Community

To feel abandoned is to deny

the intimacy of your surroundings.

There’s one other thing related to the questions of civic life and democracy that we have been talking about. If democracy is this challenge of people coming together to figure out the kind of shared lives they want to forge, then the behaviors that they use to negotiate difference are going to flow from the commitments they have to each other. So... See more

The size of the effect is astounding. Cross-class friendships are a better predictor of upward mobility than school quality, job availability, community cohesion or family structure. If these results are true, then we have largely ignored a powerful way to help people realise the American dream.

Tech communities, like any community, are messy. If you’re fortunate to land on one that’s inclusive and welcoming then there are exciting things coming your way. You’ll connect with awesome humans who are up to awesome things and that’s utterly inspiring. Surrounding yourself with good people who share often will help you level up wherever you’re... See more

But these activities are all separate from the feelings needed to fully and sustainably participate: the courage, optimism, trust, love, intimacy, curiosity. The resilience to push through the inevitable feelings of fear, overwhelm, frustration, and hurt. The stamina to go through cycles of all of these feelings and more, again and again, and... See more