Hey Reader!

I hope you're starting to 2024 has been kind! I wanted to take a moment to welcome you to this new year and express my gratitude for being a part of the Tech by Choice community. We've come a long way together, navigating the challenges of the past few years, and I'm so proud of what we've all accomplished. Do you feel like all you've done was exist? Well, I'm proud of you for doing just that.

Let's acknowledge the hurdles we faced - from the impact of the mental health and COVID pandemic to the uncertainty of the political climate, the difficulties of industry-wide layoffs, and the rising cost of living. It hasn't been easy, but here we are, standing strong in 2024.

As underestimated people, if it's one thing we're going to do is find a way to turn lemons into lemonade. And that's exactly what we did in 2023! Let me share some highlights from the year:

• Together, we raised an incredible $6,335.44 in donations, making a positive impact in our community.
• We embarked on the exciting 30-day "Just Launch It" challenge, where we pushed ourselves to step out of our comfort zones and bring our ideas to life.
• ​Our membership site took a major step forward with the release of its "alpha" version, providing a dedicated space for us to connect, learn, and grow.
• We had a blast at RenderATL, hosting a memorable Karaoke night, celebrating our talents, and building lasting connections.
• Our Founders Choice mastermind group took off, allowing us to come together as driven individuals, supporting and inspiring each other on our entrepreneurial journeys.
• Through our mentorship program, we created valuable opportunities for growth and guidance, connecting experienced professionals with those just starting out.
• The launch of our 52-week career growth newsletter brought valuable insights, resources, and inspiration directly to your inbox, helping you level up and achieve your professional goals.
• We developed a psychology-based career-matching quiz, empowering you to find the tech path that aligns with your strengths and passions.
• In our commitment to fostering meaningful connections, we built the alpha version of a recruiting matching platform, simplifying the job search process for our community.
• Our Slack bot became your go-to assistant, providing all the information you needed right at your fingertips, making your tech journey a little smoother.
• We were thrilled to send one lucky community member to Clarity, where they gained valuable insights and experiences from design leaders and innovators.
• The re-launch of our Paid Source program to open doors for new opportunities, connecting talented individuals with companies that value their skills and expertise.
• And let's not forget the introduction of our Developer and Designer Advocate roles, empowering community members to share their knowledge and make a greater impact.

Our hard work in 2023 has laid the groundwork for an unforgettable year ahead. We're expanding our core team, building an advisory board, and dedicating more time to grant writing, all to bring even more value to you.

As always, your voice and contributions are crucial to our collective success. The more you encourage and share what you want to see, the more we can provide for you. Together, we can support and learn from one another's experiences and create a truly inclusive and thriving environment for all.

I can't wait to see what we'll achieve in 2024. Let's continue to grow, learn, and inspire each other as we embark on this exciting journey together.

Wishing you a fantastic year ahead!

-- Valerie Phoenix

P.S. I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas for the upcoming year. Please complete our feedback survey to help us shape the future of Tech by Choice and make a lasting impact in the tech industry.