You’ve got your ticket, you’re ready for this year’s WordCamp US. You may be asking yourself, “how can I get involved in more events like it and be part of the wider WordPress family?”
The answer to this question is found in the global WordPress community! It is comprised of thousands of individuals around the world who have at least one thing in common: they use and contribute to the WordPress platform and they want to be part of this special open-source project.
How the talks can help your skills and awareness
At WordCamp US 2021, you can find speakers on topics related to the project throughout the schedule. Many of the sessions can also help you further your knowledge to support your journey as a contributor and deepen your involvement in the project. WordPress powers more than 42-percent of all websites. Discovering more about how it works and what you can do with it, means you can be part of its growth.
Many of the talks at this year’s camp give an introduction or deeper understanding of topics that are related to areas of the software’s development and the growth and sustenance of its community. Here are some of the sessions on the schedule which can give you a useful background to the work of the different teams behind WordPress. There are so many teams that you can join, from accessibility to core, from training to marketing.
Understanding the software’s latest features, how it can be used in different settings, and the opportunities for growth for both the platform and its community are all helpful as you become a more experienced contributor. They can be a catalyst for finding solutions and ways to make WordPress even better and its community even more inclusive.
- Bet Hannon’s talk on accessible sites
- Corey Webb’s demystifying Gutenberg blocks
- Rich Tabor’s Block Patterns talk
- Shusei Toda on how community organizers can improve their working together based on the experiences of WordCamp Japan
- AmyJune Hineline on contributing to open source
- Listen to WordPress Executive Director Josepha Haden Chomphosy on the future growth opportunities we have together
Contributors from LearnWordPress.org will be running a session where you can find out how companies can contribute as subject matter experts to help design content for this new free, resource. You can also provide feedback on what skills you will want from future employees to help plan longer-term content for this learning tool.
Where else can I find information to become a contributor?
It does not stop at WordCamp; there are so many ways you can get started with contributing to WordPress.
At WordCamp Europe this year, the contributing team created a resource that they made available to other camps including WordCamp US. It can help those who are new or returning in regards to getting started with contributing.
The Contribute to WordPress resource area continues to evolve and much of it will be used on the Learn WordPress site in the future. For now, you can delve into it and discover what teams or areas of work you would like to explore for possible contribution. You can also add your comments about current proposals and other resources that are needed to help you get started on your contribution journey. There are also opportunities to share what WordCamp talks have inspired you!
The mission of WordPress is to democratize publishing and support the freedoms of open source collaboration. Be part of something amazing and make a difference across the globe. Here are a few additional resources on how to get started contributing to the WordPress open-source project: