Recap from ATmosphereConf

This really was our BlueSky.

Introduction

I first want to take the time to shout out the Umoya Fellowship for selecting me to attend the ATmosphereConf. The award was highly appreciated it, and I hope God allows me to pay it forward for others in the future.

Next, I want to take back the comments I made about Seattle. That city is misunderstood. Apart from Osaka, Japan, that has been the only place where I was able to take the light rail from the airport, to my day job's office, to the hotel, back to airport.

Lastly, one thing I told myself is that I am leaving this conference with something. Oh boy, did I leave with alot!

Walking towards the conference, I had doubts that I would be able to make any sort of contributions to this space. I was nervous, being that majority of the people some major skin in the game. For some, contributions to the AT Protocol, and the apps on it, and for others, overall contributions to the open-source community.

One of my biggest takeaways is that there is something for everyone in this space to contribute to. Whether it's Tori (@buildwithtori.com) from Skylight, working a TikTok alternative built on the AT Protocol, or Rudy (@rudyfraser.com) from Blacksky building a decentralized community for black people, the "skies" really are the limit.

I end the first day by going to dinner with Rudy (@rudyfraser.com) and Clintion (@torrho.com). However, before we could make it to the restaraunt, some guy (a non-black individual) drops the n-bomb whilst singing a song. We're all looking at each other like our ears are decieving us.

"Did he really say that?"

We couldn't believe what we were hearing. Not letting it phase us, we get to the restaraunt, make our orders, and sit down. I'll be honest, the entire time we were at the table, it felt like I was speaking friends. They carried a familiar presence, even though this was our first time meeting.

We parted ways, but I left with a sense of duty, that there's a community I can contribute to. Understand that up to this point, I've had known really know what BlueSky and the AT Protocol is, talkless of people that share my reflection, so it meant alot getting to meet them.

Leaving this conference, I felt happy and inspired, knowing that I can make meaningful contributions to the ATmosphere (and maybe society? We'll see) with my current skillset.