a manifesto for the next decade of tech in the 804
i use “richmond tech scene” as a catchall for the sometimes goofy but very real network of technologists working in the 804. it’s not formal, but it’s consistent. it’s the people who keep up with the tech, share what they know, and hype each other up when the grind gets hard.
this stuff matters. tech is 16% of richmond’s tax base. the easier we make it to be a technologist here, the more people and companies will move here to join the scene. we don’t need to wait on business leaders or politicians—we can build it ourselves.
why community matters (to me)
tech can be isolating. we spend our time building invisible things for corporations to resell, and most people—even our families—don’t really get what we do. it’s easy to feel numb or dissociated.
community is what makes this career make sense to me. it brings purpose back into the work. it’s where the unsung wins get shared and celebrated. it’s where nerds come alive.
a little context
i’m ford. my dad was the head of the local java user group in the ‘90s, and now i write code for a living too. i didn’t plan it that way—i studied english and spanish—but when i found out we were having a kid, i taught myself to code and jumped in.
tech has let me take my kids sailing, live in costa rica, fix up a house, and build equity. i’ve built a good life here. and i’ve tried to give back to the community that helped make that possible.
i started rva tech talks back in 2015 with a phone and a bench outside a coffee shop. then i co-founded rvaqa, launched the first richmond aws user group, and now i co-chair code & cloud con, richmond’s dev conference.
a vision for what’s next
1. start a guild
tech is changing fast. ai is shifting the job market. we need something like a guild—a way for technologists to support each other, share resources, and stay ahead. a community of specialists looking out for one another, all free of charge.
2. mix in more art
richmond’s one of the most creative cities in the country. let’s lean into that. imagine a conference that blends code, music, fire dancers, and graffiti art. let’s make the tech scene more vibrant, expressive, and human.
3. bring in the business world
invite more non-tech businesses into the conversation. help them understand what tech can do for them. build bridges, not silos. serve the community—with technologists at the center.
this is just my take. i hope others share theirs too. richmond doesn’t need to wait for permission. we already have what we need: people who care, people who build, people who show up.
let’s keep going.
fordprior.com 