Title: Proposal: Steps to Integrate #WPDiversity into WordPress Event Organizing Author: Julia Golomb Published: March 30, 2022 Last modified: April 4, 2022 --- [ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/juliarosia/) [Julia Golomb](https://profiles.wordpress.org/juliarosia/) 7:31 pm _on_ March 30, 2022 Tags: [community-events ( 69 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/), [community-team ( 229 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-team/), DiverseSpeakerSupport, [event planning training materials ( 8 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/event-planning-training-materials/), [events ( 29 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/events-2/), [WPDiversity ( 238 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/wpdiversity/) # Proposal: Steps to Integrate #WPDiversity into WordPress Event Organizing ## **Context** To fulfill WordPress’s mission to democratize publishing, the Community team seeks to actively reduce barriers to current and future participation, engagement, and sense of belonging in WordPress events. People who experience marginalization in broader society are more likely to experience barriers to full participation in their WordPress community. **As community contributors, we have the ability and responsibility to actively counteract these forces to build a thriving, inclusive community.** The WordPress community is diverse and global. The power of open sourceOpen Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. is that anyone can contribute from anywhere at any time, regardless of their background. The more diverse our community is, the stronger it becomes. With different perspectives come new innovations, ideas, and solutions. This results in better user experiences for all, from bloggers setting up sites to organizers and attendees of our in-person community events. Inclusive environments don’t happen overnight – or without effort. As our community grows, so have [ideas and efforts](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/wordcamp-organizer/first-steps/inclusive-and-welcoming-events/community-inclusion-initiatives/) to help welcome more diverse voices into the fold. ## **WPDiversity Programs** [#WPDiversity programs](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/event-formats/diversity-speaker-training-workshop/) are designed to empower WordPress community members with skills and resources to organize and contribute to diverse and inclusive WordPress events. This proposal offers a pathway to introduce all WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally- organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. [Learn more](https://central.wordcamp.org/about/). and meetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our [Meetup Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/). organizers to [#WPDiversity](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/wpdiversity/) programs, with the aim of helping to strengthen their events from inception. By proactively sharing information about these programs and an invitation to participate with new and existing event organizers, we can shape a culture in which _awareness of_ and _action toward _diversity and inclusion are embedded in events from the planning outset. ## **Proposal** ### Existing WordCamp and Meetup Organizers All WordCamp and meetup organizers would receive an email inviting and encouraging them to take the following actions in preparation for their upcoming or ongoing WordPress events: * Participate in the Allyship training (interactive video watch party or watch the prerecorded video on their own); * Organize an Allyship and/or Diverse Speaker training for their local community, or invite their community to join one of the regularly-scheduled global trainings. * Join the [#DiverseSpeakerSupport](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/diversespeakersupport/) SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform [https://slack.com/](https://slack.com/). The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at [https://make.wordpress.org/chat/](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/) channel, participate in the channel discussions, and share their event’s calls for organizers and speakers; and request that their Speaker WranglerWrangler Someone, usually a person part of event organizing team, who looks after certain things like budget or sponsors. do the same. ### New WordCamp and Meetup Organizers All new WordCamp and meetup organizers would automatically receive the invitation described above as they are onboarded. ### All WordCamp and Meetup Organizers Further, all event organizers would be required to: * Read handbook pages that cover key concepts and practices for creating a welcoming and inclusive event; * Demonstrate comprehension through the completion of a quiz. An effective starting point would be to add new lessons to the [Meetup Organizer Training](https://wordpress.org/contributor-training/course/wordpress-meetup-organizer-training/) and [WordCamp Organizer Training](https://wordpress.org/contributor-training/course/wordcamp-organizer-training/). The required reading would include links to optional resources to go deeper. ## **Share Your Feedback!** **Please share your thoughts on this proposal by Friday, April 8**! I would be interested to know: * How might this approach impact your community? * What do you like about this approach? * What’s missing? * What other ideas do you have? Kudos to [@angelasjin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/angelasjin/), [@mysweetcate](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mysweetcate/), [@alliennimmons](https://profiles.wordpress.org/alliennimmons/), [@wpfangirl](https://profiles.wordpress.org/wpfangirl/), [@devinmaeztri](https://profiles.wordpress.org/devinmaeztri/), [@peiraisotta](https://profiles.wordpress.org/peiraisotta/), [@jillbinder](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jillbinder/), [@nao](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nao/), [@tacoverdo](https://profiles.wordpress.org/tacoverdo/) and [@planningwrite](https://profiles.wordpress.org/planningwrite/) for contributing to this post. [#community-events](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/), [#community-team](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-team/), [#event-planning-training-materials](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/event-planning-training-materials/), [#events-2](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/events-2/) ### Share this: * [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2022/03/30/proposal-steps-to-integrate-wpdiversity-into-wordpress-event-organizing/?share=threads) * [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2022/03/30/proposal-steps-to-integrate-wpdiversity-into-wordpress-event-organizing/?share=mastodon) * [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2022/03/30/proposal-steps-to-integrate-wpdiversity-into-wordpress-event-organizing/?share=bluesky) * [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2022/03/30/proposal-steps-to-integrate-wpdiversity-into-wordpress-event-organizing/?share=facebook) * [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2022/03/30/proposal-steps-to-integrate-wpdiversity-into-wordpress-event-organizing/?share=x) * [ LinkedIn ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2022/03/30/proposal-steps-to-integrate-wpdiversity-into-wordpress-event-organizing/?share=linkedin) * [Login to Reply](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Fcommunity%2F2022%2F03%2F30%2Fproposal-steps-to-integrate-wpdiversity-into-wordpress-event-organizing%2F%23respond&locale=en_US) 1. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3f12e8442fd09d279b49b6acb72fd01ebe1a7dc3a3dcd85a437655ab7ff7edb8? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 2. [Santana Inniss](https://profiles.wordpress.org/santanainniss/) 10:27 am _on_ March 31, 2022 3. Having recently completed the MeetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our [Meetup Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/). Organizer Training and the WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. [Learn more](https://central.wordcamp.org/about/). Organizer Training, the proposal to integrate WP Diversity into both trainings makes good sense to me. I would have benefited from the information for sure. 4. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a436ab0e9c96432f9852e6c89a6efba387bbbd837e6f3eb29d1c97edad80f6ec? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 5. [Drivingralle](https://profiles.wordpress.org/drivingralle/) 11:40 am _on_ March 31, 2022 6. I like this Proposal. 7. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6dde16cbcd21e956e216d5320b8b52a1a1704ed9d412d8fdbd6d289a6ea3f588? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 8. [Stephanie Brinley](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sbrinley/) 12:56 pm _on_ March 31, 2022 9. I think additional training for new organizers is a good idea. Many people are not purposefully trying to exclude, they just lack awareness of how narrow their own community is. Helping them recognize that narrowness and giving them tools to expand the community to others is important. 10. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/adc68503a4b4cf183e6206d9f15d87a7e75194b06962b8e81b1d441549271f6e? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 11. [Isotta](https://profiles.wordpress.org/peiraisotta/) 8:33 am _on_ April 1, 2022 12. Thank you [@juliarosia](https://profiles.wordpress.org/juliarosia/) for building this proposal! I believe many communities will benefit from such a similar project. I agree with what Stephanie said about many people who are not purposefully trying to exclude, they just lack awareness, and I think this applies to most of the cases. 13. What I like the most about this approach is reaching out individually to both existed and new event organizers. This will open a direct channel of conversation and a bridge in case they missed these posts, and they would have an email or person of reference to reach out to if they need more support or have any questions. 14. Maybe it’s not missing and it’s just not-mentioned, but have you thought about coordinating this project with the people who are already coordinating the translations projects for the Learn and Diversity material? I know that some Italian folks would love to be more active in these topics but the language is a big barrier. 15. What about sharing with the organizer a list of members of the international community expert in diversity and inclusion who can be contacted if the organizer needs to clarify doubts, tailored advice, or needs speakers to talk about those topics? 16. Anyways, I think we all need more training and guidance of this! Thanks again Julia! 17. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/256e919d15a299d7da5ec9868517f1392b2e508e74124bb18d622d94feb77846? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 18. [Sam Suresh](https://profiles.wordpress.org/samsuresh/) 12:22 pm _on_ April 7, 2022 19. I think it’s good to include [#WPDiversity](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/wpdiversity/) in all our events. After all the whole program is about having diversity in our project. So including training and awareness at MeetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our [Meetup Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/). and WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. [Learn more](https://central.wordcamp.org/about/). level will help us to achieve the goals of [#wpdiversity](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/wpdiversity/). 20. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2a9a436a279049025e6d68d400ef12f39d4ef00898b745428aaabecbc42a171d? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 21. [Sallie Goetsch](https://profiles.wordpress.org/wpfangirl/) 6:42 pm _on_ April 7, 2022 22. > How might this approach impact your community? 23. I led the speaker training with my meetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our [Meetup Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/). members back in 2019 and it did result in us having a more diverse set of speakers… though mostly because I made a conscious effort to invite them. The more support and guidance I can get on this, the better. 24. > What do you like about this approach? 25. Diversity and inclusion should be built in to meetupsMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our [Meetup Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/). from the get-go. As [@sbrinley](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sbrinley/) says above, those of us with privilege are often oblivious to the fact we’re excluding people. 26. > What’s missing? 27. [@newyorkerlaura](https://profiles.wordpress.org/newyorkerlaura/) makes a great [comment on the return to in-person events post](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2022/03/23/return-to-events-blue-sky-thinking/#comment-30063) suggesting that WPCSWordPress Community Support WordPress Community Support PBC is a Public Benefit Corporation, created specifically to be the financial and legal support for WordCamps, WordPress Meetup groups, and any additional “official” events organized within the WordPress Community Events program. require a diverse team of co-organizers. 28. I think that would require adding into the trainings and the handbook how to work with co-organizers and how to recruit a diverse organizing team. 29. > What other ideas do you have? 30. I can’t think of anything that no one else has mentioned, but I probably will. 31. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ae4a4e54f58de7f040c1caef738bb56f5ccaf16b0eed9b2304df92826609d3ca? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 32. [Mike Schroder](https://profiles.wordpress.org/kirasong/) 12:59 pm _on_ April 8, 2022 33. I really like this proposal. Thank you!! 34. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2d94b91193b0482f7f8d7813f044bd02fab459ec3041015973246c4af6cb4ad1? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 35. [Julia Golomb](https://profiles.wordpress.org/juliarosia/) 11:21 pm _on_ April 11, 2022 36. Thank you to all who commented on this proposal. Based on your comments, it seems there is strong agreement that the steps outlined in this proposal are worth implementing. 37. Your comments highlight important considerations for implementation, including: 38. * **Language accessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both“ direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers).( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility) – **Ensure that all relevant materials, including the mandatory lessons and quizzes, are designed for language accessibility. * **Global context –** Implementation must honor and reflect the fact that, in a global context, diversity and inclusion will look different across different communities. * **Availability of tailored guidance –** There may be value in having available a group of mentorsEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues./ experts from around the world who are knowledgable about diversity and inclusion and can be contacted if an event organizer needs targeted guidance. 39. There will be more to come! For now, I plan to collaborate with members of the Community Team and the Diverse Speaker Training working group to begin implementing this proposal. 40. Would you like to join the Diverse Speaker Training working group? Follow the [#WPDiversity](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/wpdiversity/) tag on the Make Community blog for updates, or reach out in the [#community-team](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-team/) channel in the WordPress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. [https://wordpress.org/](https://wordpress.org/) SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform [https://slack.com/](https://slack.com/). 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