Idea generation: Next Gen WordCamps!

Earlier this month, a post proposed an updated purpose and experimentation for WordCamps. The Community Team is eager to see what this creative community wants to see!

In entering this very experimental phase, organizers are encouraged to propose new event formats and topics that match a proposed, updated purpose:

WordPress events spark innovation and adoption by way of accessible training and networking for users, builders, designers, and extenders. We celebrate community by accelerating 21st-century skills, professional opportunities, and partnerships for WordPressers of today and tomorrow.

The WordPress community also holds certain expectations and values, such as lowering barriers to participation, celebrating the community as a whole instead of any one business or individual, and supporting diversity and inclusion. The Community Team would like to support innovative event ideas that align with the new purpose and our WordPress community values. 

As a reminder, all currently scheduled WordCamps will continue to be supported. While the Community Team encourages organizers to try new ideas, we will also continue to support WordCamps in all forms. 

To help spark some new ideas, here are some interesting event formats we could try!

  • Content topic focused (designers, blockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. development, SEO, etc)
  • Identity-based (women, castes, BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQI+, tribes, age, etc)
  • “Eco” 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. (no swag, smaller, more frequent, more sustainable)
  • ​​WP expertise level (beginners, intermediate, advanced)
  • Focused activity (training, recruiting, networking, contributing, conferencing, etc)
  • Job status focused (students, fresh graduates, job seekers, freelancers, business owners, etc)

Your turn: what Next Gen WordCamp do you want to see?

Share your ideas in the comments below! Whether they are fully conceptualized or just initial thoughts, let’s hear what kind of ideas you have for Next Gen WordCamps. Think outside the box and forget about the handbooks for a moment.

What would be the most beneficial for your WordPress experience? What do you want to learn? What do you want next for your WordPress community and career? What would be the most memorable experience? What would propel WordPress events into the future?

If you already have a specific idea in mind and you would like to give it a try, use this form to apply to organize an innovative WordPress events, and we’ll get back to you to discuss how we can support you in making it happen!

Don’t miss tomorrow’s Community Team discussion: The Next Generation of WordCamps: everyone is invited to share their thoughts and envision the future of these events.

Additionally, keep an eye out for upcoming conversations about the necessary tools for the Next Gen events, and talking points for facilitating new event brainstorm sessions with your local communities!

#discussion, #ideas, #next-gen-events, #wordcamps