Opening the Echo Chamber: Inclusivity in the Real World

Anyone who has spent time in the open community knows that we strive for inclusivity. We know that diverse communities lead to innovative solutions. We use codes of conduct, assume best intentions and …

Anyone who has spent time in the open community knows that we strive for inclusivity. We know that diverse communities lead to innovative solutions. We use codes of conduct, assume best intentions and show solidarity to ensure a welcoming community. Still, our open source projects are not as inclusive as they should be. We all have implicit biases that cause us to unknowingly exclude the very people we say we want to include. In order to discuss equity, we need to remember to check our unconscious bias. In this session, we will start with an exercise to show that we all have unconscious bias. Then we will deconstruct tested strategies for increasing inclusivity of marginalized communities. Finally, we will help participants develop best practices and strategies, based on the 5 principles of an open organization, that are tailored to their real communities and projects. How do we really invite people in and create long term engagement? Come to this session and find out!