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All right, good morning! Hopefully, you all enjoyed the keynote and the break that we just had. We are continuing today with our panel.
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I am really excited for this session on Ruby's Killer Feature. I'm going to introduce Chris, who is the moderator. Chris is the VP of Engineering at Radius Network, where he builds mobile proximity tools and services.
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He co-founded the Arlington Ruby group and helped organize both Ruby Retrocession and Ruby for Good events. Enjoy the panel!
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So I'm going to go through and we'll do quick introductions, and then we'll get started. All right, thank you for the introduction! Hi, everybody, my name is Latoya Hunter.
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I am a Howard University lover of computers, a mission systems major, and I am also the Women Who Code Ruby on Rails lead in Washington, D.C. I am a junior software engineer at Digital Globe.
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Hi everyone, my name is LaToya. I am the founder of She Nomads, an inclusive space in tech for people who want to travel while working remotely, and I'm also a principal Rails engineer at Daily Coast.
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Okay, I'm Sean. I am Sean and I work with organizations like Ruby for Good. I help organize these events, and I also work for the government.
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One thing is we'd like to have your questions, and I've put some index cards in the front two rows up here. If you can, I’d love it if people could come up, grab an index card, write down a question, and just hand it up to me.
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We want to be able to go through some of those. All right, so before we go into the questions, let's get a little context. Can you give the elevator pitch for one of the community organizations that you guys organize?
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Let’s go in reverse order. Since Sean is holding the microphone, I'll start with him. The pitch I like to give is about Ruby for Good. You've probably heard of it and seen people wearing the shirts here.
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It's a long weekend event where we get a lot of people like us together, and we help nonprofits that really need our skills but would never be able to afford it otherwise.
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As I said before, She Nomads is a space for people who want to travel while working remotely, and I think a big part of working in tech is constantly developing your skill set.
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We offer free coding classes, study groups, and accountability groups, along with a remote work and wellness retreat because I think those are important for us as people in tech.
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Women Who Code is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a community and network for women in tech or women who would love to join tech. In our D.C. chapter, we have weekly meetings on various subjects including Python, Java, Ruby on Rails, and front-end work.
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We host workshops and talks, providing a support group for women in the industry to share our knowledge. One of the things I'd like to set is the original drive behind this panel was my interest in people who help foster community.
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We had a wonderful panel discussion on the first day about getting involved in the community. Now we are more focused on the next step: if you’re already involved in the community, how can you step up and organize, or if you're organizing, how can you evolve the groups you're in?
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The first topic I'd like to discuss is member engagement. My first question is: how do you get consistent members in the organizations that you help with?
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For our organization, consistent member engagement starts with feedback. When we first get women on board, we like to determine what topics they're interested in, particularly in Ruby on Rails.
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We strive to provide the best possible content, focusing heavily on beginners. Remember, we all started as beginners, so we ensure our events clarify what they need to know and outline the steps to improve.
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We maintain constant engagement through platforms like Slack, which helps keep the communication flowing outside of official events. Our community members also play a crucial role in this engagement.
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I've noticed that many face left due to a lack of a code of conduct, so we established one to provide clear guidelines. Additionally, I recognized that many people were struggling to find remote jobs that enable travel.
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This led to the creation of a job board, connecting people with companies hiring for remote positions. Listening to and meeting the needs of our community is incredibly important.
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It's vital to make members feel included in the community; we engage them by having everyone introduce themselves at meetups and share something interesting about them, such as a book they'd take to a desert island.
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Moreover, we encourage people to connect outside of the meetup, like grabbing coffee together.
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Continuing from that, how do we encourage people to present at meets or step up and lead projects? I'm a big fan of volunteer work and guiding people to take initiatives.
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Many people want to contribute but often feel self-conscious. I sit with them and suggest they give a talk about something they're passionate about.
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For She Nomads, our events are typically remote which is convenient for engagement. If someone wants to teach a class or lead an Ask Me Anything (AMA), they can do that no matter where they are.
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If a group of people is in cities like New York, Mexico City, or Lisbon, I'm all for them organizing a meetup under the She Nomads banner.
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Now, Latoya, since you run a lot of workshops, how would you convince someone who feels too junior to lead or help others?
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Encourage them by reassuring them they can do this, and offer help to put together their talk. It’s all about instilling confidence.
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Sean, with Ruby for Good, one challenge is finding leaders for projects. How can we help those who feel underqualified?
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What we’ve started doing is pairing junior members with senior mentors from the community. This way, they have someone to guide them through the process.
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Latoya, you mentioned the code of conduct earlier. How important is it, and what specific points should be made when working in a community?
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I believe two key things are essential: have a code of conduct and enforce it. If people violate rules or disrupt the community, it’s crucial to address that immediately.
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Moreover, creating a safe space for everyone is vital. Ruby does a great job at this, but I’d love to see other communities also step up.
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Has anyone here experienced conflicts in their organization? How did you handle it?
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While we've had an overwhelmingly positive experience so far, we did face an incident recently that was handled exceptionally well.
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We established a three-strike system. On the first offense, we would speak to the individual and explain why their behavior was unacceptable, referring to the code of conduct.
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If the behavior repeated, we'd remove the individual to ensure a safe environment for others. However, it’s essential to reach out and explain their misunderstanding.
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While having rules is vital, I’ve heard counterarguments suggesting we should just 'be nice.' It’s clear that despite decades of efforts for equality in tech, not everyone gets the message.
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Having a framework is essential to foster a positive environment. There’s no doubt that rules are necessary for enhancing community dynamics.
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Now, shifting to discuss diversity and culture, how do you encourage diversity in your organizations?
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As an individual from an underrepresented group, I aim to make my presence known. When we started She Nomads, we wanted everyone to be an ally to underrepresented groups in tech.
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This approach might have initially turned off some people, but it ultimately strengthened our community by preventing issues from arising.
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Our leadership team recognized that we may not be the most diverse group, so we are adding more organizers from various backgrounds to reflect this.
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We also consider logistical elements, like the location of our meetups and potential economic barriers that could prevent certain groups from attending.
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Sean, Ruby for Good is a general outreach group. What steps do you take to encourage diversity beyond the organizers?
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Before registration opens, I reach out to diverse organizations and network. At Ruby for Good, we've noticed our demographics reflect our efforts.
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This year, 44% of our registrants identified as female, which is a promising sign of diversity in tech events.
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For meetup organizers looking to ensure diversity, reaching out to individuals who don’t typically attend events can encourage participation.
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Engaging with them personally shows that you value their presence. Inclusivity drives a positive change in community dynamics.
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I want to emphasize that expanding community offerings is vital. More meetups lead to increased participation, ensuring people find their fit.
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Joining forces with other organizers to co-host events creates opportunities for more diverse experiences and perspectives.
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Collaborating with groups regional to your specialty encourages knowledge-sharing and encourages attendees to participate.
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For example, I’ve linked up with the Chicago Python Ladies to run workshops together. Merging different communities can only bolster the tech scene further.
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I believe there's a distinct value in complementing each other's strengths and creating more room for collective growth.
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As an organizer, having more groups in the same area means more options for individuals who want to learn.
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In Arlington, for instance, I was thrilled when Reston launched their Rails meetup. Having more opportunities means richer experiences.
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In the tech community, there’s no fear of healthy competition. It fosters a collaborative environment with lots of options for learners.
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Encouraging more events, especially across different time zones, can only enhance the network. If you’ve ever been inspired to start your own group, do it!
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If you find yourself traveling 20 minutes to meetups frequently, consider launching your own!
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Latoya, you mentioned earlier that She Nomads began as a virtual community. How did you manage to create a co-located event in Mexico?
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When I first started working remotely, I struggled to find a community. In the U.S., there are numerous meetups, but not everywhere people travel.
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As I traveled to Mexico City, I found that many others faced this same issue. I decided to take the leap and create a space for those wanting the same experiences.
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Surprisingly, many people were eager to join the trip, and a diverse experience blossomed in Mexico. It has enriched the sense of community through shared adventures.
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So did you find value in that co-located face time? Absolutely! The bonds we formed energized our community and deepened our connections.
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Sean, you originally organized Ruby Retro Session, and somehow you transitioned it into Ruby for Good. Can you explain how that happened?
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Retro Session is a one-day unconference where we gather and discuss various topics as a community. It’s excellent for bonding and community building.
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I recognized how nonprofits face challenges, and there was an opportunity for developers to provide invaluable aid with minimal effort.
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With my software skills, I wanted to assist nonprofits in need, which partly stemmed from a sense of responsibility to give back.
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As we wrap this discussion about helping our community, let’s all remember the importance of encouraging beginners.
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Finding ways to teach those new to tech not only lifts individuals but enhances the community as a whole.
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To create effective mentorship, we need to understand the goals and aspirations of our peers and guide them along the way.
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It’s important to deliver encouragement while consistently checking in on their progress. Building a supportive network will build confidence over time.
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Mentorship plays a key role in transitioning from learning to entering the industry; that guiding hand is often what helps individuals take that leap.
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Support, even on a small scale, can significantly impact those unsure about stepping into the industry.
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Continuing these discussions about mentorship is vital; it reinforces the need for support as we navigate our paths in tech.
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Questions still arise regarding effective mentorship and how to find suitable guides in the community.
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Lastly, in closing, how important are meetups for maintaining community connections?
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Meetups provide foundational connections, especially in-person interactions, as they allow us to better communicate and bond.
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While remote connections are valuable, nothing truly replaces the significance of physical presence in building relationships.
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We encourage new members to bring code samples, share their challenges, and create opportunities for mentorship to take shape organically.
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Encouraging individuals to participate more actively in these meetups allows for deeper connections to form.
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As we wrap up, it’s essential to recognize the impact of engagement, especially with those eager to join the community.
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Interested individuals can begin onboarding through personal outreach, helping them feel welcomed and valued.
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Co-hosting events serves as a platform for bridging gaps and creating vibrant interactions in the community.
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I would encourage everyone to take these lessons back to your own communities and help cultivate a welcoming environment.
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Regardless of whether you run a large organization or are just starting out, creating positive connections can propel every participant forward.
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Thank you all for being here; together, we can continue fostering the amazing Ruby community.
