Showing up for future generations of tech communities
Pubblicato il 05-08-2026 - This Week in Community in Rieti
Walt Whitman would travel from Manhattan to Brooklyn. He captured his meditations in what would become his poem, ”Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”.
During his daily commute, he recognised a connection to not only the people around him, but to everyone who has ever taken or will take the same journey.
The poem is metaphor for the universality of human fears and hopes. They are not unique to one time. He describes sights, sounds, feelings and connections that transcend time.
It’s easy to TOFU, to think of future yo(u), and even better to think of future us. Yet Whitman takes it further. He’s not only thinking of future (older) versions of ourselves, he’s acknowledging generations of people who are yet to be born.
Tech moves fast and future generations of tech communities will of course be different to today’s. Yet it’s reassuring to consider that we’ll face similar waves of fears and hopes. Reassuring to know that we can document our fears and hopes now for future generations to find solace and motivation. Reassuring to know that what we do today will shape the look and feel of future generations of tech communities.
Try this community exercise
- Note down some fears and hopes you have for our future in tech
- Connect those fears and hopes to how you show up and take action with your favourite tech community. What support can you get and who can you support by participating?
- Come back to this exercise in a month. What’s different?
Example 1: Safeguarding software engineering
Fears and hopes: I’m worried about the impact AI is having on the tech industry and what that means for my job as a software engineer.
I also wonder what it will mean for my colleagues in adjacent roles. I have hopes that we can work out how best to use ethical AI-assisted coding tools. I hope to work hard with my tech leadership to build in AI guardrails at my workplace.
Community action: I’ll show up in my tech community by researching various approaches to AI guardrails. If I find interesting articles or videos I’ll share them with my community of practice at work and also with tech communities beyond where I work. Whatever we apply at my workplace will become a lesson for tech communities to learn from. I’ll do my best to share what we learn. I’ll write some blog posts or share articles on tech community platforms. I’ll seek support from professionals who are using various AI guardrail techniques and will support those who are also on a journey to becoming an AI guardrail specialist. Future generations of tech communities will be grateful for the work we do now to protect their roles.
Example 2: Diversity in tech hiring
Fears and hopes: As a tech leader I fear we are still not doing enough to ensure we hire for diversity. There is still an imbalance of white men in tech.
I’m hopeful that we’ll modify existing systems and put new systems in place to ensure our hiring pipeline is more fair and equitable.
Community action: I shall continue to amplify the voices of underrepresented folks and share tech job opportunities. I’ll lead an internal review of our hiring process and will welcome honest conversations about where we have biases. My favourite tech community is diverse and I’ll continue to turn to them first. I have a lot to learn about their experiences of hiring and being hired.
Example 3: Newbie software engineer
Fears and hopes: I’m new to tech and know that I can rely on Claude to do a lot of the work for me. It’s great. But I’m also aware that there are biases to just using AI-coding tools. I fear I might be missing out on some fundamentals yet I’m hopeful there are those with more experience than me who can provide mentorship and guidance.
Community action: I’ll join this tech community I’ve heard of. I’m gonna try my best to ask questions that guide me towards coding fundamentals. Someone told me that if I ask questions in public then other newbies will agevolazioni. I’ll seek experienced developers to help me. In the process I’ll share my gratitude for their help in public. I’ll also share what I learn in the process. It’ll be a public diary of reflections as I develop my skills as a developer.
Go help someone build their community confidence. The fears and hopes you work through together today could shape future generations of tech communities we’ll never meet. You’ve We’ve got this.