Category: WordPress

I submitted two talk proposals to an upcoming WordCamp

WordCamp Long Beach recently sent calls for speakers and volunteers to help launch their first camp. I’m excited an will definitely attend.

WordCamps are inexpensive conferences that focus on using the platform. These events are not cheap to host, fortunately there’s always a group of dedicated sponsors who see the value in our community and provide financial support so tickets can remain affordable.

The Talks

Right now there are two core features of WordPress I absolutely can’t live without. The Gutenberg block editor and WP_Query. Both have become core assets for me as a blogger, designer, and developer. I chose to submit talks on each, I couldn’t pick a favorite. 🙂

Why Volunteer for a WordCamp?

Community events provide an opportunity to share knowledge and connect with other WordPress users. When I started seriously using the CMS in 2012 I wasn’t yet aware of these events, I had jumped into theme development and was developing blind, learning as I went. In 2014 I attended my first camp in Orange County and every session presented solutions to a problem I had either ran into or would experience later. It spurred a productivity boom that I still benefit from today.

No matter how you use WordPress I would urge you to visit WordCamp.org and see if there are any upcoming events in your area. There may even be a local meetup on your dashboard.

Brief thoughts on WordPress.org leadership

Reading a post by Joost de Valk about moving on from the Marketing Lead position left me with concerns about the project.

Today WordPress.org leadership is narrowly tied to a small number individuals from a short list organizations that rely heavily on the platform for their market success. This allows for nimble decision making but ultimately limits community leadership.

Leadership should grow from the community

I’d love to see efforts made in the following areas that reflect WordPress’ wider community.

  • Consider limiting the number of leaders that come from a company, organization or industry.
  • Hold elections within the WordPress.org community to appoint leadership to well defined terms.
  • Maintain a benevolent dictator if necessary but clearly define what that person does and why.
  • WordPress must document the governance of the project and how it is led. (Examples from other FOSS projects)

It is my hope that the WordPress.org community will rally together to demand an independent and well documented governance model. We’re too large to not have one.

Note: A community movement to formalize WordPress.org governance exists that provides a better argument than I have done here.