Valerie Phoenix
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digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Valerie Phoenix
@digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
10K followers 240 following 1.4K posts
(She/Her) Founder of Tech by Choice ✊🏾 Artist 🎨 Senior Engineering Leader 💻 Speaker 🎤 Psychology Enthusiast 🧠 Your Local Cali Hippie 🌴 👩🏾‍🦱🌴

Ready to support diversity in tech? - http://techbychoice.org/
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digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Throwback to when I had to see this screen multiple times before getting approved by TikTok to use their API 🤣

Sidenote, I added a new feature that helps me create better description text for images to @onsolosocial.com and it's actually really helpful!
A white background with black text screen grab of TikTok's with a cartoon line drawing of a person holding a red checkmark dev portal with that reads "Your application to request access to content posting API has been submitted!"
June 30, 2025 at 5:10 AM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Happy Father’s Day to the world’s best dad 🖤

I’m a better person because of you 👨🏾
Smiling Idris Elba with a short beard wearing a black beanie and a light gray long-sleeve shirt, standing indoors in a softly lit room with modern decor.
June 15, 2025 at 10:46 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Manifestation without work is just wishful thinking
Background of a forest with text that reads “Maybe we are here to enhance ourselves spiritually”
May 23, 2025 at 2:57 AM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
I feel like I got my life in order enough to handle the ups and downs for the next few months

Had to shift a lot around and spend more time pouring into myself to find my fire 🐦‍🔥
A minimalist, earthy-toned illustration of two figures with shaved heads, kneeling on either side of a tall, stylized flame rising from a stone base. Their hands are extended towards the fire, almost touching it and each other. Below the image, text reads: “Seek what sets your soul on fire.” The background is a textured beige, giving the artwork a natural, organic feel.
March 24, 2025 at 3:45 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
My latest whimsical arrangement 🖤
This is an image of a beautifully arranged floral bouquet placed in a textured, vintage-style glass vase with a short stem and a wide bowl. The arrangement sits on a light wooden tabletop against a minimalist background with white walls and dark flooring in the distance. The bouquet features a variety of flowers with different colors and textures, including: 1. Ranunculus: Dominating the arrangement are bright orange and deep red ranunculus flowers. These flowers have densely layered, delicate petals, giving them a lush, full appearance. Two of the orange ranunculus stand tall above the rest, while a striking red-orange ranunculus bends gracefully to the side. 2. Icelandic Poppies (Papaver nudicaule): A couple of soft yellow poppies are included. Their crinkled, papery petals and drooping heads are distinct, adding an airy, delicate quality to the arrangement. 3. SOLOMIO DIAN THUS: Scattered throughout are small, vivid red flowers. These blooms provide pops of bright color and contrast nicely against the greenery. 4. Chrysanthemums (Green Button Mums): There are round, green button chrysanthemums tucked in among the stems. Their compact, pom-pom shapes and vivid green color add texture and a fresh, earthy tone to the bouquet. 5. chamomile flower: Tiny white flowers of chamomile flower delicately fill in the gaps, softening the overall look and giving the bouquet a light, airy feel. The entire composition combines tall, elegantly arching stems with a variety of textures and vivid hues, creating a natural yet artfully balanced display. The vintage green vase adds charm and complements the green tones in the flowers and stems.
March 18, 2025 at 7:38 AM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
These are the best photos I could find for the comparison. It’s not a 1:1 but the overlap of symbolism is strong

The connection between the impact that Black people have in creating the American we know today
Photo of Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 halftime show where his backup dancers are dressed and posed as the American flag with Kendrick standing in the middle A black-and-white portrait by Gordon Parks featuring a Black woman in glasses and a modest dress, standing in front of an American flag while holding a broom. A mop rests beside her. The juxtaposition of the symbols of labor with the national emblem underscores themes of racial inequality, dignity in work, and the struggle for justice—hallmarks of Parks’ socially conscious photography. A black-and-white photograph by Gordon Parks depicting a large gathering of Black women wearing white headscarves and dresses, seated in organized rows. Among them, a woman cradles a baby, adding a moment of tenderness to the structured scene. The uniformity and composition emphasize community, discipline, and sisterhood—central themes in Parks’ visual storytelling. A black-and-white photograph by Gordon Parks capturing a group of Black women dressed in matching white uniforms and head coverings, standing in formation. The woman in the foreground stares directly into the camera with an intense expression, while the others behind her gaze forward with solemnity. The image conveys themes of unity, strength, and resilience, characteristic of Parks’ powerful documentary style.
February 10, 2025 at 5:26 AM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Cronyism means you hire people in your network without them needing to have qualifications or skills

I promise I didn’t make this word up lol
Screen shot of dictionary definition of cronyism that reads “• cronyism cro•ny•ism | 'kröneizam | noun derogatory the appointment of friends and associates to positions of authority, without proper regard to their qualifications: there are complaints that cronyism is behind the rise of various executives through the ranks.”
February 5, 2025 at 12:35 AM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
I’m choosing happiness when nothing else seems possible 🖤
Ink drawing of a lotus with text that reads “like a lotus flower we too have the ability to rise from the mud bloom out of the darkness and radiate into the world”
February 3, 2025 at 2:57 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
When I was little my aunts would call woman they didn’t like a heifer 😂

This used to tickle me so because I just imaged the person they where talking looking like cow from cow and chicken 😂😭🤣
Cartoon cow from the show cow and chicken
January 29, 2025 at 5:39 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Post a picture of yourself from a different era

👩🏾‍🦱🎀
Photo of me in club with red lighting sticking out my tongue, eyes squint bow in my curly Afro hair with a drink in my hand
January 15, 2025 at 6:08 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Today’s a grate day to be a black woman in tech

I have big things cooking for 2025 but what I’ll share right now is you’ll be seeing my face a lot this year. Talking about navigating the tech job market, leveling up as a dev or tech in leadership, & being a solo tech founder

So tap in with me 🥳
Selfie of Valerie Phoenix with big hair and glasses smiling into the camera
January 6, 2025 at 6:53 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Excited for what we have planned for the new year!

Also, I made this cute graphic for 2025 that I would love for yall to see
A stylized graphic showing the number '2025' with overlapping numbers in yellow, blue, and red colors. The text 'We Made It Together' appears in black to the right of the numbers. The design has a minimalist, modern feel with a warm cream-colored background.
January 1, 2025 at 11:35 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Yesterday I received the last bit of feedback from things I’ve been working on.

That last full moon of the year really said “you will close out this year with answers to everything you’re looking for”
Photo of the moon at night with a red filter over it
December 17, 2024 at 3:48 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Like this is a masterpiece 💃🏾
November 30, 2024 at 5:51 AM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
I didn’t even think about it like that but you right 😭😭😭
November 29, 2024 at 5:13 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
The fact that this is the first real bit of media I took in today is wild 😂🤣

16 years ago today, Rick Astley rickrolled everyone at the 82nd Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade with ‘Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends.’
November 27, 2024 at 6:06 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Good morning blue sky

Starting today off showing the most realistic photo I have of me in my camera roll. Would love to see yours 😊
Photo of Sanrio character, eating a potato with lots of potato with text that reads, I love potatoes
November 26, 2024 at 3:30 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
No more spelling issues for me
Screenshot a pop up on the Solo Social app that’s stopping a user from posting a missed spelled word by showing off the word and a possible correction to help people with clear communication
November 21, 2024 at 7:56 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Coding on my Mac mini from my bathtub feeling like rev run
Rev Run sitting in a bubble-filled bathtub, holding a phone and looking contemplative, as seen in his iconic scenes from “Run’s House,” where he often shares wisdom and reflections.
November 19, 2024 at 4:15 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Woke up feeling terrible 🤒

I usually get sick once a year and it’s usually before or on thanksgiving

I guess my moment is now
Hello kitty plush doll in a floating in a sink with water with text that reads “I’m at my fucking limit” so show a new level of “I’m over it”
November 13, 2024 at 4:22 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
I’m also a white man but it added hello kitty 😂

I use Joe Biden for my slack photo at work sooo technically it’s not wrong 😂🤣
An AI generated image of a white male in front of a computer in a office with a hello kitty, plush doll to the right of him that he’s looking down at. on the wall there’s images of code in different posters. There are photos that says “senior leader” and “executive director.”
November 10, 2024 at 1:54 AM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Right before I found out my role was impacted by layoffs, I was drafting a blog post about how we can change company culture for the better if we worked as if companies offered pension plans ….

There’s truth in this work but I’ll be editing tf out of it before I publish it
Bumblebee from Teen Titans cartoon with the normal face that goes to her face looking stressed out to the point her to Afro puffs fall off
November 9, 2024 at 9:59 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Did my part and voted today! I have no clue what tomorrow will look like but today I’m hopeful
Mirror selfie Photo of my “I voted” sticker on my finger in the background, there is a reflection of me and a mirror that slightly blurryMirror selfie Photo of my “I voted” sticker on my finger in the background, there is a reflection of me and a mirror that slightly blurry
November 5, 2024 at 2:45 AM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
Reminder that it’s the baby steps that will get you to where you’re trying to go
Image of a poem that reads “one morning you will breath just like you used to — without why heaviness”
November 4, 2024 at 9:39 PM
digitalblkhippy.bsky.social
testing new optimized upload flow
bluesky logo
November 4, 2024 at 7:33 PM