Encourage contributions by people underrepresented in the community
by
Georgia Young
Contributions
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Published on
Jan 13, 2017 02:57 PM
Free software relies on contributions from community members. But systemic barriers often prevent interested individuals from becoming contributors, especially when those individuals are from groups that have been historically marginalized.
The free software movement is a movement for everyone's freedom. It cannot succeed if it does not expand and make the effort to welcome all people.
Initiatives like Outreachy provide support and opportunities for underrepresented people to engage with free software projects and become active contributors. By actively working to empower many kinds of people to contribute to free software, the project introduces entire communities to the concept of software freedom, via members of their community. More contributors and users, and a greater diversity of thought and experience, make the free software community stronger.
Ways to help
- Donate to Outreachy.
- Encourage your organization or company to offer an Outreachy internship or become a financial sponsor of the program.
- Or apply for an Outreachy internship.
- Adopt a code of conduct for your free software project's community, and enforce it. Geek Feminism offers a useful anti-harassment guide for technical communities.
This is just one item on the Free Software Foundation's High Priority Projects list.