Title: Proposal: Dedicated communication place for WordCamp mentors Author: Isotta Peira Published: January 20, 2023 Last modified: January 30, 2023 --- [ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/peiraisotta/) [Isotta Peira](https://profiles.wordpress.org/peiraisotta/) 7:34 am _on_ January 20, 2023 Tags: [community-events ( 69 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/) # Proposal: Dedicated communication place for WordCamp mentors 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/). 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. are community team members who have experience organizing WordCamps and want to help other organizers have a great time planning a WordCamp. At the point 5 of the mentorEvent 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. handbook, [Turn to the Community Team when you need help](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/wordcamp-program-basics/mentoring-wordcamps/#ask_for_help), we ask mentors to reach out to the community team in the [#community-events](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/) channel of [Slack](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/), or email [support@wordcamp.org](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/20/proposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors/support@wordcamp.org?output_format=md). I understand the importance of keeping a transparent and open communication, and asking questions in the [#community-events](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/) of 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/) allows other people to learn from the questions answered. I don’t want this to disappear. However, in the past year working as a mentor and deputyProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/). I found out that there are at least 3 common occasions where mentors need to discuss, and a public channel or an email to [support@wordcamp.org](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/20/proposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors/support@wordcamp.org?output_format=md) are not the ideal solution. 1. It often happens that a mentor needs to help WordCamp organizers who are facing delicate situations. The mentor might need the support of the other mentors, and a public conversation may be uncomfortable for them and indelicate for the organizers themselves. When this happens, some mentors might decide to not ask for help, others might reach out to one trusted peer or email support@wordcamp.org, but all the other mentors are then excluded from the conversation. By doing that, we’re losing a great chance of a group learning moment between mentors and consolidate a trusting relationship.  2. Some mentors are also deputiesProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/)., and we have a dedicated private place for deputies to discuss sensitive topics. This could lead deputies to ask mentorship questions in that channel, cutting off the conversation of all mentors who are not deputies. 3. Deputies who work on creating the websites for WordCamps need to assign a mentor to each one. Until now, we’ve been checking lists and spreadsheets of available mentors, and reached out individually to everyone. This often leads to misunderstanding or we spend too much time pinging mentors individually.  The third point could be easily solved by creating a dedicated handle for pinging all mentors at once, but it wouldn’t solve point 1 and 2. At the moment, **there are 40 active mentors**, and probably the number will increase in the future. ### The reasons why I’m proposing to create a new channel for active mentors are the following: * Give mentors a safe place to share delicate challenges with a trusted group of peers * Give the chance to all mentors to participate into the conversation * Build trusting relationships among all mentors: the more we connect and collaborate, the better we work together and the more we enjoy contributing to the community * Encourage mentors to ask help when they need it during their work. As [@sippis](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sippis/) mentioned in his proposal [Dedicated communication place for deputies](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2020/06/29/proposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-deputies/) in 2020: “The private channel is somewhat against the transparency we as a team and as a project in general cherish. At the same time, it should be remembered that some discussions that could involve all deputies happen in smaller DM groups. Creating a private channel for all deputies would hopefully reduce the need for that kind of DM groups and add transparency amongst deputies.”  I strongly believe that this applies to mentors as well. Also, echoing [@sippis](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sippis/): “We are already good in directing discussion from Slack to P2P2 P2 or O2 is the term people use to refer to the Make WordPress blog. It can be found at [https://make.wordpress.org](https://make.wordpress.org/) when needed, so why we wouldn’t be good on moving some discussion from a private channel to public if the topic is something that can be discussed publicly.” ### What do mentors and the whole community think about this proposal? Please leave your feedback on the topic and particularly in the following questions: 1. Should mentors have another place than the [#community-events](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/) channel to discuss among themselves if needed? 2. If mentors should have a dedicated channel, should it be private or public? **Please, leave your feedback before Wednesday, February 1st, 2023.** A big thank to everyone who will join the discussion, [@sippis](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sippis/) and [@angelasjin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/angelasjin/) for sharing historical context and insights, [@patricia70](https://profiles.wordpress.org/patricia70/) for remembering me about the importance of this proposal (It took me a few weeks to publish it, but here we are!), and [@leogopal](https://profiles.wordpress.org/leogopal/) for inspiring me to share the ideas I have in mind. ### Share this: * [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/20/proposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors/?share=threads) * [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/20/proposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors/?share=mastodon) * [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/20/proposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors/?share=bluesky) * [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/20/proposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors/?share=facebook) * [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/20/proposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors/?share=x) * [ LinkedIn ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/20/proposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors/?share=linkedin) * [Login to Reply](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Fcommunity%2F2023%2F01%2F20%2Fproposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors%2F%23respond&locale=en_US) 1. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b96b0d15a783789395cdef44e063be01558ee823a2cb8814aeaab245ba33a6cd? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 2. [Leo Gopal](https://profiles.wordpress.org/leogopal/) 7:47 am _on_ January 20, 2023 3. Hi [@peiraisotta](https://profiles.wordpress.org/peiraisotta/), great proposal. 4. I often find it weird that we have the team and deputiesProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/). channels and usergroups but did not have the same way of notifying and discussing mentorEvent 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. specific topics when they are a community role just as important. 5. I think if the deputies have it, the 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. should have the same tooling and communication advantages and safe space as well. 6. I feel the real question would be is if the deputies have it, is there any valid reasons for not granting the same to mentors? 7. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ccd55fefb6118ccc56269b8b9bfbb213c1df096172708ba30b67a405c0ab3fa0? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 8. [Azhar Mehmood](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azhar568/) 3:45 pm _on_ January 21, 2023 9. Great work. 10. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/62b9ffcdba12d4d7794185ce3908cbd9fdac07ed63410dd8adac0c572a6bfa26? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 11. [Juan Hernando](https://profiles.wordpress.org/unintended8/) 9:27 am _on_ January 23, 2023 12. Moving from 1 to 1 direct messages and conversations to a more open space it’s always a great idea. And I’m sure most 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. have had that private questions with other mentors/deputiesProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/). because sometimes you have the kind of doubts that you don’t want to disclose before you have an answer. 13. Also, with a channel, it’s easier to share and get answers from other mentors in specific cases that probably the most experienced ones have already handled. So… I’m all in for this channel. And as you mentioned, we must always be aware that if the conversation is better to have it in public, we should move it to the [#community-events](https://wordpress.slack.com/archives/C02RQC7RN) channel in 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/). 14. Thanks [@peiraisotta](https://profiles.wordpress.org/peiraisotta/) for the proposal!!! 15. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f18d4fd2b78f6b27ef9fe8911272e7f88eb1d2aeee52e3d0787d670c79d37700? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 16. [Cate DeRosia](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mysweetcate/) 9:25 pm _on_ January 30, 2023 17. Love this idea. It’s a great way to improve our information flow while also saving time for all of us. 18. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aa89edf971372c035a02c633667412facd8b00fd6946fe4f208f7aed7f7bb524? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 19. [Naoko Takano](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nao/) 2:00 am _on_ January 31, 2023 20. Thank you for putting together this post! 21. > Should 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. have > another place than the [#community-events](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/) > channel to discuss among themselves if needed? 22. I agree this is a great way to improve mentors’ communication around issues involving private/sensitive information. 23. > If mentors should have a dedicated channel, should it be private or public? 24. A private channel is more appropriate for the content I described above. 25. Someone who is a deputyProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/). AND mentorEvent 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. now has many places to monitor – [#community-events](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/)( for everything related to events), [#community-team](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-team/)( for all community team contributors), deputiesProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/). channel, and mentors channel. We should be intentional and clear about how we use each channel and help mentors and deputies understand the differences. 26. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c33dffb0341aeea5d96c65cebc3e165acf0326be7d7b2a7670310139309c1100? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 27. [Patricia BT](https://profiles.wordpress.org/patricia70/) 8:10 pm _on_ February 1, 2023 28. Hello team 🙂 Yes good idea. I’m new to this but I can see where it could be helpful 29. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/71de105490936bbae68ffb254d8804d4306aef79053a36d56233e9ca3bcc71e8? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 30. [David](https://profiles.wordpress.org/margowsky/) 9:19 pm _on_ February 2, 2023 31. I agree. 32. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3a33f937b6488aa91cda8b14a2c18133a609bcf8c5d5d08e03d2474e1b852d3c? s=32&d=mm&r=g) * [Mukalele Rogers](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mrogers4christ/) 6:04 pm _on_ February 3, 2023 * Thank you for this proposal 33. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/adc68503a4b4cf183e6206d9f15d87a7e75194b06962b8e81b1d441549271f6e? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 34. [Isotta](https://profiles.wordpress.org/peiraisotta/) 2:53 pm _on_ February 6, 2023 35. Thank you all for commenting and sharing your thoughts! It seems that we can move forward with this proposal. ### Leave a Reply 󠀁[Cancel reply](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/20/proposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors/?output_format=md#respond)󠁿 You must be [logged in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Fcommunity%2F2023%2F01%2F20%2Fproposal-dedicated-communication-place-for-wordcamp-mentors%2F&locale=en_US) to post a comment. # Post navigation [← Proposal: [Experiment] Adopt Standardised Team-wide Project Management Tools – already utilised by other Make Teams for a Quarter.](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/19/proposal-adopt-github-for-team-projects/) [Upcoming #WPDiversity Events: January 2023 →](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/01/23/upcoming-wpdiversity-events-january-2023/)