This is the home of the Make Community team for the WordPress open sourceOpen SourceOpen 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. project!
Here is where we have policy debates, project announcements, and assist community members in organizing events.
Everyone is welcome to comment on posts and participate in the discussions regardless of skill level or experience.
Get Involved
If you love WordPress and want to help us do these things, join in!
We were invited to give regular updates about GatherPress.
Here are the significant advancements made by GatherPress since our initial proposal. GatherPress continues to evolve, thanks to the active participation and feedback from community members. Here’s a detailed overview of our progress.
Call for Feedback and status of the Proposal
We are actively seeking feedback from current MeetupMeetupMeetup 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. organizers. Your insights are invaluable in helping us refine GatherPress to better meet the needs of the WordPress community.
There are several ways to help:
You can test GatherPress right now using this Playground demo in your browser or test it on your own site installing the pluginPluginA 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 available in the plugin repository and provide your feedback in the comments below or in our main GatherPress GitHub repository.
If you are a Meetup organizer, you can start testing GatherPress by publishing your Meetup events in our Demo site joining the current WordPress Meetup groups that are already using this platform, helping us to test real cases. Read the home page here, fill the form to join the tests and provide your feedback on the same site or on our GitHubGitHubGitHub is a website that offers online implementation of git repositories that can easily be shared, copied and modified by other developers. Public repositories are free to host, private repositories require a paid subscription. GitHub introduced the concept of the ‘pull request’ where code changes done in branches by contributors can be reviewed and discussed before being merged be the repository owner. https://github.com/ repositories: For the plugin features on our main GatherPress repository, and for the Community integration, on the Gatherpress-WP-org-integration repository. We would like to know if it was easy or not for you to add a venue, an event, and your general feeling about the use of GatherPress. ideally we would like to have feedback from attendees as well, so feel free to share the form with your attendees.
If you are a member of the Community or MetaMetaMeta 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. teams, please add feature requests and reply to questions for what is needed to create the integration between GatherPress and the WordPress.orgWordPress.orgThe 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/ network (user accounts, user activity in profiles, email sending, group creation and management, etc) here on the Gatherpress-WP-org-integration GitHub repository.
You can spread the word about the tool, invite event organizers to join the tests, invite people to test the tool and send feedback, etc.
It’s only after GatherPress has proven its viability through your feedback that the Meta team can implement it on the .org network for the pilot program, as we proposed in January. Therefore, your input is crucial to ensure a successful integration. Please test and provide feedback before the end of September 2024.
Improvements
Since introducing GatherPress, we have focused on integrating features that enhance event management within WordPress. Our initial release has been well-received, and community feedback has been instrumental in guiding our development process. Based on user feedback, we have implemented several improvements:
We added OpenStreetMap to load the maps by default, Google Maps is still available as an option,
Customizable post type and taxonomyTaxonomyA taxonomy is a way to group things together. In WordPress, some common taxonomies are category, link, tag, or post format. https://codex.wordpress.org/Taxonomies#Default_Taxonomies. slugs with localized defaults,
Improvements to accessibilityAccessibilityAccessibility (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),
Import and export events, venues and topics using WordPress’ native tools,
Now using WordPress Playground to:
Enable the “Live Preview” on .org/plugins
Instantly preview changes from a commented Playground-link on each PR
Automatically generate multilingual screenshots for .org/plugins
Run end-to-end tests
Curate and maintain a set of demo-data, that is re-used in all of those Playgrounds,
And more, all our released features can be seen in our main GitHub project.
GatherPress is now available for translation. We invite community members to contribute translations, making GatherPress accessible to a broader audience. Please share it with your Polyglots teams to organize translation sprints and to get it translated to as many languages as possible!
Thanks to all the polyglots around the world, who have already translated GatherPress into 8 languages!
WordCampWordCampWordCamps 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. US Contributor DayContributor DayContributor 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/.
GatherPress will have a dedicated table at the upcoming WordCamp US Contributor Day (September 17, 2024). This is a fantastic opportunity to meet Mike and Mervin, discuss the project, provide feedback, and contribute to the development of GatherPress. We encourage you to join us and get involved. You can even join us remotely via a video call during the Contributor Day if you do not attend the WordCamp.
Involvement can happen in many ways, for example:
Contribution with tasks we have identified as important for our next version.
Small backlog tasks to help get your feet wet with the project.
Testing and identifying issues in the plugin and documenting them in a ticket to be prioritized in a future release of the plugin.
Helping test our code by contributing to unit tests (JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript or JS is an object-oriented computer programming language commonly used to create interactive effects within web browsers. WordPress makes extensive use of JS for a better user experience. While PHP is executed on the server, JS executes within a user’s browser. https://www.javascript.com/. or PHPPHPPHP (recursive acronym for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely-used open source general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML. https://www.php.net/manual/en/preface.php.) or end-to-end tests (playwright).
Work with the Meta team for the integration with the WordPress.org network.
Development Roadmap
Looking ahead, we have an exciting roadmap for GatherPress. Upcoming features include:
Recurring event management,
BlockBlockBlock is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. updates and improvements,
Email notification when event starts,
Event federation using ActivityPub,
New calendar block,
And more, all our planned features can be seen in our main GitHub project.
Furthermore, we are building addons to easily build integration with other plugins.
We are also working to integrate GatherPress with the WordPress.org network, and are identifying the requirements with the Meta and Community teams before creating a full roadmap with dates for the integration and the start of the pilot program.
We are committed to continuous improvement and look forward to delivering these new capabilities.
Join the Team
We invite community members to join the GatherPress team. Whether you are a developer, designer, translator, community member or simply passionate about improving event management in WordPress, your contributions are welcome. Together, we can shape the future of GatherPress. You can join the GatherPress Slack or GitHub and participate in our weekly huddles on Fridays at 15:00 UTC (16:00 UTC from November to March). The upcoming huddles are always listed on the homepage of our website.
Get to know GatherPress and the Team
You can visit our blog and watch the interviews we gave, they are packed with information about GatherPress. To know more about who we are, you can have a look at the team page.
We are grateful for the community’s support and look forward to your continued involvement as we refine and expand GatherPress. Together, we are shaping the future of event management within the WordPress ecosystem.
Schedule Your State of the WordState of the WordThis 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, WordCampWordCampWordCamps 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. US 2024, and more!
Hello WordPress MeetupMeetupMeetup 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. Organizers,
As the season winds down, we’re gearing up for an exciting season of WordPress events. This month’s newsletter is packed with tips and resources to help you make the most of your MeetupsMeetupMeetup 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., from scheduling a State of the Word watch party to harnessing the power of WordCamp US 2024. Let’s dive in!
Don’t Wait – Schedule Your State of the Word 2024 Watch Party Now!
State of the Word 2024 is happening on December 16 at 9:00 UTC, and it’s the perfect opportunity to bring your WordPress community together. This annual event is a cornerstone for the WordPress open sourceOpen SourceOpen 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. project, offering a look back at the year’s milestones and a preview of what’s to come.
Why not turn this event into a community gathering? We encourage you to host a watch party for your local Meetup group. Whether you stream the event live or watch the recording together afterward, it’s an ideal chance to connect, discuss, and celebrate WordPress with your local community.
To make your event a success, we prepared a detailed State of the Word watch party guide with tips on planning, promoting, and hosting your watch party. This resource includes everything you need to create an engaging and well-attended event.
Don’t miss this chance to gather your community for an inspiring event. Schedule your watch party today!
Update Meetup Notification Settings To Receive Important Updates
It’s crucial for Meetup organizers to stay informed with the latest updates from WordPress. To ensure you receive important notifications from WordPress, take a moment to update your meetup.com account settings:
Click on your circular ‘Profile’ button in the upper right-hand corner of meetup.com.
Select Settings.
Choose Email Updates.
Make sure the ‘Updates from Meetup Pro Networks’ toggle is ON.
This screenshot shows the steps:
Set the Tone in the First 5 Minutes of Your Event
The first five minutes of your Meetup are crucial for setting a welcoming and engaging atmosphere. Priya Parker, in her essay “The Magic of a Good Opening,” highlights the importance of a strong start. Here’s how you can apply these principles to your Meetup:
Welcome with Intention: Start with a warm and genuine greeting that acknowledges both new and returning members, making everyone feel valued.
Establish a Shared Purpose: Clearly articulate the Meetup’s purpose, whether it’s networking, learning, or collaboration. This aligns expectations and fosters community.
Break the Ice: Use a simple icebreaker to help attendees relax and connect. A question related to WordPress or the event’s theme can spark conversation.
Set Expectations: Outline the event structure briefly to help manage energy and keep the event on track.
By thoughtfully crafting these opening moments, you create a space where participants feel connected and excited to contribute. For more inspiration, check out Parker’s short essay.
Harness WordCamp US 2024 Sessions for Your Meetup Group
WordCamp US 2024 is just around the corner, from September 17 to 20! Explore the WordCamp US 2024 schedule to find sessions that could inspire your Meetup members. All talks will be live-streamed and recorded, so even those who can’t attend in person can gather to watch and discuss the sessions together.
Additionally, consider organizing a Showcase Day inspired by WordCamp US, where local developers and designers can present their most inspiring projects. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate community talent and inspire others.
We love highlighting Meetups from around the world in our newsletters. Want your Meetup to be featured? Share a picture with the Community team! Rename your picture as “Meetup-name_event-date” and upload it here in jpg or png format. Remember to ask permission from your group members before taking and sharing photos.
💡Need Support or Guidance From the WordPress Global Community TeamGlobal Community TeamA 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 deputiesProgram SupporterCommunity 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. are here to help. Please email us at support@wordcamp.org or join the #community-eventsSlack 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: @bjmcsherry, @devinmaeztri, @harishanker, and @juliarosia.
Welcome to the July edition of the MeetupMeetupMeetup 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. Organizer Newsletter! This month, we explore how to create purpose-driven WordPress meetupsMeetupMeetup 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. that engage and inspire your community. Additionally, we’ll share important updates from the Community Team, new learning pathways on Learn.WordPress.orgWordPress.orgThe 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/, and celebrate some vibrant meetups from around the world. Let’s get started!
Create Purpose-Driven WordPress Meetups
As WordPress meetup organizers, our goal is to create meaningful and engaging events. Priya Parker, author of “The Art of Gathering,” emphasizes that a successful event begins with a clear purpose. This purpose shapes the event’s structure, activities, and atmosphere. Without it, gatherings can feel aimless and fail to resonate with attendees. Inspired by Parker’s concept of a purpose-driven event, we can elevate our meetups by focusing on a clear and compelling purpose.
Apply This to WordPress Meetups
When planning your WordPress meetup, start by asking: What is the primary goal of this event? Is it to introduce new users to WordPress, deepen the skills of experienced developers, or foster networking within the local WordPress community? Identifying the coreCoreCore is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. purpose streamlines the planning process and ensures every element aligns with this goal.
Looking for a Purpose?
A key goal for WordPress events is to attract and engage first-time attendees. Reaching new users is crucial for the growth and sustainability of the WordPress project, aligning with the Big Picture Goals for 2024. Consider organizing some meetup events driven by the purpose of introducing new users to WordPress.
Communicate Your Purpose
Once you’ve identified the purpose, communicate it clearly to potential attendees. This attracts the right audience and sets expectations. For example:
Learning and Development: “Join us for a hands-on workshop focused on building custom themes with WordPress.”
Networking and Community Building: “Meet and mingle with local WordPress professionals at our summer social event.”
Knowledge Sharing: “Hear from industry experts on the latest WordPress trends and technologies.”
Design with Purpose in Mind
Every aspect of your meetup should reflect its purpose. If the goal is education, ensure you have knowledgeable speakers and interactive sessions. For a networking-focused event, prioritize activities that encourage interaction and connection. Aligning the event’s design with its purpose creates a cohesive and impactful experience for attendees.
After the event, gather feedback to assess whether the purpose was effectively communicated and achieved. Use this feedback to refine future meetups, continually enhancing their relevance and value.
Key Takeaways
Incorporating Priya Parker’s concept of a purpose-driven event into your WordPress meetups can transform them from ordinary gatherings into impactful, memorable experiences that provide clear value to attendees. By clearly identifying, communicating, and designing around a central purpose, you’ll foster an engaged and satisfied community, with attendees who are excited to return for future meetup events and help spread word about upcoming events.
Remember, a well-defined purpose is the cornerstone of a successful event. Happy organizing!
Announcement: Reactivating or Removing Dormant Meetup Groups
Learning Pathway for Intermediate WordPress Users Now Available on Learn.WordPress.org
We’re excited to announce that the Learning Pathway for Intermediate WordPress Users is now live on Learn.WordPress.org! This comprehensive learning pathway will help Meetup organizers support community members who are familiar with WordPress and looking to deepen their skills.
The following learning pathways were also recently published:
The Make WordPress Training Team is dedicated to creating learning pathways for all skill levels, from beginner through expert, and for users, developers, and designers alike. Learn more about this initiative in this post.
Learn WordPress Course Cohort
The WordPress Training Team recently concluded its second Learn WordPress Course Cohort: a six week facilitated learning experience focused on a course on Learn WordPress.
The goals of a Course Cohort are similar to those of Learn WordPress Online Workshops. The key difference? Course Cohorts are held across consecutive sessions, while Online Workshops are generally one-off sessions.
Want to participate in a future Course Cohort? Follow updates from the Training Team!
Meetups of the Month
This month, we celebrate the WordPress Meetup groups of Tegal (Indonesia) and Rabat (Morocco).
Tegal, Indonesia WordPress MeetupRabat, Morocco WordPress Meetup
Meetup Organizers, we want to feature you!
We’d love to publish pictures from Meetups all around the world in each newsletter. Do you want your Meetup to be featured? Share 1 picture with the Community team! Rename your picture as “Meetup-name_event-date” and upload it to this folder. The formats supported are jpg and png. Please remember, always ask for permission from your group members before taking the picture and sharing it with us!
If you have any questions, Community Team deputiesProgram SupporterCommunity 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. are here to help. Please email us at support@wordcamp.org or join the #community-eventsSlack 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!
Welcome to the June edition of the WordPress MeetupMeetupMeetup 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. Organizer Newsletter! As we launch into a new season, we’re excited to bring you a range of engaging activities, inspiring stories, and useful tips to help you make the most of your meetup events. Whether you’re a seasoned organizer or just starting out, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s continue to grow, share knowledge, and strengthen our vibrant WordPress community together!
June 25 – Join the first Training Team Thumbnail-a-thon: Make graphics together for the new Learn.WordPress.orgWordPress.orgThe 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/!
We’re happy to share a great WordPress contributor opportunity for your meetup group: Participate in a group activity to make Learn WordPress Thumbnails(What’s a “Thumbnail-a-thon”? It’s simply a fun name for an event that brings people together to create Learn WordPress thumbnails – like a marathon, but for making Thumbnails!).
Now is your chance to contribute to the new Learn.WordPress.org redesign! The official WordPress education site is launching soon with a fresh look and Learning Pathways geared to users, designers, developers, and contributors. The WordPress Training Team needs help creating small thumbnail graphics for lessons and tutorials on the new site. You can see examples of what the graphics look like in the “Featured Courses and Courses” sections on the new site, which you can preview here. No previous graphics experience is required, since there’s a handy tool that makes the process of creating thumbnails simple!
Join the WordPress Training Team on Tuesday, June 25 for a free online workshop to learn how to use the tool, help make graphics for the new site, and have some fun along the way. You’ll get recognition for your contribution and get a foot in the door with the WordPress.org Training team. A recording of the workshop will be available afterwards.
Inspire Your Community with a “Success Stories” Session
As a WordPress Meetup Organizer, you have a unique opportunity to inspire and empower your community. One effective way to do this is by hosting a “Success Stories” session at your next meetup. This type of event can showcase the incredible achievements of WordPress users within your community, fostering a sense of pride and motivation among your attendees.
Here’s how to organize a “Success Stories” session:
Invite Speakers: Reach out to members of your community who have compelling success stories to share. These could be stories about launching a successful blog, building a thriving e-commerce site, or creating impactful nonprofit websites using WordPress.
Select Diverse Stories: Ensure a variety of stories by including different types of projects and experiences. This diversity will show the wide range of possibilities with WordPress and resonate with a broader audience.
Prepare Questions: Help your speakers prepare by providing them with a list of questions or topics to cover, such as the challenges they faced, how they overcame them, and the specific WordPress tools or plugins they used.
Interactive Q&A: After each story, allow time for a Q&A session. This interaction can provide valuable insights and practical advice to your attendees.
Share Online: Record the session and share it on your Meetup group’s page and social media channels such as LinkedIn. This can inspire even more people and showcase the strength of your community to a wider audience.
Hosting a “Success Stories” session can build confidence among your attendees by showing them real-life examples of what they can achieve with WordPress. It also fosters a supportive and inspiring community atmosphere, encouraging members to pursue their own WordPress projects with enthusiasm.
Host a WordPress Showcase for Your Meetup Group
The WordPress Showcase highlights the incredible versatility and power of WordPress, featuring a wide array of use cases such as personal blogs, small businesses, enterprise companies, and national governments.
Consider organizing a Meetup event to explore Showcase sites! This engaging activity will allow your Meetup members to discover the diverse brands and websites built with WordPress, and the most unique and innovative uses of WordPress.
Begin by introducing the WordPress Showcase to your attendees. Review some of the most impressive and innovative sites featured in the Showcase to inspire your group. Encourage group discussion about which designs and features most stand out to them. This interaction can spark new ideas and encourage community members to innovate in their own projects.
You can also invite local developers and agencies to present their most interesting WordPress projects. Ask them to participate in your Meetup event, share their experiences, and showcase their most innovative websites. Encourage presenters to discuss the challenges they faced, the solutions they implemented, and the WordPress tools and plugins they used. This can provide valuable insights and learning opportunities for your attendees.
Then motivate your presenters and attendees to submit their projects to be included in the WordPress Showcase. The WordPress Showcase is accepting submissions of innovative, modern, and/or enterprise sites and case studies.
WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program Q4 2024: Call for Interest
We are excited to announce an early interest form for the Q4 2024 WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program Cohort! This program connects seasoned WordPress experts with newcomers, offering a fantastic opportunity for mentees to gain hands-on experience contributing to WordPress, while mentorsEvent SupporterEvent 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. share their expertise and improve their leadership skills. Learn more and indicate your interest in joining the Q4 Cohort as a Mentee or MentorEvent SupporterEvent 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..
Announcing the New Handbook for Sustainable WordPress Events
MeetupsMeetupMeetup 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. of the Month
Vancouver WordPress Meetup (Vancouver, Canada)East Bay WordPress Meetup (Oakland, California, USA)
Meetup Organizers, we want to feature you!
We’d love to publish pictures from Meetups all around the world in each newsletter. Do you want your Meetup to be featured? Share 1 picture with the Community team! Rename your picture as “Meetup-name_event-date” and upload it to this folder. The formats supported are JPG and PNG. Please remember, always ask for permission from your group members before taking the picture and sharing it with us!
Do you have content ideas for future editions of the Meetup Organizer Newsletter? Please let us know by submitting a GitHub issue!
If you have any questions, Community Team deputiesProgram SupporterCommunity 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. are here to help. Please email us at support@wordcamp.org or join the #community-eventsSlack 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!
Want to organize a WordPress meetupMeetupMeetup 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 in your community? Contact the WordPress Global Community TeamGlobal Community TeamA group of community organizers and contributors who collaborate on local events about WordPress — monthly WordPress meetups and/or annual conferences called WordCamps. at support@wordcamp.org or in #community-events on Making WordPress Slack.
Welcome to the May 2024 edition of the WordPress Meetup Organizer Newsletter!
We have a wealth of exciting updates and resources to share with you this month. From the launch of the Learning Pathway for Beginner WordPress Users, to actionable tips for attracting first-time attendees, we’re here to support you in growing and nurturing your local WordPress communities. Plus, read valuable advice about hosting engaging hybrid events (with some attendees in-person, and some attendees online), discover how you can harness WordCampWordCampWordCamps 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 2024 sessions for your Meetup group, and join us in welcoming our newest WordPress Meetup groups from around the globe.
We hope that within this newsletter you will find inspiration and practical tools to make your meetupsMeetupMeetup 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. even more impactful. Thank you for your continued dedication to the WordPress community. Let’s keep learning and growing together!
Learning Pathway for Beginner WordPress Users Now Available on Learn.WordPress.orgWordPress.orgThe 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/
We’re excited to announce that the Learning Pathway for Beginner WordPress Users is now live on Learn.WordPress.org! This comprehensive learning pathway will help Meetup organizers support community members who are new to WordPress. Leveraging our events to attract and nurture new WordPress users aligns perfectly with the WordPress project’s Big Picture Goals for 2024.
To get started, all you need is a WordPress.org account. If you don’t have one yet, you’ll be prompted to create it. We welcome your feedback — simply click the “Let us know” button in the right column, or even better, create a Learn GitHubGitHubGitHub is a website that offers online implementation of git repositories that can easily be shared, copied and modified by other developers. Public repositories are free to host, private repositories require a paid subscription. GitHub introduced the concept of the ‘pull request’ where code changes done in branches by contributors can be reviewed and discussed before being merged be the repository owner. https://github.com/ issue using the Feedback template.
The Make WordPress Training Team is dedicated to creating learning pathways for all skill levels, from beginner through expert, and for users, developers, and designers alike. You can learn more about this initiative in this post.
Reaching First-Time Attendees to Grow the WordPress Community
As WordPress Meetup organizers, one of our key goals is to attract and engage first-time attendees. Reaching new users is crucial for the growth and sustainability of the WordPress project, aligning with the Big Picture Goals for 2024.
To effectively attract first-time attendees, consider implementing the following strategies. First, share engaging content during outreach that highlights the benefits of attending meetups, such as learning opportunities, networking, and community support. Additionally, collaborate with local tech groups, universities, and co-working spaces to reach potential new users who may not yet be familiar with WordPress. Offering beginner-level content can also help newcomers feel more comfortable and engaged (refer to the article above for helpful resources!).
Finally, ensure that your events are welcoming and inclusive to all attendees, so that they are excited to return. Create a friendly atmosphere by having dedicated greeters, clear signage, and detailed event descriptions that help attendees understand what to expect. Encourage existing members to bring friends and colleagues, and consider hosting special “Introduction to WordPress” sessions for beginners. By focusing on these actionable tips, you can effectively attract and retain new attendees, helping to grow the WordPress community and ensuring its continued success.
As WordPress Meetup organizers, many of us are navigating the complexities of hybrid events. How can we ensure that both in-person and virtual attendees feel equally engaged? In Priya Parker’s article “The Future of Work is Creating Psychological Togetherness,” discover actionable strategies to bridge the gap between physical and virtual spaces. Learn how to treat Zoom participants as honored guests, ask “magical questions” to create shared context, and build feedback loops that connect everyone. These insights will help you elevate your next hybrid meetup event.
Harness WordCamp Europe 2024 Sessions for Your Meetup Group
Explore the WordCamp Europe 2024 schedule and speaker lineup to find sessions that may interest your meetup members. All WordCamp Europe talks will be live-streamed and recorded, allowing you to bring your Meetup group together to watch and discuss the sessions, whether live or at a later date. It’s the next best thing to being there and allows your group to come together to learn about the very latest in WordPress!
Happy 21st Birthday, WordPress!
WordPress celebrated its 21st birthday on May 27, and many meetup groups hosted festivities. We invite you to share your photos of the celebrations using the hashtag #WP21.
WordPress Fatehpur organizers sharing cakeWordPress Hisar community planting 21 trees to celebrate #WP21
Introducing our newest WordPress Meetup groups
Let’s welcome the new Meetup groups recently added to our chapter! Do support them in organizing both local (in-person) and global (online) meetup events, and let’s learn from their experiences and experiments along the way.
This month, we celebrate the WordPress Meetup groups of Bhopal (India), Baguio (Philippines), and Fatehpur (India) WordPress meetup.
Bhopal, India WordPress MeetupThe first Baguio WordPress meetup event in five years!Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, India WordPress Meetup
Meetup Organizers, we want to feature you!
We’d love to publish pictures from Meetups all around the world in each newsletter. Do you want your Meetup to be featured? Share 1 picture with the Community team! Rename your picture as “Meetup-name_event-date” and upload it to this folder. The formats supported are jpg and png. Please remember, always ask for permission from your group members before taking the picture and sharing it with us!
If you have any questions, Community Team deputiesProgram SupporterCommunity 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. are here to help. Please email us at support@wordcamp.org or join the #community-eventsSlack 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!
Welcome to the April 2024 edition of your WordPress MeetupMeetupMeetup 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. Organizer Newsletter! The newsletter aims to inspire and empower WordPress meetup organizers worldwide to host engaging, impactful meetup events. Do you have ideas for topics to feature in a future edition of the newsletter? Please email your suggestions to support@wordcamp.org.
Elevate Your MeetupsMeetupMeetup 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. With WordPress Playground!
Hosting or planning your next WordPress meetup? Make it unforgettable with WordPress Playground! This innovative tool transforms learning and interaction by allowing you and your attendees to run WordPress directly in your browser. Playground is the ultimate learning, teaching, and testing tool – perfect for demonstrations, hands-on learning, and exploring new WordPress features without the hassle of installations. Dive into WordPress Playground and bring your meetups to life: https://wordpress.org/playground/
Explore WordPress 6.5 Highlights
WordPress 6.5 “Regina” was recently released! This major releaseMajor ReleaseA set of releases or versions having the same major version number may be collectively referred to as “X.Y” -- for example version 5.2.x to refer to versions 5.2, 5.2.1, and all other versions in the 5.2. (five dot two dot) branch of that software. Major Releases often are the introduction of new major features and functionality. brings exciting features like the new Font Library, enhanced drag-and-drop functionality, and over 110 performance updates, making the Post Editor and Site Editor 2x faster than before. Notable improvements include AVIF image support, 65 accessibilityAccessibilityAccessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility) enhancements, and developer-friendly features like the Interactivity APIAPIAn API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways.. With contributions from 700 individuals across 57 countries, including 150 first-time contributors, WordPress 6.5 reflects a global effort to empower users with a smoother, more efficient experience. Following closely, the maintenance and security release of WordPress 6.5.2 addresses crucial bug fixes and security enhancements, ensuring the WordPress experience remains top-notch.
How Your Meetup Can Explore WordPress 6.5 Together
Interactive Workshops: Host workshops focused on 6.5’s innovations, like creating custom fonts with the new Font Library.
Show and Tell: Inspire your community by showcasing real-world applications of 6.5 features. Encourage members to share their projects and learn from each other.
Share Your Feedback with Meetup.com
Earlier this year, Meetup.com was acquired by Bending Spoons, an Italian-based tech company with an ambitious vision for Meetup’s future. Bending Spoons acquired Meetup because they believe in the mission to foster human connections. Over the next few years, this new parent company intends to invest nearly $50 million to improve the product and grow membership. In particular, the team plans to improve event discoverability and reduce the friction for organizers to create events and engage with their communities.
Harness WordCampWordCampWordCamps 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 2024 for your Meetup Group!
WordCamp Europe 2024 has unveiled its schedule and speaker lineup! From talks on WordPress’s future to hands-on workshops, there’s something for everyone. WordCamp Europe talks are live-streamed and recorded, so you can bring together your meetup group to watch and discuss the sessions. It’s the next best thing to being there!
Celebrating Success: WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program
The WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program’s second cohort has just wrapped up, boasting 52 mentees guided by 28 mentorsEvent SupporterEvent Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues. over six weeks. A heartfelt congratulations to all mentees – including six recipients of the LGBTQ+Press Empowerment Grant – for their outstanding contributions to WordPress.
Introducing our newest WordPress Meetup groups
Let’s welcome the new Meetup groups recently added to our chapter! Do support them in organizing both local (in-person) and global (online) meetup events, and let’s learn from their experiences and experiments along the way.
This month, we celebrate the WordPress Meetup groups of Cebu (Philippines), Managua (Nicaragua), Sofia (Bulgaria), and Malappuram (India)!
Meetup Organizers, we want to feature you!
We’d love to publish pictures from Meetups all around the world in each newsletter. Do you want your Meetup to be featured? Share 1 picture with the Community team! Rename your picture as “Meetup-name_event-date” and upload it to this folder. The formats supported are jpg and png. Please remember, always ask for permission from your group members before taking the picture and sharing it with us!
If you have any questions, Community Team Supporters are here to help. Please email us at support@wordcamp.org or join the #community-eventsSlack 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!
WordCampWordCampWordCamps 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 is just around the corner, and there are still a few tickets available. If you’ve been waiting until the final moment to decide whether to go, now is the time to grab your ticket!
WC Europe Call for Volunteers closes on February 28, apply now!
Curious to see all WordPress upcoming events worldwide? Check out the new event page! You can filterFilterFilters are one of the two types of Hooks https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Hooks. They provide a way for functions to modify data of other functions. They are the counterpart to Actions. Unlike Actions, filters are meant to work in an isolated manner, and should never have side effects such as affecting global variables and output. by country, month, and event type and connect with the WordPress communities around the world!
Watch the State of the WordState of the WordThis 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/. 2023 in your language!
At the last State of the Word we experimented with AI technology! Now you can watch the whole event while listening to Matt Mullenweg speaking the following languages, assisted by AI: Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, German, and Japanese.
Feeling bold and creative? Apply to organize a brand new event!
MeetupMeetupMeetup 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. organizers are the pillar of the WordPress community. With your experience in community and event management, you have probably come up with several ideas for events that would have a powerful impact on your community, but would not fit the format of traditional WordCamps.
Don’t let this prevent you from giving your community a wonderful event! Apply to organize a creative WordPress event. Innovation is encouraged!
A group of community leaders published the proposal for a pilot program to test GatherPress, a community-developed pluginPluginA 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, within interested and active WordPress meetup groups. For detailed information and join the pilot head to the proposal.
MeetupsMeetupMeetup 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. of the Month
This month, let’s celebrate the WordPress Meetup Groups of Terni (Italy), Delhi (India), and Gdynia (Poland)!
Gdynia, Poland
Delhi, India
Terni, Italia
Meetup Organizers, we want to feature you!
We’d love to publish pictures from Meetups all around the world in each newsletter. Do you want your Meetup to be featured? Share 1 picture with the Community team! Rename your picture as “Meetup-name_event-date” and upload it to this folder. The formats supported are JPG and PNG. Please remember, always ask for permission from your group members before taking the picture and sharing it with us!
If you have any questions, Community Team deputiesProgram SupporterCommunity 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. are here to help. Please email us at support@wordcamp.org or join the #community-eventsSlack 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!
Jakarta WordPress Web Challenge took place on January 27, 2024. The team discussed having a small WordCampWordCampWordCamps 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. in 2023, but after the NextGen project was launched in May, we began brainstorming about a new idea in July 2023. @rioburhan, who brought up the original idea, submitted his idea in August, and we started planning the event in October 2023.
The event aims to create a space for WordPress developers to learn from each other. It is a web competition, but the event offers a variety of activities such as:
Web pitching by the finalists
Web showcase/exhibition for the top 20 websites
Workshop for beginners
Talk show
Sponsors exhibition
Community booth
Lessons Learned
We started with 3 organizers at the beginning of the event, but we onboarded a few more organizers closer to the event, realizing the amount of work we needed to cover. The more activities, the more details need to be managed.
Using government facilities required us to anticipate some bureaucracy and have a plan B.
We used a platform called Mayar. We learned how to create and manage the coupon code for all the participants so we could use the Event Dashboard (Tickets –> Attendees) to confirm attendance.
We invited sponsors to become more involved as emcees, moderators, and workshop co-facilitators, and to provide prizes such as hosting and licenses.
Almost 55% of the participants were first-timers.
We tried to reach out to non-WordPress communities and had folks from PHPPHPPHP (recursive acronym for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely-used open source general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML. https://www.php.net/manual/en/preface.php. Indonesia and the Laravel community.
We had a great event without a welcome dinner, after-party, and the need to produce swag.
We aimed to provide the Transparency Report within 2 weeks and slightly missed our target. It was relatively easy as we collected all the receipts/invoices and updated our budget along the planning process.
In May 2023, the WordPress Community Team embarked on an ambitious journey with the “Next Generation WordPress Events” pilot project. Our goal was to explore innovative event formats beyond the traditional WordCampWordCampWordCamps 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. or meetupMeetupMeetup 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., bringing fresh experiences to our community and attracting new audiences to attend WordPress events. Throughout the latter half of 2023, we experimented with a variety of creative events, each uniquely contributing to the WordPress community. Check out the full list of pilot events.
Based on our experiences with the pilot program, we recommend concluding the NextGen pilot project, and permanently adopting an expanded scope of WordPress Events. This means expanding the WordPress Events program beyond just WordCamps, meetupsMeetupMeetup 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 do_actions, to embrace a broad range of creative event formats. The sky’s the limit, and we encourage the community to keep experimenting with new ideas.
It’s important to clarify that “NextGen” is the name of the pilot project, not a new categoryCategoryThe 'category' taxonomy lets you group posts / content together that share a common bond. Categories are pre-defined and broad ranging. of events. This project was a playground for experimentation and innovation in the WordPress Events program. Moving forward, we propose simply referring to these events as “WordPress Events.” This term encompasses WordCamps, meetups, do_actions, and an infinite number of other event types that are supported by WordPress Community SupportWordPress Community SupportWordPress 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. and the Community Team.
The Ideal WordPress Event
We’ve learned that the ideal WordPress event should be:
Replicable: Easy for other communities to adopt and for the same community to organize again.
Desirable: Each event should serve a purpose within the WordPress ecosystem and generate excitement.
Sustainable: Events should be financially viable and not overly complex to organize, to prevent burnout among our valued community organizers.
Scalable: Ideally, events are able to grow and scale as a community grows.
We wholeheartedly encourage creativity and experimentation in WordPress Events. Innovation is the lifeblood that keeps our community vibrant and helps grow the WordPress project, its user base, and WordPress communities worldwide!
A highlight from the NextGen Pilot project:
The Rome Community Day event format inspired the Swiss community to organize a Switzerland Community Day, demonstrating that this event format is truly desirable, replicable and sustainable! The Rome event organizer mentored the Switzerland organizing team, a testament to the project’s collaborative spirit.
Tools
To sustainably expand the WordPress events program, we need some new tools, workflows, and documentation that will assist Community Team Event Supporters, Program Supporters, and Program Managers in vetting, onboarding, and mentoring events that don’t fit neatly in the established categories of WordCamp, meetup, or do_actiondo_actiondo_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.. Our new WordPress Events page (events.wordpress.orgWordPress.orgThe 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/) is a crucial step in this direction, offering a central URLURLA specific web address of a website or web page on the Internet, such as a website’s URL www.wordpress.org and unified platform for all types of WordPress events. Additionally, we have a brand new WordPress event organizer application form, which streamlines the application review process (during the NextGen pilot project, event organizer applications were submitted through a Crowdsignal survey; this was unwieldy for the Community Team to review and process).
What this means for…
WordPress Event Organizers
We invite you to think outside the box and consider organizing an innovative WordPress Event in your community! Let’s continue to experiment and grow together. Remember, some of the most impactful WordPress events are simple, low-cost, and easy to organize.
Apply now to bring a unique WordPress event to life in your community!
Global Sponsors
Sponsoring the WordPress community’s innovative events provides companies with a unique opportunity to reach new, diverse, and tech-savvy audiences. Global Sponsors already support WordPress Community Events worldwide; innovative event formats offer an opportunity to experiment with new sponsorship benefits and ways to connect with attendees. Do you have ideas that we could test at an innovative WordPress event in 2024? Let the Community Team know by commenting on this post!
Community Team Supporters
In the coming weeks, the Community Team will invite Community Team Supporters to participate in a Zoom session on innovative WordPress Events. This session will provide an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback so that Community Team Supporters are well-equipped to mentorEvent SupporterEvent 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. innovative WordPress Events and amplify this exciting new development in WordPress Events. Stay tuned for more details!
Share your thoughts, ideas, and questions in the comments below. Your input is the catalyst for continued innovation and growth in our community. Let’s continue building the next chapter of innovative WordPress Events, making them more inclusive, engaging, and impactful than ever!
Props to the fantastic pilot event and future WordPress event organizers; Community Team NextGen Event Supporters, who reviewed event applications and mentored pilot events; and the entire Global Community TeamGlobal Community TeamA group of community organizers and contributors who collaborate on local events about WordPress — monthly WordPress meetups and/or annual conferences called WordCamps. for their incredible effort to make the NextGen Pilot Project a reality by engaging in discussions, sharing ideas, and spreading the word!
Thank you for joining us for another year of contributing to the WordPress open sourceOpen SourceOpen 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. project! MeetupsMeetupMeetup 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. are the heart of this project, and your willingness to host one is invaluable. Thank you for all you do to make meetups a reality in your part of the world.
A particular Community Team focus this year is our meetups. We’ll be looking at new ways to get them the support they need to help them grow.
Feedback Requested on the New WordPress Events Page
First, a little about the site.
This site aims to give more visibility to all kinds of WordPress events around the globe. Here you’ll find upcoming WordPress events like scheduled WordCamps, Meetups, Next Gen WordPress Events (WordPress Events from now on), as well as how to organize them.
So far, the site consists of the following three pages:
Those three pages are just the beginning of a vision where we bring the WordPress Events our local meetups are organizing closer to our users and visitors of WordPress.orgWordPress.orgThe 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/.
The goal is for this site to become the central source of information for all WordPress Community events and organizers. From getting started to finding an event to attend, we can have one resource that supports them all.
WordCampWordCampWordCamps 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 2024 will be in Torino, Italy on June 13 – 15 2024. Tickets are now on sale! Grab your ticket today, you can choose between general admission and micro-sponsor.
Thank you and bye (for now), Jill!
After a decade of leadership, Jill Binder has decided to step away from her work with WordPress. Jill has been a key player in our community as the leader of the Diverse Speaker Training (#WPDiversity) working group and as the co-creator & maintainer of the Diverse Speaker Training Workshop. Her dedication to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in the Project has been inspirational. Check out the extraordinary impact of #WPDiversity and use the invaluable open source resources created for WordPress event organizers, underrepresented speakers, Diversity and Community workshop organizers and #WPDiversity workshop translators.
Want to join us in wishing her the best for her next big adventure? Leave your comment to this post.
If you have any questions, Community Team deputiesProgram SupporterCommunity 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. are here to help. Please email us at support@wordcamp.org or join the #community-eventsSlack 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!
