Title: Meetup Organizer Newsletter: April 2024 Author: Julia Golomb Published: April 25, 2024 --- [ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/juliarosia/) [Julia Golomb](https://profiles.wordpress.org/juliarosia/) 12:00 pm _on_ April 25, 2024 Tags: [community-events ( 69 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/), [community-team ( 229 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-team/), [meetup-organizer-newsletter ( 74 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/meetup-organizer-newsletter/), [newsletter ( 83 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/newsletter/)    # Meetup Organizer Newsletter: April 2024 Welcome to the April 2024 edition of your WordPress 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 Newsletter! The newsletter aims to inspire and empower WordPress meetup organizers worldwide to host engaging, impactful meetup events. Do you have ideas for topics to feature in a future edition of the newsletter? Please email your suggestions to support@wordcamp.org.  ## Elevate Your 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/)󠁿. With WordPress Playground! Hosting or planning your next WordPress meetup? Make it unforgettable with WordPress Playground! This innovative tool transforms learning and interaction by allowing you and your attendees to run WordPress directly in your browser. **Playground is the ultimate learning, teaching, and testing tool** – perfect for demonstrations, hands-on learning, and exploring new WordPress features without the hassle of installations. Dive into WordPress Playground and bring your meetups to life: [https://wordpress.org/playground/](https://wordpress.org/playground/) ## Explore WordPress 6.5 Highlights ![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/J1wd_-goffMBT5TlNDVkZIYIMqynwXUCidXEPt3ICxL08xjU1dZzM7chE20SZM- jOh5Qy2wUMSyf-P0qG8UbivaudWH4Zlj73eP6NYIzUIv_tvVN1M7oHyWe58B5-Qk8ih47oi0D0xgTeNDucazh2Wk) [WordPress 6.5 “Regina”](https://wordpress.org/news/2024/04/regina/) was recently released! This major releaseMajor Release A set of releases or versions having the same major version number may be collectively referred to as “X.Y” -- for example version 5.2.x to refer to versions 5.2, 5.2.1, and all other versions in the 5.2.( five dot two dot) branch of that software. Major Releases often are the introduction of new major features and functionality. brings exciting features like the new Font Library, enhanced drag-and-drop functionality, and over 110 performance updates, making the Post Editor and Site Editor 2x faster than before. Notable improvements include AVIF image support, 65 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) enhancements, and developer-friendly features like the Interactivity APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways.. With contributions from 700 individuals across 57 countries, including 150 first-time contributors, WordPress 6.5 reflects a global effort to empower users with a smoother, more efficient experience. Following closely, the [maintenance and security release of WordPress 6.5.2](https://wordpress.org/news/2024/04/wordpress-6-5-2-maintenance-and-security-release/) addresses crucial bug fixes and security enhancements, ensuring the WordPress experience remains top-notch. ### How Your Meetup Can Explore WordPress 6.5 Together 1. **Group Learning Sessions:** Kick off with the [WordPress 6.5 video tutorial on Learn WordPress](https://learn.wordpress.org/tutorial/exploring-wordpress-6-5/). Then, dive into [WordPress Playground](https://playground.wordpress.net/) for a live, interactive exploration of 6.5’s new features. 1. **Interactive Workshops:** Host workshops focused on 6.5’s innovations, like creating custom fonts with the new Font Library. 2. **Show and Tell:** Inspire your community by showcasing real-world applications of 6.5 features. Encourage members to share their projects and learn from each other. ## Share Your Feedback with Meetup.com Earlier this year, Meetup.com was acquired by Bending Spoons, an Italian-based tech company with an ambitious vision for Meetup’s future. Bending Spoons acquired Meetup because they believe in the mission to foster human connections. Over the next few years, this new parent company intends to invest nearly $50 million to improve the product and grow membership. In particular, the team plans to improve event discoverability and reduce the friction for organizers to create events and engage with their communities. **Meetup.com would love to hear from the WordPress community!** To do so, they created a [**dedicated form to collect your feedback**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBJV16EEq8enPmpfpAe2oSfEnbrwz95lltkW158myte8haFg/viewform). Please use it to share how they can improve the Meetup platform. [Read more on the WordPress Community Team blog](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/04/08/share-your-feedback-with-meetup-com/). ## Harness 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/)󠁿. Europe 2024 for your Meetup Group! WordCamp Europe 2024 has unveiled its [schedule and speaker lineup](https://europe.wordcamp.org/2024/schedule/)! From talks on WordPress’s future to hands-on workshops, there’s something for everyone. WordCamp Europe talks are live-streamed and recorded, so you can bring together your meetup group to watch and discuss the sessions. It’s the next best thing to being there! ## Celebrating Success: WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program The [WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program’s second cohort](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/04/08/wordpress-contributor-mentorship-2024-q1-cohort-graduates/) has just wrapped up, boasting **52 mentees** guided by **28 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.** over six weeks. A heartfelt congratulations to all mentees – including six recipients of the [LGBTQ+Press Empowerment Grant](https://lgbtqpress.com/2024/02/lets-celebrate-our-six-lgbtqpress-empowerment-grantees/)– for their outstanding contributions to WordPress. ## Introducing our newest WordPress Meetup groups Let’s welcome the new Meetup groups recently added to our chapter! Do support them in organizing both local (in-person) and global (online) meetup events, and let’s learn from their experiences and experiments along the way. 1. [Accra, Ghana](https://www.meetup.com/accra-wordpress-meetup/) 2. [Baliuag, Philippines](https://www.meetup.com/baliuag-wordpress-meetup/) 3. [Onomichi, Hiroshima](https://www.meetup.com/hiroshima-wordpress-meetup-group/) 4. [Ughelli, Nigeria](https://www.meetup.com/ughelli-wordpress-meetup-group/) 5. [Shenzhen, China](https://www.meetup.com/shenzhen-wordpress-meetup/) ## Meetups of the Month This month, we celebrate the WordPress Meetup groups of Cebu (Philippines), Managua( Nicaragua), Sofia (Bulgaria), and Malappuram (India)! ![A group of 31 smiling people stand and sit around a table.](https://make.wordpress. org/community/files/2024/04/WP-Meetup-Cebu-March-24-1024x725.jpg) ![17 smiling people with their hands in the air stand in front of a screen displaying a Wapuu.](https://make.wordpress.org/community/files/2024/04/Managua-WordPress-meetup_02- 29-2024-1-1024x630.jpeg) ![A room full of people seated theater style.](https://make.wordpress.org/community/ files/2024/04/WordPress_Sofia_Meetup_13_03_2024-1-1024x488.jpg) ![Six people seated in a semi-circle on the ground under an outdoor pavilion, with two laptops in front of them.](https://make.wordpress.org/community/files/2024/04/ wp-malappuram-india-kerala-june25-2023-1-1024x879.jpeg) ## Meetup Organizers, we want to feature you! We’d love to publish pictures from Meetups all around the world in each newsletter. Do you want your Meetup to be featured? Share 1 picture with the Community team!** Rename your picture as “Meetup-name_event-date” and **[**upload it to this folder**](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DPfx4JP4PsIEQ-Ssep44fG4RsmXkQuzf?usp=sharing)**.** The formats supported are jpg and png. Please remember, always ask for permission from your group members before taking the picture and sharing it with us! --- A special thank you to our Global Sponsors: [Bluehost](https://www.bluehost.com/), [GoDaddy](https://www.godaddy.com/pro?utm_source=wcglobal_2023_sponsorship&utm_medium=events&utm_campaign=en-us_events_prg_awa_partners_part_wcsponsordesc_001), [Automattic](https://automattic.com/about/), [WPBeginner](https://www.wpbeginner.com/), and [Woo](https://woocommerce.com/)! --- If you have any questions, Community Team Supporters are here to help. Please email us at support@wordcamp.org or join the [#community-events](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/) [Slack](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/) channel. **Thanks for everything you do** to grow and support the WordPress community. Let’s keep sharing knowledge and inspiring each other with our contributions! See you online soon! The following people contributed to this edition of the Meetup newsletter: [@hellosatya](https://profiles.wordpress.org/hellosatya/), [@juliarosia](https://profiles.wordpress.org/juliarosia/), [@_dorsvenabili](https://profiles.wordpress.org/_dorsvenabili/) [@bjmcsherry](https://profiles.wordpress.org/bjmcsherry/) [#community-team](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-team/), [#meetup-organizer-newsletter](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/meetup-organizer-newsletter/), [#newsletter](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/newsletter/) ### Share this: * [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/04/25/meetup-organizer-newsletter-april-2024/?share=threads) * [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/04/25/meetup-organizer-newsletter-april-2024/?share=mastodon) * [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/04/25/meetup-organizer-newsletter-april-2024/?share=bluesky) * [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/04/25/meetup-organizer-newsletter-april-2024/?share=facebook) * [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/04/25/meetup-organizer-newsletter-april-2024/?share=x) * [ LinkedIn ](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/04/25/meetup-organizer-newsletter-april-2024/?share=linkedin) * [Login to Reply](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Fcommunity%2F2024%2F04%2F25%2Fmeetup-organizer-newsletter-april-2024%2F%23respond&locale=en_US) ### Leave a Reply 󠀁[Cancel reply](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/04/25/meetup-organizer-newsletter-april-2024/?output_format=md#respond)󠁿 You must be [logged in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Fcommunity%2F2024%2F04%2F25%2Fmeetup-organizer-newsletter-april-2024%2F&locale=en_US) to post a comment. # Post navigation [← Recap of the Contributor Working Group’s Mentorship Chat on April 18, 2024](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/04/24/recap-of-the-contributor-working-groups-mentorship-chat-on-april-18-2024/) [Community Team Meeting Agenda for 2 – May -2024 →](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2024/05/02/community-team-meeting-agenda-for-2-may-2024/)