Community is at the heart of WordPress – everyone from those involved with meetups to those helping with WordCamps (and everyone in between) have been the engine that has kept the community growing for over 15 years.
For the first time, WordCamp US 2019 will feature a dedicated track for community-related topics, in addition to the other tracks happening during the conference on Friday and Saturday. The Community Track will go beyond just offering a series of talks – the track will contain workshops and interactive presentations designed to include the audience. Which makes sense – a community track should involve the community!
How is Community Track different from other tracks at WCUS?
Community Tracks are focused on conversations with the community – especially those in the audience. So, a majority of the Community Tracks will be taking structured input, feedback, and questions from the audience. The community sessions will be presented in interactive formats such as workshops and panels with community members.
What’s being covered at the WCUS Community Tracks this year?
There will be four areas that the Community Track will touch on during the course of WordCamp US this year:
- Meetups
- WordCamps
- Diversity / Inclusion
- Kids / Youth
Meetups
Regardless of where meetups are located, many meetup organizers encounter the same challenges – particularly when it comes to growth. How do you attract new speakers and keep the meetup “fresh”? How can you market your meetup to attract new and diverse attendees and participants? Starting a meetup can be difficult – but keeping it going can be even more difficult.
WordCamps
WordCamps are one of the clearest examples of how strong the WordPress community is. However, those that continue to volunteer and organize – along with those interested in stepping up – may see this as a heavy responsibility. The Community Track will be offering practical suggestions and advice, particularly for those who might want to learn about how successful organizers handle management, budgets, speaker selection, and other important aspects.
The Community Track not only provides an environment for organizers, but for those interested in making their speaker applications more efficient. As a potential individual submitting an application for an upcoming WordCamp, learn what best practices might benefit you to increase the odds of being selected.
Diversity / Inclusion
The WordPress community is strong because it contains a variety of diverse individuals with different and unique backgrounds and experiences. Ensuring that the community is as welcoming to as many individuals as possible should be something not far from our minds. The Community Track will host a workshop that will help attendees examine themselves to see how they can help accept and communicate with under-represented groups. They can in turn apply these suggestions and lessons to their events and online forums – making sure the WordPress community continues to be an open and welcoming space for future members.
Kids / Youth
The long-term growth of WordPress rests with the next generation of developers and users. As a collective group, we want to ensure that the community is welcoming and open to the special needs and priorities of young people. Learn how to encourage the presence of young people in your local communities by learning about Kids Camps and how you can help establish one yourself! You will also have the opportunity to hear directly from young people at the conference about how young people are using WordPress and how, as a parent, teacher, or community member, you can help instill WordPress and open source philosophies into children. By doing so, you will be able to ensure the growth of WordPress into the future!
You don’t want to miss out on WordCamp US 2019! There will be speakers, workshops, childcare, an incredible sponsor hall, the annual WordFest party, and more. Get your tickets to WordCamp US today!
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