn't socialize much during my childhood. The only community that I actively interacted with was our own Ethiopian community.
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If you think about the Ethiopian immigrant community—and any immigrant community, really—it's often vulnerable. People leave behind everything when they move from one country to another.
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They often don't speak the language very well and leave behind their possessions and their families. Many also give up their careers, as professional qualifications often don't transfer when starting anew in a different country.
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Despite being in a new country, immigrants don’t always feel welcomed, wanted, or safe. Yet, they consistently found that welcoming and safe place in our living room.
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My mother was the one who gathered everyone in that space, a community organizer by nature.
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My mom would prepare traditional Ethiopian meals, creating this warm environment. As a kid, I took her efforts for granted. She just seemed like a nice lady who cooked good food. I didn't recognize the significance of her role in our community.
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But as I grew older, I realized that there were many nice people in our community, some with larger living rooms and better resources. Yet, ours was where everyone wanted to gather.
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My mother did a few things that made our living room feel magical. She was the first to serve and the last to eat—making sure everyone else was happy before taking care of herself.
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She would run around, ensuring our plates were full and we were comfortable, often rearranging dishes for us.
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Her actions signaled to us that we were the most important people in the room without fanfare.
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Another thing she did was led by observing. She would notice little things that need attention and would address them discreetly.
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For example, if she saw you didn't eat a certain dish because it was too spicy, she would prepare a non-spicy version for the next gathering. That way, you knew your discomfort mattered, but there was no fuss about it.
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She also solved many little problems without a fuss. Like one Thanksgiving when we forgot the gravy; while panic ensued, she whipped up a delicious substitute using flour, spices, and the juices from the turkey.
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Her approach wasn't just about making food; it was about making everyone feel cared for, enhancing their experience, and building a strong community presence.
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Every time she noticed a need and addressed it, she reinforced our value in that community.
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Fast forward a few years, and as an adult, I decided to learn to code.
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Learning to code was extremely challenging for me, and I felt almost like I was battling the computer.
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After struggling on my own for a few months, I enrolled in a boot camp—the Flatiron School in Manhattan.
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In that boot camp, I suddenly found myself in a community of 44 others who understood the highs and lows of coding. Graduating from the program, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for that community.
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However, that sense of community came with a hefty price tag—$11,000—and a jobless period.
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Boot camps can go as high as $25,000, which isn't feasible for many people.
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This made me understand that community is immensely valuable, yet incredibly inaccessible.
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Determined to change that, I decided to create a solution—something called Code Newbie.
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Code Newbie began with a Twitter chat, using the hashtag #CodeNewbie, where people could come together and share their coding journeys.
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The idea was to create a supportive community—it happens every Wednesday at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.
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With the Twitter chat, we established three ground rules to maintain a welcoming atmosphere: Be helpful, be supportive, and be nice. Starting each session with these rules framed the conversation and set the tone for a respectful environment.
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Another key to our community was to be exuberantly nice. Celebrating small wins, sharing lots of supportive emojis, and actively rooting for each other cultivated an encouraging atmosphere.
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By being aggressively supportive, we attract individuals who seek kindness and positivity rather than negativity.
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From the onset of my efforts with Code Newbie, I discovered that fostering a warm, welcoming community is paramount.
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It all boiled down to listening to community feedback, leading to valuable iterations that enhanced our gatherings and resources. For instance, I realized the need for Sunday morning check-ins, acknowledging that not everyone can attend evening discussions.
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Continuing to seek deeper engagement, I established the Code Newbie podcast, where we share technical stories, highlighting the journeys of diverse developers.
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Unlike many other podcasts, which primarily focus on technical discussions, I aimed to showcase personal narratives—how individuals discovered coding, their unique paths, and the experiences that shaped them.
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Validation was crucial for our audience. Many people believe the dominant narratives—that to be a developer, you need a prestigious background or be born a coder.
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Counteracting these notions, our podcast features guests from various backgrounds, demonstrating that anyone can learn coding.
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By offering relatable stories, we break down barriers and affirm that every individual, no matter their background, can find their place in tech.
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Moreover, I led discussions that reflected the challenges faced by newcomers to programming, ensuring their experiences were addressed.
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I also learned the importance of accessibility in our content. Many episodes underwent transcription to support various learners and ensure inclusivity.
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In person, conferences have played a significant role in my development. I aimed to create a beneficial space for newcomers through conferences, while noting how many fall short of accommodating their needs.
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Thus was born the concept for CodeLand: a magical conference for new developers. It strives to enhance the experience in ways that truly meet their needs.
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Some of the cornerstones include accessible talk formats, relatable speakers, and community-led discussions.
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Additionally, I collaborated with all speaker guests, ensuring that their content would resonate with new learners. Preparing them to communicate effectively laid the groundwork for inclusive dialogue.
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However, I acknowledged the significant financial barriers associated with attending many conferences.
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In an effort to make CodeLand affordable, we introduced scholarships, allowing underrepresented individuals to participate without financial strain.
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I actively sought feedback to gauge our success and areas for improvement.
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Despite successfully implementing many changes, I found gaps.
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Upon reflecting on this feedback, I realized the importance of incorporating elements like closed captioning and dietary accommodations.
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One individual's email pointed out factors I hadn't considered, such as dietary restrictions and privacy-related requests at events. As a result, I made significant changes for future conferences.
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Implementing these changes illustrated the immense impact of community feedback and engagement—and how vital they are to improving experiences.
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In closing, I emphasized to my audience that the success of these initiatives relied on ongoing feedback, trust, and the commitment of community members to speak up.
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The willingness to share ideas, experiences, and concerns fosters a sense of empowerment within the community as I strive to create spaces where everyone feels valued and included.
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Ultimately, community building is an ongoing journey, involving constant learning, growth, and adaptation. As I aspire to leave the world a better place, I take inspiration from my mother—her dedication to creating a safe, warm environment for everyone, and her commitment to making every gathering special.
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Thank you all for being a part of this magical journey together!
