Fall 2024, I decided to touch the road and check out some of Atlanta’s tech meetups. Since moving to the metro area in September, one of my main goals has been to dive head first into the local tech scene. I want to meet dope people, get active, and find ways to contribute. Atlanta’s tech community is full of dope people building amazing things, and I’m here to experience that energy firsthand.
This tour is all about showing up, being part of the conversation, and seeing how I can help out. Whether it’s jumping into a hands-on activity, sharing ideas, or just hyping up the awesome work others are doing, I’m here for it. No agenda, no strings attached, just showing up and seeing where the vibes align.

Here’s a recap of where I’ve been so far:

Refactr.Tech Code Jam (October 10):
The first stop was Refactr.Tech’s Hacktoberfest-themed Code Jam. About 15 developers showed up, and the focus was all on open-source contributions. I shared a few open-source resources and had some great chats with the organizers, Angel Banks, Erica Stanley, and Beth Liang. These ladies are on a mission to create inclusive, hands-on events, and it shows. They’ve got big plans for more talk-focused meetups next year and even a conference in the future. Can’t wait to see what they do next!

DC404 Hybrid Meetup (October 19):
This one was a mix of in-person and online at Manuel’s Tavern, and it worked! (Well, except for a couple of tech hiccups, but hey, that’s life.) The talk of the night, Hacking Your CISO, was super engaging, and the project “show-and-tell” was a fun way for attendees to share their work. Then we got into a NetKotH CTF session, which was basically a hands-on hacking challenge. The whole night had a collaborative vibe that made it really stand out.

OWASP Atlanta Meetup - The State of Secure Code + Tournament (October 23):
Next up was OWASP Atlanta at FanDuel’s office. About 30 people came out for a deep dive into secure coding practices, followed by a Secure Coding Tournament. It was a perfect mix of learning and doing. I also had a great chat with the organizer, Guled Abdilahi, about ways to make future meetups even better, whether that’s through workshops, speaking opportunities, or other collaborations.

What’s Next?
So far, this tour has been such a great experience. Each meetup has its own personality, and I’ve met so many inspiring people. I’m looking forward to checking out even more events and finding new ways to support Atlanta’s tech community.
If you know of a meetup I should check out, hit me up! Let’s keep building these connections and making the Atlanta tech scene even stronger.