WCAsia 2025 Contributor Day: What should we work on?

It’s that time again! With 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. Asia 2025 only days away, it is time to decide what to work on Contributor Day.

We would love to welcome team members to get together, contribute, collaborate, onboard new members, and maybe come up with new ideas for the future. 

Several members including some of the Community Team Reps will be present at the event.

Here are some of the topics we can discuss on the Contributor DayContributor Day Contributor Days are standalone days, frequently held before or after WordCamps but they can also happen at any time. They are events where people get together to work on various areas of https://make.wordpress.org/ There are many teams that people can participate in, each with a different focus. https://2017.us.wordcamp.org/contributor-day/ https://make.wordpress.org/support/handbook/getting-started/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day/.

Topics

  • The Community Team Sponsor Review process change 
  • New 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./WP Event Orientations / Vetting queues – ideas and improvements
  • WP Event applications and budget reviews
  • What goals would be impactful to our day spent collaborating together?
  • How can we improve the Handbook for the Community Team?

Can’t attend in person?

Join the conversations that happen all year long in the Make Community SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/.. It’s simple to join and allows you to connect to all of the Make WordPress contributor teams!

We will try our best to have the #community-team channel running during the day, but it’s highly recommended you comment on this post about any specific topics we should look into during WCAsia.

Please comment on your ideas below before Feb 19, after that, we’ll close the comments, consolidate all ideas for the next day.

#community-team #contributor-day #wcasia

Meetup Organizer Newsletter: February 2025

Hello WordPress Event Organizers,

Kickstart 2025 with fresh ideas and impactful events! This edition brings exciting 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. themes, a milestone for the WordPress Photo Directory, and tips on engaging Gen Z in your community. Plus, get inspired by Women’s Day events worldwide and discover ways to make your gatherings more sustainable.

Let’s build a stronger, more connected WordPress community this year! 🚀

Planning is key to a successful event! To allow ample time for review and preparation, we encourage teams to apply for events at least six months in advance. This ensures a smoother process and a well-organized experience for everyone involved.

Keep the Momentum Going: WordPress Event Ideas for February

The new year is in full swing, and February is a great time to deepen connections and continue growing your WordPress community. Here are some engaging event ideas to build on January’s energy:

  1. Love Your Website: A WordPress Tune-Up – February is all about appreciation, so why not host a hands-on session where attendees audit their sites for performance, 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), and security improvements?
  2. AI & Automation for WordPress – Explore how AI-powered tools can enhance content creation, SEO, and site management, making WordPress workflows more efficient.
  3. WordPress Collaboration Day: To encourage teamwork, organize a co-working day where developers, designers, and content creators work on community projects, open-source contributions, or personal sites.

These events keep the momentum while reinforcing the value of learning and collaboration within your community! 🚀

Tip of the Month for Creating More Sustainable Events: 

When organizing an event, prioritize venues with sustainability measures already in place, like the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling facilities or sustainable certifications. See more venue suggestions here.

📸 20,000+ Free & Open Photos – A Milestone for the WordPress Community! 🎉

CC0 licensed photo by Balu B from the WordPress Photo Directory.

The WordPress Photo Directory has officially surpassed 20,000 images, marking a significant achievement for open-source creativity! Every photo is CC0-licensed, meaning you can use them freely—on websites, social media, presentations, and more—without attribution.

This ever-growing collection is a fantastic resource for WordPress users, organizers, and content creators looking for high-quality images that align with the open web philosophy.

💡 Explore the directory and find the perfect image for your next project: WordPress Photo Directory

Got a great shot to share? Contribute your photos and help expand this incredible library for the entire community! 📷💙

🎥 WordPressTV Highlight: Contributor DayContributor Day Contributor Days are standalone days, frequently held before or after WordCamps but they can also happen at any time. They are events where people get together to work on various areas of https://make.wordpress.org/ There are many teams that people can participate in, each with a different focus. https://2017.us.wordcamp.org/contributor-day/ https://make.wordpress.org/support/handbook/getting-started/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day/. – Where Ideas Merge and You Commit to More Than Code

Thinking about Contributor Day at 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. Asia 2025? 🤔This session by Jhimross Olinares (@jhimross) is your perfect introduction!

🌍 More Than Just Code: Contributor Day isn’t just for developers—it’s for designers, marketers, writers, translators, and more. Whether you’re passionate about CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress., Documentation, or Marketing, you’ll find a welcoming team where your skills can help shape WordPress.

🔍 What to Expect:

  • Learn how Contributor Day works and why it matters
  • Find the right team for your skills
  • Get inspired to make an impact in the WordPress ecosystem

💡 Ready to dive in? Watch the full talk here:
🎥 Contributor Day: Where Ideas Merge and You Commit to More Than Code

🌟 Empower the Next Generation: Invite Gen Z to Join Your Meetup Team!

WordPress has shaped the web for over 20 years, but its future depends on engaging the next generation of creators, developers, and innovators. That’s where Gen Z comes in!

Meetup Organizers: this is your chance to bridge the gap and bring fresh energy to your community by inviting young people to volunteer or co-organize your events.

💡 Why Involve Gen Z?
✅ They bring new perspectives on design, social media, and digital trends.
✅ They’re eager to build skills and connections in open-source communities.
✅ They help keep WordPress relevant and thriving for the future.

🎯 How to Get Them Involved:
🚀 Offer flexible roles like social media management, event photography, or welcoming attendees.
🎤 Give them a chance to host lightning talks or lead discussions on topics they love.
🌎 Emphasize how volunteering builds leadership skills and expands their network in the tech industry.🙌 Start the conversation today! Reach out to local schools, universities, and online communities—let’s make WordPress 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. a place where young voices shape the future of the web.

Organizing Regional Special Events for Women’s Day

March is an excellent opportunity for Meetup organizers to host events celebrating women in WordPress and technology. Two inspiring examples leading the way this year are:

Voces que Inspiran: Women’s Day 2025 Latam

A virtual event made possible thanks to our global sponsors and the support of micro sponsors. If you’d like to contribute, you can become a micro sponsor and help make this initiative even more impactful!

This online gathering, scheduled for March 1, 2025, will bring together the WordPress community across Latin America to highlight the leadership and contributions of women in tech. It will feature inspiring talks, workshops, and interactive sessions, fostering growth, collaboration, and networking opportunities.

Learn more about Voces que Inspiran: Women’s Day 2025 Latam and get inspired:
🔗 Visit Website →

EmpowerWP 2025: WPBhopal’s Celebration for Women’s Day

On March 9, 2025, WPBhopal is set to launch EmpowerWP 2025, a movement—not just an event! With a women-majority audience, this gathering is open to all, reinforcing that empowerment doesn’t happen in isolation.

EmpowerWP goes beyond traditional audiences, reaching women on career breaks, small business owners, and homemakers with untapped potential. The goal is to bring the digital revolution home, turn skills into opportunities, and make WordPress a bridge between talent and growth.

Learn more about EmpowerWP 2025 and get inspired:
🔗 Visit Website →

By organizing virtual or in-person Women’s Day events, Meetup groups can create meaningful spaces for women in WordPress to share their stories, learn from each other, and strengthen the community. Even small-scale events, from panel discussions to networking meetups, can significantly impact!

💡 Looking for ideas? Consider hosting a lightning talk session, a showcase of women-led WordPress projects, or a mentorship roundtable.

Would you like to organize a special event in your region? We’d love to hear about it! 🚀

Some recent Community Events

Tegal (Indonesia)

Surat (India)

Mumbai (India)

Edmonton (Canada)

Nairobi (Kenya)

Cartago (Costa Rica)

WordPress Event Organizers, We Want to Feature You!

We love highlighting WordPress events from around the world in our newsletters. Want your Meetup to be featured? Share a picture with the Community team! Post it on the #community-events Slack channel. Remember to ask permission from your group members before taking and sharing photos.

Need Support or Guidance From the WordPress Global Community TeamGlobal Community Team A group of community organizers and contributors who collaborate on local events about WordPress — monthly WordPress meetups and/or annual conferences called WordCamps.?

If you have any questions, Community Team Supporters are here to help. Please email us at support@wordcamp.org or join the #community-events Slack 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: @josvelasco, @nilovelez, @beingastha, @kharisblank, and @bjmcsherry.

#community-team, #meetup-organizer-newsletter, #newsletter

do_action Manila – A Recap

We first learned about do_actiondo_action do_action hackathons are community-organised events that are focussed on using WordPress to give deserving charitable organisations their own online presence. Learn more on doaction.org. back in 2017. The idea of a hackathon centred around building WordPress websites for charities was brilliant. But back then we had just started the work of re-building the WordPress community in the Philippines. We felt we needed more experience before tackling a charity event. Fast forward to 2019, after successfully organizing three WordCamps for Manila (and several dozen 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.), we felt our small but dedicated group of volunteers was ready to take on the challenge.

After consultations with Hugh Lashbrooke, we decided to go with a modest target of 4 charity beneficiaries, with teams consisting of 5 to 7 members for each beneficiary. We projected around 50 to 70 total attendees.

As with any event, it all hinges on securing a suitable venue. do_action is unique since it would require a large space to house the teams, and a separate training room for the charity representatives.

The kind people from Canva Manila didn’t really need a lot of convincing. They readily agreed to host our charity event, and also sponsor lunch and snacks for all the attendees. This, I would say, was the biggest factor that helped our event — the support and generosity of our community partners and sponsors. Our friends from Inbytes.dev offered to take care of breakfast for everyone, and the good folks from Pantheon sponsored our modest event shirt tokens. As a result of this outpouring of goodwill, we didn’t have to raise additional funds to cover costs.

The next challenge was recruiting participants. The WordPress community in Manila was still fairly new and small, so getting enough participants to sign up was a challenge. For participant sign-ups, we turned to other tech communities for help, specifically Developers Connect, Philippine Web Designers Organization, and Women Who Code Manila.

It’s worth mentioning that in the Philippines, the different tech communities have a fantastic working relationship. Organizers from different groups regularly meet to share their knowledge, exchange information and collaborate together. We are proud to say that it’s this awesome collaborative environment that has allowed our local tech communities to grow and make a greater impact.

The actual event day itself went relatively smoothly. We did notice that a few of the teams still had difficulty getting their projects finished on time despite being given extra time to prepare in advance. For future hackathons, we’re considering putting more structure towards pre-event work, especially with regards to gathering materials and consultations about design and functionality. This will hopefully help teams plan and execute their projects.

To cap off the day, we had a small program where the teams presented their work along with their partner-charities. One of the more noteworthy work was from Women Who Code – Manila and their partner org Lilak Philippines.

In the end, it was a very productive day full of lessons and lots of community fun. We’re already planning next year’s charity hackathon. Thank you again to all the people who worked tirelessly to help make this event possible. From our WordPress Community 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., Hugh Lashbrooke, to our sponsors, volunteers and participants. This is only our first charity event, we hope to make a greater impact in the future not just in Manila but across the Philippines.

Announcement: Sponsor review process changes

The Community Team has always had guidelines around sponsorships, especially for GPLGPL GPL is an acronym for GNU Public License. It is the standard license WordPress uses for Open Source licensing https://wordpress.org/about/license/. The GPL is a ‘copyleft’ license https://www.gnu.org/licenses/copyleft.en.html. This means that derivative work can only be distributed under the same license terms. This is in distinction to permissive free software licenses, of which the BSD license and the MIT License are widely used examples. and WordPress trademark compliance. These guidelines are outlined in 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. Organiser Handbook and the agreement among WordCamp organizers, speakers, sponsors, and volunteers.

For years, the Community Team has trusted WordCamp and other event organizers to vet sponsors and ensure compliance with the guidelines. Program Managers have approved the sponsorship invoices to be sent, and trust that organizers will not issue invoices for a sponsor that does not align with guidelines. On rare occasions, Program Managers have had to intervene — typically when the sponsor has been known to have current issues aligning with guidelines.

Since late November 2024, a more thorough vetting process of sponsors has been in place. The project leadership mandated the new process, which Community Program Managers were tasked to manage.

The new process strictly enforces WordPress trademark and GPL compliance. This has meant, for example, requiring all sponsors to stop using terms like “WordPress Hosting” and avoid unauthorized use of the WordPress logo. Companies that want to sponsor but are not in compliance with the trademark or GPL guidelines have been asked to update their websites, materials, plugins, and other codes to comply.

In addition, all sponsorships need to be approved by Matt Mullenweg (@matt) and Mary Hubbard (@4thhubbard) from project leadership.

Currently, the Program Managers hold all invoices until the sponsor complies with guidelines and project leadership approves their sponsorship. This process has been sped up so that if a sponsor is recently approved, new invoices are sent without re-approval.  

It is unclear how long this process will be in place. As we expect this to be in place long term, we will continue to look at ways to improve the process.  

The new process has caused significant delays in receiving payments from sponsors, which is a requirement for events announcing their support. We, the Program Managers, understand organizers’ frustrations with the process and are working to improve it. We know how vital sponsors are and how important their support is for WordPress events. 

Program Managers have sought to establish a process to speed up the processing time. A new batch of sponsors requiring approval is sent to project leadership at least once a week. We hope that this, and being transparent about the recent changes, alleviates some of the pressure event organizers have been under. Disclosing these changes should have been done earlier.

Thank you everyone for your understanding.

Props to @kcristiano, @unintended8, @nukaga, @_dorsvenabili, @peiraisotta and @4thhubbard for the pre-publication review.

Hosting WordPress Events for Women on International Women’s Day

In honor of International Women’s Day, we propose that local WordPress communities around the globe consider organizing WordPress events for women to celebrate, empower, and inspire women within our ecosystem.

Note: This WordPress event is for women and gender minorities in tech, and we kindly request for organizers of these groups to apply to be the organizers.

Why This Matters:

The WordPress community thrives on diversity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Hosting women-focused WordPress events provides a safe and welcoming space for women to:

  • Share their experiences, challenges, and successes in WordPress and tech.
  • Learn and grow through focused workshops, talks, and discussions.
  • Build networks, gain 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., and foster confidence to take up leadership roles within the WordPress community.
  • Inspire women in the tech world through the experiences and leadership of other professional and accomplished women.

What These WordPress Events Could Look Like:

  • Inspiring Talks: Invite women leaders, contributors, and professionals in WordPress and related IT communities to share their journeys.
  • Hands-on Workshops: Cover topics like WordPress basics, pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party/theme development, blogging, digital marketing, design, business, entrepreneurship…
  • Networking Sessions: Facilitate connections among women to build strong, local support networks.
  • Inclusive Stories: Create a platform for women from diverse backgrounds to share how WordPress has impacted their lives and careers.
  • Highlight Local Success Stories: Share stories of women in your local community who have achieved milestones in WordPress or tech.
  • Fun Games and Learning Activities: Include interactive games and activities that are both engaging and educational, such as quizzes, or team-building challenges.
  • Offer Mentorship Opportunities: Pair beginners with experienced WordPress users for one-on-one guidance during or after the event.
  • Follow-Up Events: Plan follow-up 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. or workshops to keep the momentum going and track participants’ progress.

How to Get Started:

  • Collaborate with Local Groups: Partner with women-focused organizations or tech communities to expand your outreach. Start discussions with them and begin planning your event.
  • Apply for Your Event: Local communities interested in hosting can apply via the Creative WordPress Events Form. Upon approval, you’ll receive a dedicated website for your event, similar to:  https://events.wordpress.org/LOCATION/2025/WomenDay]
  • Secure a Venue: Look for an inclusive and welcoming venue. If possible, secure a free or donated venue. If that’s not feasible, opt for the most cost-effective option. You can also host your event online.
  • Plan Your Budget: Budget for venue costs (if applicable), refreshments, snacks, and/or childcare. 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. Community Support will offer a stipend of $100 – $500 USD (depending on the host city’s cost of living and average size of 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. events) to support your event.
  • Curate Inclusive Content: Design a program that caters to all skill levels, from beginners to experienced WordPress users.
  • Promote Your Event: Use social media and local channels to spread the word and attract attendees.
  • Prepare Swag and Materials: If local businesses would like to support your event, consider printing swag items or stickers locally to enhance the experience.
  • Please note that if you would like to offer childcare services at your venue, you can encourage women to bring children under 10 to join the event! 

We’re seeking assistance with the following:

  • A designer to create a banner for the event that all the communities can use.
  • A designer to craft a sticker sheet featuring female-gendered Wapuu designs.
  • A designer to develop a unique logo for WordPress Women’s Day.

If you would like to volunteer for the designing part, please comment on this post!

Our Vision:

By organizing women-centric WordPress events on International Women’s Day, we can spark meaningful conversations and encourage more women to join, lead, and contribute to WordPress. It’s an opportunity to strengthen our community and amplify women’s voices in 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..

We hope this initiative inspires WordPress organizers worldwide to celebrate and empower women in their communities. Let’s work together to make WordPress a more inclusive and diverse space!

Looking forward to your thoughts and feedback!

Thanks to @_dorsvenabili, @harmonyromo, @nukaga, @peiraisotta, and @devinmaeztri for inputs on this proposal, and we also would like to thank @adityakane for sharing this idea!

WordPress Meetup Planning Template Sample

Title: Celebrating Women in WordPress on International Women’s Day 

Description: Join us for a special WordPress event for women as we celebrate International Women’s Day! This event is dedicated to empowering women in the WordPress community and beyond.

Whether you’re a blogger, developer, designer, marketer, just starting your WordPress journey or any online professional, this is a perfect opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together in a supportive environment.

What to Expect:

  • Inspiring talks by women leaders in WordPress.
  • Networking opportunities to build meaningful connections.
  • Stories of success, challenges, and lessons from women in tech.
  • Refreshments and snacks.

Date: March 8, 2025
Time: TBD
Venue: TBD
Who Can Attend: Women WordPress enthusiasts of all experience levels.

Note: This event has been created for women and gender minorities in tech, and we kindly request that other attendees please do not register.

Let’s come together to celebrate, inspire, and create a stronger community for women in WordPress. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the change!

#community-team #highlight

Meetup Organizer Newsletter: January 2025

Hello WordPress Event Organizers,

Kick off the new year with inspiring WordPress events! This edition features creative ideas, sustainable tips, and stories of community growth worldwide. From workshops to International Women’s Day celebrations, find insights to empower your community and make 2025 unforgettable.

CC0 licensed photo by mdburnette from the WordPress Photo Directory.

Given the importance of thorough preparation, we recommend organizing teams to apply for events scheduled at least six months in advance. This ensures adequate time for the review process and the necessary planning to create a successful event.

Engaging WordPress Event Ideas to Kickstart the New Year

These ideas are perfect for inspiring and empowering your WordPress community in the year ahead!

  1. New Year, New Website Workshop: Help beginners create and launch their first WordPress site with step-by-step guidance. Maybe with the help of AI.
  2. Refresh Your WordPress Site: Guide attendees on redesigning, optimizing, and enhancing their websites for the new year, focusing on speed and usability.
  3. Community Mixer & Trends for 2025: Host a networking event featuring lightning talks, Q&A sessions, and discussions on upcoming WordPress trends.

Tip of the Month for Creating More Sustainable Events: 

When organizing an event, favor cities that have excellent low-carbon long-haul travel links (like trains) and reliable, accessible public transport. See more event location advice here.

How to Plan a Creative and Meaningful WordPress Event for International Women’s Day

WordPress Latin America: First mentoring session for women leading International Women’s Day events on March 8th.

Choose a Resonant Event Title

Pick a theme like “Breaking Barriers: Women Empowering the Web” to give your event a clear purpose that aligns with International Women’s Day.

Highlight Inspiring Speakers  

Invite women leaders in WordPress or related fields to share their stories through presentations or panel discussions.

Host Interactive Workshops  

Plan hands-on sessions, such as coding, content creation, or design tutorials, to empower attendees with new skills.

Create Networking Opportunities  

Facilitate connections with activities like speed networking or breakout rooms focused on specific topics.

Celebrate Achievements  

Showcase women-led projects or honor local contributors to highlight the impact of women in the WordPress community.

Ensure Inclusivity  

Make the event accessible with hybrid options, translations, and an inclusive venue to welcome everyone.

Amplify the Impact  

Share event highlights online to inspire others and encourage ongoing support for women in tech.

Reminder: 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. Asia Tickets Are Available!

🌏 Get Ready for WordCamp Asia 2025! 🌏

Join the WordPress community at the first major WordCamp of the year! Tickets are on sale now—don’t miss out!

🎟️ Secure your spot:
Website

🌟 Spread the Word:
Encourage others to join by sharing the ticket link or reposting from WordCamp Asia’s social channels:

Let’s come together and make WordCamp Asia 2025 an incredible experience! ❤️ 🌏

Some recent Community Events 

Looking for creative event ideas? Make Your Products Shine!

Organizers in WordPress Cartago, Costa Rica are hosting a hands-on workshop where participants learn to take stunning product photos using their smartphones. With tips on lighting, composition, and editing, attendees create eye-catching content for their E-Commerce or social media.

Participants bring a product and brand-inspired decorations to practice their skills and showcase their creations during 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.. Optional props like parchment paper or cake bases add extra flair. This is a great example of how local events can deliver value and empower communities to grow their businesses.

Reviving Resilience: The Journey of the Buea WordPress Community

After being inactive for over six years due to the socio-political crisis in Cameroon, the Buea WordPress Community has made an inspiring comeback. In 2023, with unwavering determination, @kofimokome took the bold step to revive the community despite facing initial challenges with limited interest and engagement.

Fast forward to today, the tide is turning. Membership has grown significantly, and there’s a renewed enthusiasm among local WordPress enthusiasts. This growth speaks to the community’s resilience and shared commitment to building a vibrant learning, collaboration, and innovation space.

Looking ahead, the community has set an ambitious and exciting goal for 2024: to nurture and support their first CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. contributor to WordPress. This milestone will not only elevate the Buea WordPress Community but also amplify its voice on the global stage.

Let’s celebrate and support this thriving community as they overcome challenges and achieve new heights!

Growing the WordPress Community in Mexico City

The WordPress Mexico City Meetup recently hosted its latest in-person event, attracting an even larger crowd and showcasing the community’s steady growth. This vibrant group continues to thrive, reflecting the increasing interest in WordPress across the region.

As one of the few 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. offering two monthly events—one virtual and one in-person—the community ensures 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) and engagement for all. In a city as large and bustling as CDMX, in-person meetups are held on weekends to accommodate attendees and avoid traffic challenges, while virtual events provide an excellent alternative for those unable to join physically.

WordPress Event Organizers, We Want to Feature You!

We love highlighting WordPress events from around the world in our newsletters. Want your Meetup to be featured? Share a picture with the Community team! Post it on the #community-events Slack channel. Remember to ask permission from your group members before taking and sharing photos.


A special thank you to our Global Sponsors: Bluehost, GoDaddy, Automattic, WPBeginner, and Woo!

Need Support or Guidance From the WordPress Global Community TeamGlobal Community Team A group of community organizers and contributors who collaborate on local events about WordPress — monthly WordPress meetups and/or annual conferences called WordCamps.?

If you have any questions, Community Team Supporters are here to help. Please email us at support@wordcamp.org or join the #community-events Slack 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: @josvelasco, @celigaroe, @kofimokome, @victorgenesis, @devinmaeztri, @_dorsvenabili, @peiraisotta, and @bjmcsherry.

#community-team, #meetup-organizer-newsletter, #newsletter

Recent profile badge changes

If you are a 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. organizer, Community 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. or a WordCamp 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., then you would have noticed a recent change to the badges that you see on your 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/ profile. To clear up any confusion, this post provides an explanation about what has happened here. This ticket outlines the decisions made, but here’s a breakdown of it all in an easily digestible format.

Up until now, the Community Team had two badges related to it: The Community Team badge and the WordCamp Speaker badges. The Team badge used the standard Community icon with a plain white background, and the Speaker badge used the standard Speaker icon. The Team badge was automatically assigned to all WordCamp organizers and then could also be assigned manually to anyone involved in the team.

Going forward we have made a few changes to this system for two main reasons:

  1. We want to bring the Community badges in line with the structure of the other teams.
  2. We want the badges to correctly reflect people’s involvement in the Community Team.

With that in mind, here are the Community badges that you will see on your profiles:

Community Team

The Community Team badge will be manually assigned to all active Community 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. – i.e those who are listed as “Active” on this page. You can find out more about the 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. program (and how to get involved) here.

Community Contributor

The Community Contributor badge will be manually assigned to all WordCamp 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., as well as those who provide valuable contributions to the Community Team. Mentors are all listed as “Active (mentor only)” on this page. In the future, mentors will be auto-assigned this badge when they begin mentoring their first WordCamp (removing the manual administration side of things). You can find out more about the WordCamp Mentorship program here. In the future, we will also assign this badge to meetup group organizers once have established an automated way of doing it.

WordCamp Organizer

The WordCamp Organizer badge is now distinct from the Community Contributor badge so that you can more immediately see what an individual’s contribution to the team is. The chosen icon represents WordCamps directly and gives us a way to recognize all of the amazing WordCamp organizers around the world more effectively. This badge is auto-assigned to all members of WordCamp organizing teams.

WordCamp Speaker

The WordCamp Speaker badge remains exactly the same as before – it is auto-assigned to all WordCamp speakers to recognize their valuable contribution to the community.


We hope that with these changes, we will be able to more correctly recognize all of the work that so many people do to grow the WordPress community all around the world.

#badges #profiles

Proposal: Recognition for event volunteers and attendees in WordPress.org profile

About two years ago Meta Trac ticket (note: please don’t continue in that ticket, this 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/. is the more correct place for it) was opened about adding a 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. volunteer and attendee badges to 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/ profiles. A few weeks ago Taco did bring it back to the discussion and I promised to write a proposal to move this forward.

Profile badges are graphics that do show users contributions towards WordPress project.

It is suggested that we should:

  • Give a badge for WordCamp volunteers
  • Give a badge for WordCamp attendees
  • Give a badge for 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. attendees

Let’s dive into each badge for a second.

WordCamp volunteers

Technically giving a badge for WordCamp volunteers is probably the most easiest of the badges to give automatically. In coordination with WordCamp MetaMeta Meta is a term that refers to the inside workings of a group. For us, this is the team that works on internal WordPress sites like WordCamp Central and Make WordPress. team, we could find a way to track all volunteers and their WordPress.org usernames as we do for organisers and speakers too.

It’s also almost unarguable that WordCamp volunteers are contributing to the project, so they should get a badge. In 2017 there was a conversation about recognising volunteers in WordCamp websites, that ended up in conclusion that we should do that. At that time the discussion didn’t consider profile badges and as an end result using Admin Flags functionality was suggested.

WordCamp Attendees

This is technically more harder to do, because we don’t ask WordPress.org usernames when attendees purchase a ticket.

Sure we could add a field and ask that, but then comes the question when badge should be added to profile. When a ticket is purchased? Then what happens if that ticket changes owner, is refunded or attendee doesn’t show up. If we add the badge after attendee has marked as attended in Camptix, not all would get a badge because not all WordCamps do use the functionality to mark attendance.

It’s also arguable whether attending to WordCamp is actually contributing to the project and something from which they should get a badge.

In the Trac ticket @andreamiddleton pointed out that in 2014 WordCamp San Francisco worked out a way display event registration and attendance on the activity log. She suggested that we recognise attendees in that way instead of giving badges.

Meetup attendees

Technically this is the hardest thing to achieve, because 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. live totally their own lives in Meetup.com and don’t have strong connection to WordCamp.org or WordPress.org systems. We don’t have a way to link Meetup.com profile to WordPress.org username for giving them a badge. Surely it can probably be done if team invests a lot of time on developing this feature.

The same discussion as with WordCamp attendees on their level of contribution to the project also applies to Meetup attendees.

The proposal

I’m proposing:

Badge for WordCamp volunteers

We should create a new badge for WordCamp volunteers and recognise them the same way as we do for organisers and speakers. Technical aspects need to be decided with WordCamp Meta team, but I’d create a new post type and re-use same functionalities that are used for organisers and speakers.

Log note for WordCamp attendees

We should start asking WordPress.org username during ticket purchase with an optional field in preparations to recognising WordCamp attendees.

I’m in favour of Andrea’s suggestion on showing the attendance on profile log instead of giving them a badge. Log note could be added after the WordCamp, in case the ticket changes owner on the first event day. Logic could be that everyone with a ticket does get the note unless there are at least a certain amount of attendees marked as attended when log note would be added only to those attendees.

What about Meetups and other event formats?

For Meetup and our other event format attendees, I would say it’s a too low-level contribution towards the WordPress project and technically too complicated to implement. Hopefully we can start recognising them at some point, but not for now.

Feedback

Read the original proposal and discussion on Meta Track ticket, there are good arguments and points. Note: please don’t continue in that ticket, this P2 is the more correct place for it.

Please share your feedback on the topic and especially on:

  • Should WordCamp volunteers get a badge?
  • Should WordCamp attendees get a badge or a note in their log?
  • What things do we need to take into consideration in these cases?

Share your thoughts before 2020-08-13.

#attendees, #meetups-2, #recognition, #volunteers, #wordcamps #meetups

2025 Community Team Reps

We are beyond thrilled to introduce the new WordPress Community Team Reps for 2025!

This year’s selection process was a true celebration of community spirit, with record-breaking engagement and a shared commitment to shaping the future of our vibrant team.

🌟 Reflecting on Progress: Evolving the Role of Team Reps

In 2024, we introduced a new structure for Community Team Reps, inspired by thoughtful discussions at the 2023 Community Summit. This updated framework brought several key changes:

  • Extending the term for Team Reps to two years to ensure deeper impact and continuity.
  • Increasing the number of Team Reps to four,
    • with two Team Reps continuing from the previous year.
    • and two Team Reps newly elected annually.

These adjustments fostered a smoother transition between terms and allowed for a balance of fresh perspectives and experienced guidance. In 2024, our incredible team consisted of:

Their leadership and dedication have made a lasting impact, and we are profoundly grateful for their service.

💪 The 2025 Selection Process: A Community Effort

This year’s nominations and voting process set a new standard for community participation! We received an impressive nine nominations, reflecting the enthusiasm and dedication of our members.

During the final voting, we saw unprecedented engagement, with the highest voter turnout in recent history. The results presented us with an exciting challenge: a tie for the second new Rep position. After thoughtful deliberation, the current Team Reps made the decision to welcome all three top-voted nominees, recognizing the value they bring to the team.

🌟 A Fond Farewell and New Beginnings

As we welcome the new Reps, we also celebrate the achievements of those stepping down.

  • Leo Gopal (@leogopal) and Junko Nukaga (@nukaga) have completed their two-year terms, leaving a legacy of leadership and dedication.
  • Shusei Toda (@st810amaze) will continue into his second year, offering his invaluable experience and guidance.
  • Isotta Peira (@peiraisotta) will transition into an honorary role as a Team RepTeam Rep A Team Rep is a person who represents the Make WordPress team to the rest of the project, make sure issues are raised and addressed as needed, and coordinates cross-team efforts. Supporter, providing mentorship and advice to the new Reps while stepping back from the official title.

We deeply appreciate their contributions and know their influence will continue to shape the Community Team’s future.


🎉 Welcoming the 2025 Team Reps


Please join us in giving a warm welcome to the three exceptional reps who will help guide the WordPress Community in 2025:


Pooja Derashri (@webtechpooja)

Pooja began her WordPress journey in 2013 as a developer. In 2015, she co-founded WPVibes, a pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party development company. Her involvement with the WordPress community deepened in 2017 when she attended her first 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., marking the start of her contribution journey.

Within the WordPress project, Pooja has held several significant roles. She served as Co-Team Rep of the Training Team for the 2022 and 2023 terms and made notable contributions to the WordPress releases.

She was part of the release squad for 6.3 & 6.4 as Test Lead. In 2024, she represented the Test Team and continues to serve as a General Translation EditorGeneral Translation Editor General Translation Editor – One of the polyglots team leads in a geographic region https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/teams/. Further information at https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/handbook/glossary/#general-translation-editor. (GTEGeneral Translation Editor General Translation Editor – One of the polyglots team leads in a geographic region https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/teams/. Further information at https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/handbook/glossary/#general-translation-editor.) for the Hindi locale. She is a member of the Plugin Review Team, and a co-organizer of the Ajmer 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.. She is one of the organizers of the WordCamp Asia.

Pooja’s dedication to WordPress was recognized with the Kim Parsell Scholarship, which granted her the opportunity to attend WCUSWCUS WordCamp US. The US flagship WordCamp event. 2022.

Unfortunately, visa issues prevented her attendance.
Based in Ajmer, a picturesque city in Rajasthan, India, Pooja balances her WordPress contributions with hobbies like gardening, exploring new places, and listening to music.


Aditya Kane (@adityakane)

He is passionate about community building and that passion led him on starting his journey as a contributor in 2012.  He co-founded the WordPress meetup in Mumbai, which was the very first one in India.

He currently contributes to the project as a Program ManagerProgram Manager Program Managers (formerly Super Deputies) are Program Supporters who can perform extra tasks on WordCamp.org like creating new sites and publishing WordCamps to the schedule. on the Community Team, along with being part of the WordPress Incident Report Team.

Aditya Kane lives in Pune, India. He works as a freelance consultant for WordPress projects and agencies.

He believes that open-source, the open web, an open culture that nourishes, informs, changes and invites participation feels inherently authentic.


Kasirye Arthur (@thehopemonger)

Arthur has also spearheaded local groups such as the ElementorWooCommerce, and WordPress Entebbe communities in Uganda.

Arthur Kasirye is a founding member of the WordPress community in Uganda, renowned for his leadership and mentorship roles. He has supported the global WordPress ecosystem as a community lead, 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., and program supporterProgram 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., guiding numerous WordCamp organizers worldwide.

A passionate advocate for localization, Arthur has contributed significantly to translating WordPress into Ugandan languages, including Luganda. He is also the founder of Kasiryelabs, a digital agency he established eight years ago, where he continues to excel as a web creator and creative designer.


Shusei Toda (@st810amaze)

Shusei is a creative director and business strategist based in Tokyo, Japan. With a background in web design and engineering, Shusei specializes in crafting comprehensive brand, corporate, and visual content for clients.

His expertise spans project management, photography, videography, and creative strategy. Since joining the WordPress Community, Shusei has been an active contributor both locally and globally.


We are excited to see their unique perspectives, creativity, and leadership come to life as they work alongside the broader community.


🚀 Looking Ahead

This announcement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the WordPress Community Team. Thank you to everyone who participated in the nominations, voting, and discussions—it’s your engagement and passion that keep our community thriving.

Together, let’s continue to innovate, support one another, and grow as a community in 2025. Here’s to an incredible year ahead!

A big thanks goes out to (@nukaga) (@peiraisotta) (@st810amaze) for all their hard work and contributions during this process. None of this would have been possible without their deep care and understanding.

Sincerely, Leo Gopal (@leogopal)

#community-team, #community-team-reps, #highlight, #mentorship, #team-reps, #team-update

Statement regarding the events program

To all WordPress event organizers:

We know recent changes announced by Automattic and its temporary reduction of contributor efforts have raised questions and concerns, and we want to reassure you that the Community Team remains committed to supporting you.

Since the announcement states that contributors from Automattic time will be greatly reduced and focused on other areas until further notice, this team needs to determine a path forward. Fortunately this team comprises dedicated individuals —independent contributors and those sponsored by other companies— who are doing their best to keep things running and will continue to do so.

We expect processes to be slower during this time, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and support as we navigate this situation. We also want to thank the contributors from Automattic who have been instrumental in building this program over the years, and we look forward to their return.

Our focus on helping every event and organizer worldwide remains unwavering. Together, with the invaluable support of the rest of program and event supporters, we’ll continue to maintain this incredible community.

If you have any questions, we are at the #community-events channel or at support@wordcamp.org.

—Community Team Program Managers: Aditya Kane (@adityakane), Juan Hernando (@unintended8), Junko Nukaga (@nukaga), Kevin Cristiano (@kcristiano), Timi Wahalahti (@sippis)

#meetups, #community-team, #highlight, #wordcamps