New Handbook Page for WordPress Campus Connect

A new WordPress Campus Connect handbook page has been updated with information about the event for event organizers and supports. As a reminder, The WordPress Campus Connect initiative is a community program aimed at supporting the next generation of WordPress users and developers by offering valuable, free, and easily accessible learning opportunities for all.

Since the official announcement in May, the community has successfully hosted two WordPress Campus Connect events (see WordPress Campus Connect Ribera del Duero 2025), and there are four more events in the planning stages for this year.

Program Managers and Event Supporters, please be aware that these events will follow the WordCamp process. Additionally, we are offering group mentoring for organizers in the #campusconnect channel in the WordPress.org Slack, so kindly direct anyone in need of mentorship to this channel.

What’s next for WordPress Campus Connect?

  • We are currently conducting a poll for a new logo!
  • Once the logo is selected, we will develop branded template assets for organizers, including:
    • Presentation Slides
    • Participation Certificates
    • WordPress Campus Connect theme for events and student site

Furthermore, an update to the WordPress Campus Connect handbook page for WordPress Student Clubs is underway. The WordPress Campus Connect Organizer form has been updated with the question, Would you like to create a WordPress student club site? to prepare for these requests.

We always welcome your feedback and suggestions as this program evolves. Please feel free to share your thoughts either in the comments below or on 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/..

🌍 WCEU 2025 Contributor Day: Community Team Recap

The Community Team had a vibrant and productive 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/. 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. Europe 2025! Over 50 contributors stopped by our tables throughout the day, sharing ideas, asking questions, and pushing forward the global WordPress community.

As outlined in our Contributor Day agenda, we focused on welcoming new organizers, unblocking ongoing projects, and brainstorming future events. To make the most of everyone’s interests and experience, we split into two main tables:

  • Rocío Valdivia (@_dorsvenabili) led a group focused on 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. and new community organizers. Discussions ranged from how to restart inactive groups to how to bring in fresh faces and create a welcoming environment for first-time attendees.
  • Juan Hernando (@unintended8) coordinated the table focused on WordCamps and other larger-scale events. Conversations touched on common challenges like finding speakers and sponsors, engaging new audiences, and delivering value to everyone.

We also discussed Campus Connect, a new initiative designed to reach future community members where they are, on campus, and how this could help unlock growth in new regions.

Some highlights from the day:

  • Interest was expressed in organizing a 🇸🇮 WordCamp Slovenia in Ljubljana
  • Interest was expressed in organizing a 🇪🇪 WordCamp Estonia in Tallinn
  • Proposal to host a hackathon-style event in 🇩🇪 Leipzig, Germany
  • Budget reviewed and approved for 🇮🇳 WordCamp Bengaluru
  • Budget also reviewed and approved for the 📸 Summer Photo Contest event
  • Websites launched for 🇪🇸 WordCamp Galicia and 🇮🇹 WordCamp Pisa
  • Interest in running a Campus Connect event in 🇪🇸 Málaga, Spain
  • 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. group proposals from 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇵🇱 Poland, and 🇹🇭 Thailand
  • Application submitted for a 🛍️ WordPress Day for eCommerce 2025 in 🇵🇹 Porto
  • Proposal sent for 🇵🇹 WordCamp Portugal 2026 in Porto

It was a great day of collaboration, inspiration, and real progress. Thank you to everyone who joined us, your energy and ideas are what keep this global community thriving.

To capture the spirit of the day, here are some photos from our tables and the amazing contributors who joined us. From deep discussions to spontaneous smiles, these moments show what makes the WordPress community so special.

(1) Photo by Chris Clarke (2) Photo by Chris Clarke (3) Photo by Chris Clarke (4) Photo by Marc Wieland (5) Photo by Paco Marchante (6) Photo by Marc Wieland (7) Family photo by Nilo Vélez (8) Photo by Thanh Nguyen. All photos from the official WCEUWCEU WordCamp Europe. The European flagship WordCamp event. Flickr account, check all the images from the Contributor Day morning and afternoon.

#contributor-day, #wceu

🌍 WCEU 2025 Contributor Day: Community Team Agenda

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. Europe 2025 is almost here, and so is 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/., one of the most energizing and collaborative moments of the whole week. If you’re planning to join the Community Team table, here’s what to expect and how to prepare.

Whether you’ve never contributed before or you’re a long-time organizer, you are more than welcome to join us. Our table is open to everyone interested in supporting WordPress communities around the world — from local 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. and WordCamps to new initiatives like Campus Connect.

🕘 Contributor Day Schedule

09:15 Opening and welcome
10:00 Contributing to WordPress – Community Team welcome and onboarding
12:15 Group photo
12:30 Lunch
14:00 Contributing to WordPress – Let’s keep collaborating
16:30 Teams summaries and wrap-up

💡 What we’ll be working on

We want this to be a practical and inspiring day. Bring your ideas, questions, and curiosity, and let’s turn them into actions together. Here are some topics we’ll be exploring:

  • Onboarding for new contributors: First time here? Don’t worry, we’ll help you get started, understand what the Community Team does, and find your place.
  • Campus Connect: Help us shape this new initiative to bring WordPress to universities and student communities. Got academic contacts or ideas? Let’s talk.
  • Women’s Day 2026: Let’s reflect on the 2025 edition and start planning how to grow the impact of next year’s events.
  • Reach new audiences: How can we connect with people who haven’t heard of WordPress events yet? Let’s brainstorm ideas and campaigns that can work globally, and locally.
  • GatherPress: Have you heard of this new tool for managing events in the WordPress ecosystem? Join the discussion and help us test it in real-world meetups.
  • Process Q&A and hands-on tasks: If you’re planning to organize a WordCamp, a 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., or just want to understand how the team works: bring your questions!
    For more experienced contributors, there will be space to:
    • Vet Meetup and WordCamp applications
    • Triage HelpScout conversations
    • Answer questions from newer supporters and organizers

🤝 Want to help?

This year, the table will be facilitated by Juan Hernando, but we’d love to have more voices and perspectives. If you’re 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., 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., or Event SupporterEvent 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. attending Contributor Day, step up and help onboard people, guide discussions, or take notes.

📣 Note takers are very welcome! We want this day to end not just with good ideas, but with clear takeaways and action points. Think:

Come with an idea, leave with a team to help you make it happen.

#contributor-day, #wceu

Community Team Meeting Agenda for 3 – April -2025

The Community Team chat takes place the first Thursday of every month in the #community-team channel on 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/.

This meeting is meant for all contributors on the team and everyone who is interested in taking part in some of the things our team does. Feel free to join us, even if you are not currently active in the team!

Asia-Pacific / EMEA friendly meeting: Thursday, 3 April 2025 at 12:00 PM UTC

America’s friendly meeting: Thursday, 3 April 2024 at 21:00 PM UTC

You will find a preliminary agenda for the meeting below. 

If you wish to add points to discuss, comment on this post or reach out to one of the team reps: @adityakane, @Arthur, @Shusei, or @webtechpooja. It does not need to be a blog post yet, the topic can be discussed during the meeting nevertheless. We use the same agenda for both meetings.

Call for meeting host and notetaker
If anyone is available to host this month’s or next month’s Community Team meetings and/or write the recap notes, please reach out to one of the team reps: @adityakane, @Arthur, @Shusei, or @webtechpooja.

Check-ins: Program and Event Supporters / Contributors

  • What have you been doing, and how is it going? 
  • What did you accomplish after the last meeting? 
  • Are there any blockers? 
  • Can other team members help you in some way?

Highlights to Note

Here are a few things everyone should be aware of.

Open Posts

Check out these new and ongoing discussions needing review, feedback, thoughts and comments.

Announcements / Newsletters

Open Floor

This is your chance to discuss things that weren’t on the meeting agenda. 

We invite you to use this opportunity to share anything that you want with the team. If you currently have a topic you’d like to discuss, add it to the comments of this post and we will try to update the agenda accordingly.

Hope to see you on Thursday, either in the Asia-Pacific / EMEA (12:00 UTC) or Americas-friendly version (21:00 UTC) of the meeting!

#agenda, #meeting-agenda, #team, #team-chat, #team-meeting

Update on the Community Team Supporters Cohort

A big thank you to everyone who applied to be part of the Community Team’s event program as Supporters! We appreciate your enthusiasm and involvement! We also apologize for the delay in processing applications.

After reviewing 28 applications, we are pleased to announce that we have accepted 22 applicants. Successful applicants will be contacted by their assigned 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., with onboarding scheduled to be completed by the end of January 2025. For those who were not selected, you will receive a notification by the end of December 2024.

We’ve created several groups of Mentors/Mentees and they’ll start the onboarding and training sessions starting in January 2025.

Supporters Onboarding Mentors:
@adityakane
@devinmaeztri
@unintended8
@kcristiano
@lidarroy
@lmcliment
@_dorsvenabili

During the onboarding process and their first few months, newly onboarded Supporter groups are encouraged to reach out to their mentors and collaborate with other Supporters. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow together!

For more details, please refer to our original announcement here.

Thank you once again for your interest and commitment to the WordPress community!

Thank you, @_dorsvenabili, for your collaboration on this post!

Program Wide Payment and Contract Intermission — 2024-12-20 – 2025-01-05

With most of the Program Managers who routinely handle 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. banking, and many program supporters offline to celebrate end of year holidays we’ll be pausing our payments program Saturday December 21 through Sunday January 5.

During this time we’ll halt all vendor payments, reimbursements, sponsor invoicing, sponsor payment attribution, and contract review and approval. If you’ll need to pay for goods or services during that time please submit all requests no later than Friday December 20th 10:00 UTC.

Requests and invoices submitted after Friday 20th will not likely be processed until Monday, January 6, 2025. Sponsor invoices paid during the intermission won’t be marked paid until after January 6, 2025.

Some program and event supporters will still be available by email at support@wordcamp.org or on 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/. in the #community-events channel but response times are expected to be slow.

If you have any concerns or question please let us know as soon as possible!

Announcing the 2025 Global Sponsorship Program

Join us in empowering the future 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. innovation by becoming a valued sponsor of WordPress event series dedicated to advancing our project. By participating in the Global Community Sponsorship Program, you will gain visibility and recognition among event attendees and community members. This program’s unique benefit is the opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to the project by funding engaging events that foster growth and strengthen our community.

Why join this program instead of sponsoring individual events?

Our Global Community Sponsorship Program can streamline your support for the thriving WordPress community. As the ecosystem expands, this program offers a strategic advantage over individual event sponsorships:

  • Efficiency and Simplified Administration: Bypass the complexity of coordinating with multiple volunteer teams. Our centralized approach saves you valuable time and resources. For 2025, this will include a designated 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/. channel for direct communication with the WordPress Community SupportWordPress 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. team and trusted Community Program Managers. In addition, Global Sponsors will receive a monthly email with a listing of upcoming WordPress events, status in the planning process, and planned dates for the events.
  • Reach and Impact: Ensure your support consistently reaches WordPress community events worldwide, maximizing your visibility and influence.
  • Stability: Provide crucial stability to locally organized events, fostering a stronger, more vibrant WordPress community.
  • Flexible Branding: Sponsors can showcase different brands across events, adapting to mergers and acquisitions.

Program Specific Benefits:

  • First right to claim a sponsor’s table at in-person WordPress events, if table space is available
  • Option to represent a different company brand at each WordPress event (subject to approval and requires company communication in advance)
  • A sponsor landing page with a discount or coupon code for your product or service posted to all WordPress event sites.
  • Several free WordPress event tickets to each in-person event reserved for company representatives
  • Acknowledgement across all WordPress Events:
    • Name, logo, and company description on 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. websites
    • Inclusion in the “Thank You to Our Sponsors” blog on each WordCamp website
    • Acknowledgement in all WordCamp “ticket purchase successful” pages
    • Logo and a link back to the sponsor’s landing page of choice on all WordPress Chapter 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. group landing pages and events pages (652 active Meetup groups are currently in the WordPress Chapter)
    • Acknowledgement on all Meetup Organizer Newsletters
    • Verbal acknowledgement by Meetup Organizers who make use of venue sponsorship funds
    • Acknowledgement on the WordCamp CentralWordCamp Central Website for all WordCamp activities globally. https://central.wordcamp.org includes a list of upcoming and past camp with links to each. and events.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/ home page (over 750,000 annual views)
    • Quarterly acknowledgements on WordPress.org’s X.com/Twitter and Facebook

How are the Global Sponsorship Funds used?

All event planning is handled by WordPress enthusiasts who are a part of the worldwide community, with assistance from the WordPress Community Support team. The Global Sponsorship funds are used for the following expenses:

  • Sponsorship grants to local WordPress events around the world to be used towards venue rental, food and beverage for the event, audio/visual expenses, etc. (excludes flagship events)
  • Meetup.com license fees which allows 633 Meetup groups around the globe to utilize the platform to inform their local communities of Meetup events happening throughout the year.
  • Overhead expenses of WordPress Community Support related to supporting WordPress events during the year (bank fees, liability insurance for all events, professional fees associated with an external audit of the company’s financials)

Please see Rules for Sponsor Materials for more details about terms of sponsorship. Please also see our sample sponsorship agreement.

Event organizers can find in the WordCamp Organizer Handbook all details and guidelines regarding Global Sponsorship.

Current Year Rate: 

$160,000 annual fee payable in full or quarterly billings.

If your company is interested in joining the Global Sponsorship program or you would like to know more, please reach out to WordPress Community Support at support@wordcamp.org!

Meetup Organizer Newsletter: December 2024

Hello WordPress Event Organizers,

This newsletter edition is packed with inspiration and opportunities to grow your local WordPress community. From the Call for Speakers for 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. Europe 2025 to hosting your State of the WordState of the Word This is the annual report given by Matt Mullenweg, founder of WordPress at WordCamp US. It looks at what we’ve done, what we’re doing, and the future of WordPress. https://wordpress.tv/tag/state-of-the-word/. watch party, many ways exist to get involved and make an impact. Learn from recent 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., like Castilla-La Mancha’s first gathering or Bhopal’s 100th milestone, and discover how to bring unique initiatives, like the WordPress Showcase, to your events. Let’s continue building a vibrant, connected community together!

Let’s Spread the Word: Call for Speakers WordCamp Europe 2025 Open Now!

WordCamp Europe 2025 is gearing up to be an incredible celebration of the WordPress community – and it needs your voice to make it truly unforgettable!

This is your opportunity to shine, share your expertise, and inspire the WordPress community from the stage. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or taking the mic for the first time, WordCamp Europe offers formats for everyone:

  • Lightning Talks (10 min): Quick, impactful insights.
  • Long Talks (30 min): Dive deep into your topic.
  • Workshops (60–90 min): Hands-on, interactive learning sessions.

We’re incredibly excited to hear from new voices and underrepresented groups. The Kim Parsell Memorial Scholarship is also available to help make this event accessible to passionate speakers who face financial barriers.

Let’s work together to amplify this opportunity. Share the Call for Speakers with your 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. group & encourage your local community to apply! 

Why not take to the stage yourself?
Your voice matters, and we can’t wait to hear from you!

Apply Now.

 Countdown to State of the Word 2024!

Get ready to join the global excitement of the WordPress community!

Event Details
📅 Date: December 16, 2024
📍 Location: Tokyo, Japan
Time: 09:00 UTC (18:00 JST)

Host Your Own Watch Party!
Gather your local WordPress community for a watch party—live or at a time that works for you. Recordings will be available on YouTube right after the event!

Need Help Getting Started?

  • Find a Venue: Meetup groups can request venue support by just filling out the venue request form.
  • Get Tips: Check out the Watch Party Handbook for helpful planning advice.
  • Make It Official: Add “State of the Word” to your event title, and it will make it available on the list of Watch Parties, where attendees can find gatherings in their language or nearby!

Let’s celebrate the magic of WordPress together! Have questions? Reach out—we’re here to help make your event a success!

Some recent Community Events 

First WordPress Castilla-La Mancha Meetup Recap

The first WordPress Castilla-La Mancha meetup was held at the FabLab in Cuenca with 12 attendees.

The event showcased inspiring highlights, including high school students building a WordPress site for a satellite competition, a determined mompreneur skillfully balancing her WooCommerce business while raising three children, and a dedicated teacher eager to enhance his site’s security after recovering from a hacking incident.

Even participants from Albacete made the trip, which took more than one hour! This meetup showed that every website has a story worth telling.

WordPress Bhopal Celebrated its 9th Anniversary and 100th Meetup!

The event brought together a diverse group of passionate members, including those who traveled from nearby cities like Vidisha and Siraunj, taking 2-3 hours to join the celebration. Highlights included a cake-cutting ceremony and inspiring success stories from those who have contributed to WordPress over the years.

Aditya Shah’s dedication to fostering a collaborative and inclusive WordPress community in Bhopal has been instrumental in its growth. 

This story of teamwork and impact is a testament that no matter where you stand in life—whether a student, freelancer, engineer, marketer, advocate, or business owner—WordPress is for all!

Bring a WordPress Showcase to Your Local Meetup!

Inspired by WordCamp Ahmedabad’s WordPress Showcase? Why not create something similar at your next meetup? Highlighting local WordPress projects is a fantastic way to celebrate creativity, inspire your community, and show off the incredible possibilities of WordPress.

Encourage attendees to present their unique projects, from bold websites to niche solutions. Dive into the stories and tech behind their work to spark meaningful conversations and share valuable insights. It’s an opportunity to connect, learn, and foster collaboration among your area’s developers, designers, business owners, and creators.

Start small—feature a few standout projects and invite participants to share how WordPress empowered them. Your meetup could spark new ideas and stronger connections within your community!

Remember to always count on WordPress.org’s showcase to inspire your community!

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, @devinmaeztri, @piermario, @zinanga, @beingastha, @_dorsvenabili, @peiraisotta, and @bjmcsherry.

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

Community Team Meeting Agenda for 5 – December -2024

The Community Team chat takes place the first Thursday of every month in the #community-team channel on 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/.

This meeting is meant for all contributors on the team and everyone who is interested in taking part in some of the things our team does. Feel free to join us, even if you are not currently active in the team!

Asia-Pacific / EMEA friendly meeting: Thursday, 5 December 2024 at 12:00 PM UTC
Americas friendly meeting: Thursday, 5 December 2024 at 21:00 PM UTC

You will find a preliminary agenda for the meeting below. 

If you wish to add points to discuss, comment on this post or reach out to one of the team reps: @peiraisotta, @Shusei, @leo, or @nukaga. It does not need to be a blog post yet, the topic can be discussed during the meeting nevertheless. We use the same agenda for both meetings.

Call for meeting host and notetaker
If anyone is available to host this month’s or next month’s Community Team meetings and/or write the recap notes , please reach out to one of the team reps: @peiraisotta, @Shusei, @leo, or @nukaga.

Check-ins: Program and Event Supporters / Contributors

  • What have you been doing and how is it going? 
  • What did you accomplish after the last meeting? 
  • Are there any blockers? 
  • Can other team members help you in some way?

Highlights to Note

Here are a few things everyone should be aware of.

  • State of the Word 2024 is happening on December 16, in Tokyo! Consider organizing a Watch Party.
  • Mary Hubbard joined the community as the new Executive Director. She met the whole community during office hoursOffice Hours Defined times when the Global Community Team are in the #community-events Slack channel. If there is anything you would like to discuss – you do not need to inform them in advance.You are very welcome to drop into any of the Community Team Slack channels at any time., and if you missed it, here is the recording.
  • Let’s celebrate the graduates of the last WordPress Contributor Mentorship Cohort.
  • Apply to speak at WC Europe 2025!

Open Posts

Check out these new and ongoing discussions needing review, feedback, thoughts and comments.

Open Floor

This is your chance to discuss things that weren’t on the meeting agenda. 

We invite you to use this opportunity to share anything that you want with the team. If you currently have a topic you’d like to discuss, add it to the comments of this post and we will try to update the agenda accordingly.

Hope to see you on today, either in the Asia-Pacific / EMEA (12:00 UTC) or Americas-friendly version (21:00 UTC) of the meeting!

#agenda, #meeting-agenda, #team, #team-chat, #team-meeting

#agenda, #meeting-agenda, #team, #team-chat, #team-meeting

Starting – and continuing – a conversation about Indigenous representation and perspectives in WordPress

We hope that, through this 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., we may encourage important conversations within the WordPress community about the value of Indigenous perspectives and that result in practical initiatives to support Indigenous communities in engaging with WordPress.
(from WordCamp Canada 2024’s Opening words and Land Acknowledgement)

The beginnings

I wasn’t supposed to get involved in the organization of the inaugural WordCamp Canada (WC-EH) – that was my husband, Paul Bearne’s thing. But we started batting around ideas as to possible themes for a truly Canadian conference. This ultimately led to a vision statement rooted in 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), inclusivity, and underrepresented communities in general. It seemed obvious that we needed to attempt to make Indigenous empowerment and perspectives a key part of this.

One of the things I have always loved about the WordPress community is its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). I may have missed things, but I have not been aware of specific efforts to connect with Indigenous peoples in North America or elsewhere around the world. It seemed to me that, particularly in the context of Canada’s recent commitment to work on Truth and Reconciliation, it was time to attempt to start what I believe to be an important conversation. This became something of a passion project!

I’ll be honest. I was nervous that we (I) didn’t have the capacity to do the necessary outreach to create connections and stimulate engagement with communities who, with good reason, may find it difficult to trust the motives of those who reach out to them. I knew I might ‘get it wrong’, that there might even be anger and confrontation (this didn’t happen). I was prepared to fail but determined at the very least to sow seeds.

What is meant by the term ‘Indigenous’?

In Canada, Indigenous refers to the original inhabitants of Turtle Island (what we know as North America) and their descendants. It is an umbrella term for First Nations (status and non-status), Métis and Inuit. Indigenous refers to all of these groups, either collectively or separately. It is the term used in international contexts, e.g., the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Whilst Indigenous is used as a collective term, it is most appropriate to refer to Indigenous peoples by the proper names of their communities or nations, e.g. Algonquin, Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas.

Although my perspectives are as a Canadian, there are Indigenous peoples in many countries around the world. It is my hope that this becomes an international conversation within the WordPress community.

WordCamp Canada 2024

Meggan Van Harten and Julia Golomb - closing fireside chat

It was truly wonderful to be able to open WordCamp Canada 2024 with Meggan Van Harten’s keynote presentation on Accessibility in Action: Indigenous Communities and bookend it with a closing fireside chat between Meggan and Julia Golomb about the intersection of Indigenous values and accessibility in the open-source community.

I was deeply moved by the words of one attendee from the US with Indigenous roots who said she ‘had to be here’, even though she was recovering from an illness and should have been resting up. It mattered that much to her.

That there were attendees working to assist Indigenous youth in learning fundamental web development skills was encouraging as was the genuine interest in our Indigenous focus. We received many questions about Land Acknowledgements and how to make these respectful and meaningful. For those coming from outside Canada, this was not necessarily a familiar concept.

Why is it important?

“In Canada, only 4.1% of the tech industry comprises Black and Indigenous representation. Indigenous tech workers earn significantly less than their non-Indigenous counterparts, and digital technologies often exacerbate issues of safety, privacy, and discrimination for marginalized populations.” (quoted from Indigenous Friends).

If the WordPress community is genuinely committed to DEIB, then concern about Indigenous underrepresentation and inclusion should be a given.

I also believe that creating real possibilities to listen to and truly ‘hear’ Indigenous voices has the potential to bring valuable new perspectives to WordPress, indeed to all of us. Whilst there are many, many different Indigenous nations, each with their own distinct culture and traditions, there is a perception of some degree of commonality of Indigenous Worldviews. In particular, there is an awareness of the interconnectedness of all things and an emphasis on working together for the common good.

As I have developed my own knowledge over the 15 years since I emigrated to Canada and, particularly, during the last year, I have been awed by the grounded way in which Indigenous values are being applied in modern contexts including science, healthcare, and technology. Examples of the latter include:

  • Design de Plume, the creative agency co-led by our keynote speaker, Meggan Van Harten. Meggan spoke of their commitment to designing with purpose in the final campfire chat at the conference.
  • Animikii, another strongly value based Indigenous company in the technology space. I was blown away by their 2022 Social Impact Report when I came on it during my research for the way in which it demonstrates trying to build the Anishinaabe Seven Grandfather Teachings into the approach they take to running their business.

Challenges

It is always challenging trying to support engagement with marginalized communities, particularly those who have very good reasons to be distrustful. A few of the challenges that I identified in trying to reach out to Indigenous communities include:

  • That fear of ‘getting it wrong’, causing offence, not having a good understanding of cultural traditions and protocols.
  • Not quite knowing how to make community connections, who to reach out to, what may be appropriate – this is where organizers with personal Indigenous roots would make a huge difference.
  • In Canada, the very fact that there is focus on Indigenous empowerment is resulting in huge demands on a small number of people. As a result, there is a sense that, when asking for help from Indigenous individuals, whether elders for ceremonial or language input, or people working within Indigenous tech companies, some kind of payment or sponsorship support is required. I have heard that this is also increasingly the case when working with other marginalized groups and for similar reasons.
  • Ensuring that, when financial support is offered, processes are simple and clear, and that payment is made in an effective and timely manner. There needs to be an awareness that some attendees may face real hardship if funds are not received as promised. And, if this is not handled appropriately, word gets around, potentially undermining the credibility of the WordPress community in its attempts to support Indigenous engagement. 
  • Asking ‘what can I do for you?’ rather than assuming that you know and taking what is needed to people rather than expecting them to come to you; both literally and metaphorically meeting people where they are. It is important to be aware that there are many very remote Indigenous communities that add to these challenges.
  • Being mindful that people may not have access to their own computers or to high-speed internet.
  • Understanding that in many communities reading level may be reduced, not due to ignorance or stupidity but to lack of educational opportunity.
  • The sheer number of Indigenous languages (hundreds across North America!), many spoken fluently by only a few people.

Where do we go from here?

In conversations before and during WC-EH, the following suggestions were thrown into the mix:

  • 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. groups taking workshops out to Indigenous communities and colleges, (first making sure to ask what might be most helpful!), growing skills and community
  • Mentoring young Indigenous talent
  • VR, AI and Metaverse workshops as a way of reaching youth, teens and young adults especially those of marginalized, Indigenous communities
  • Gifting tickets to WordCamps to the local Indigenous community
  • Continued encouragement of Indigenous involvement in WordCamps, with support for speakers to attend. There is already some support available thanks to the new WP Community Collective program Incentivizing DEIB in WP
  • Making concerted efforts to recruit WordCamp organizers from Indigenous communities who can bring insights and connections that we lacked
  • Exploring whether Indigenous language support within WordPress is of value and, if so, how to focus effort on this given that there are more than fifty different languages in Canada alone.

We added a page Continuing the Indigenous conversation to the WordCamp Canada 2024 website in an attempt to encourage the sharing of ideas and turning these into actions.

Call to action

I think it is fair to say that we succeeded in our aim of starting a conversation about Indigenous representation and perspectives in WordPress at WC-EH.

The question is, how do we ensure that the conversation continues and results in positive actions?

  • Do you have any suggestions as to how the WordPress community might do this?
  • Are you already doing things that seem to work that you might share with others?

If so, please comment on this post!

Resources

Another page that we added to the WordCamp Canada website offers a selection of Indigenous Links.

Here are a few key resources:

  • Notes on how to approach Land Acknowledgement, WordCamp Canada 2024
  • Native Land Digital has mapped traditional territories and is a great starting point to find out about the place you call home. Their site “creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together.”
  • FirstVoices is a collaborative platform where Indigenous communities manage, curate and share their languages.

WordCamp Canada 2024 Presentations

  • Keynote – Accessibility in Action: Indigenous Communities (sadly, this lacks the slides!)
  • Wrap-up Conversation – The Intersection between Indigenous Lenses and WordPress 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. Values

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