Building Inclusive Open Source Communities | 19min snip from CHAOSScast

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Episode 98: Community building - the role of culture in OSS project health

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CHAPTER

Building Inclusive Open Source Communities

This chapter explores the essential role of understanding member motivations within open-source communities, emphasizing the need for effective surveys and communication. It highlights the importance of recognizing diverse contributions beyond code, fostering inclusivity, and implementing initiatives that empower community members. The chapter also discusses strategies for measuring community health and engagement, along with creative methods to enhance member participation and satisfaction.

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Thank you to the folks at Sustain for providing the hosting account for CHAOSSCast!

CHAOSScast – Episode 98

In this episode of CHAOSScast, host Harmony Elendu is joined by community experts Elizabeth Barron, Ibi (Fibi) Fiberesima, and Ana Jimenez to explore the vital role community culture plays in shaping the experience and productivity of contributors in open-source projects. They dive into the nuances of community management, from setting welcoming and inclusive cultures to recognizing diverse contributions that extend beyond code, and share their insights on building engaged communities, empowering contributors, and using feedback and data to measure community health and success. Press download now to hear more!

[00:04:48] We start with Fibi defining community management as building and sustaining inclusive spaces based on principles like membership, influence, integration, and shared emotional connection.

[00:05:50] Elizabeth describes how community culture is influenced by leadership, communication style, and project goals.

[00:07:26] Ana emphasizes the importance of a clear onboarding process tailored to diverse contributors.

[00:09:11] Fibi highlights the importance of welcoming members and creating a personalized experience for each contributor.

[00:11:24] Elizabeth shares her approach to community management: creating safe, fun, and welcoming environments where people feel valued, and Ana discusses the value of understanding why members join communities to create better engagement.

[00:15:54] The panelists discuss methods to maintain engagement, like recognizing member contributions and adapting community culture. Elizabeth highlights the importance of acknowledging contributions that don’t show up in code, like project management, design, and community engagement.

[00:17:47] Ana shares insights on creating local community chapters, particularly for regions with unique cultural needs and Fibi explains the importance of giving members autonomy and opportunities for growth, helping build loyalty and satisfaction.

[00:25:30] Harmony brings up measuring for community health which leads to a discussion on metrics for community health: participation rates, retention, and community surveys. Fibi outlines specific metrics used in different communities, from GitLab contributions to social media engagement.

[00:32:23] Harmony suggests that members publicly identifying with a community is a positive indicator of community impact.

[00:33:52] Fibi’s advice is to be patient, personalize engagement, and document successes, Ana’s advice is don’t put too much pressure on making everyone happy, and Elizabeth’s advice is to set boundaries and encourage a community-wide support system.

[00:39:07] Ana, Fibi, and Elizabeth reflect on initiatives they’re proud of, from supporting diverse contributions to creating localized communities.

Adds (Picks) of the week:

[00:43:43] Harmony’s pick is it’s ok to leave social media and do something else.
[00:44:13] Elizabeth’s pick is watching “The Great British Baking Show.”
[00:44:57] Fibi’s pick is a defining quote that changed the way she view’s life: “You are in life to experience it and not to control it.”
[00:45:53] Ana’s pick is if you’re going to eat a meal, take your time and enjoy the meal tasting all the different meals.

*Panelists: *
Harmony Elendu

Elizabeth Barron

Ibi (Fibi) Fiberesima

Ana Jimenez

Links:

CHAOSS

CHAOSS Project X

CHAOSScast Podcast

podcast@chaoss.community

Elizabeth Barron LinkedIn

Ibi Fiberesima Portfolio

Ana Jimenez Santamaria LinkedIn