{"id":86555,"date":"2026-05-28T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/community\/?p=86555"},"modified":"2026-05-27T22:02:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T22:02:11","slug":"wp-ibarra-how-a-community-was-born-and-its-first-in-person-meetup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/community\/2026\/05\/28\/wp-ibarra-how-a-community-was-born-and-its-first-in-person-meetup\/","title":{"rendered":"WP Ibarra: How a Community Was Born and Its First In-Person Meetup"},"content":{"rendered":"

By the WordPress Ibarra, Ecuador Community \u2014 May 202<\/em>6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ibarra now has its own WordPress community. What started as a conversation among passionate people at events across Latin America has become something real: on May 29th, we are holding our first in-person meetupMeetup<\/span> Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is our story \u2014 and it\u2019s only just beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Beginning: A Vision Built Step by Step<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It all started at meetupsMeetup<\/span> Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> organized by the Latin American WordPress community. Being part of those spaces \u2014meeting dedicated people, attending workshops, and accessing resources through WordPress.org<\/a>\u2014 planted a question that kept growing: why doesn\u2019t Ibarra have its own community?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, that question stopped being just an idea and turned into a project. In October 2025, the official WP Ibarra group on Meetup.com was registered, and with that, the community took its official shape. There were plenty of doubts along the way \u2014 but even more enthusiasm to start contributing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been the support from other Latin American communities. Seeing how each one contributes, grows, and leads by example was a huge motivation for us. Across the region, there are large, well-established communities \u2014 and there are communities like ours, just getting started. But fresh ideas and a genuine desire to give back to your local community are worth just as much as years of experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Steps: Virtual, but Very Real<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before meeting in person, the community was already active. Through our Instagram, we started sharing our mission, posting content about WordPress, and inviting people from Ibarra to join our events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2026, we held our first virtual meetup. For a first-ever event, bringing together nearly 10 people online was already a clear sign: there was something here, and it was worth building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came a particularly exciting milestone: in May, we had the opportunity to present our community at the Universidad T\u00e9cnica del Norte<\/strong>. It was a truly enriching experience where we covered topics on WordPress, the Latin American community, our local community, and the WordPress Credits<\/strong> program \u2014 an initiative that sparked great interest among both students and university staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And we didn\u2019t stop there. At that same institution, we also introduced the community at a local entrepreneurship fair<\/strong>, where several attendees were eager to learn how WordPress could be a real tool for growing their businesses. We invited all of them to our upcoming event, so they can learn more about WordPress and everything we have planned ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Big Step: See You in Person on May 29th<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Reaching this point feels special. Over these months, many people have reached out with interest in joining the community \u2014 to share what they know and to learn alongside others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 29th<\/strong>, we will meet in person for the very first time. This meetup is more than just an event \u2014 it\u2019s the beginning of something we want to build consistently: an active local community where people from Ibarra can learn, connect, and grow together around WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hope this gathering strengthens the bonds with those who have already been part of this journey, opens the door to new people who want to join what is being built here, and also inspires other regional communities across Ecuador that have not yet taken that first step. Because when a local community comes alive, everyone grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WordPress Community in Ibarra, Ecuador \u2014 Presentation of the Ibarra WordPress Community to the UTN, May 2026<\/em><\/p>\n