# Track Proposal (was Proposal Draft)

Proposal form: https://sfconservancy.org/fossy/community-tracks/

**TRACK TITLE:** Community: Open Source in Practice

**NUMBER OF DAYS:** 4

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**DESCRIPTION:** *"What do you hope to cover, who would you like to apply to speak, and what audience would you like to attend?"*

Communities of people are the beating heart of free and open source software, and this track provides a home for sessions covering the many practices involved in building and supporting healthy, productive communities.

In this track, we welcome sessions on topics ranging from community management, communications infrastructure, project governance, sustainability, education, mentorship, and succession planning, contributor experience, event organizing, marketing, research, movement and coalition building, and tackling the interface between communities and corporations with integrity. No matter the topic, we encourage sessions that discuss the 'how' of community as much as the 'why.' Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is a lens we aim to see represented across the board, as a standard of community building.

Any one of these topics could be a track unto itself, but often lack the critical mass to stand alone at conferences and land in the squishy bucket we call "community." The organizers of this track view this as an antipattern, while also recognizing it's a familiar dynamic. We hope, in collaboration with our speakers, to elevate these topics and engender a culture in which these topics are elevated and celebrated.

We welcome proposals from speakers and people who are excited to give their first talk. We want seasoned professionals and volunteers, as well as fresh perspectives from new entrants. Everyone has something of value to share! We are prepared to help with proposals and presentations to make sure everyone is putting their best foot forward.

Beyond the core audience of community professionals and leaders, both paid and volunteer, we treasure cross-pollination and encourage participation from people in other disciplines.

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**WHY SHOULD WE HAVE THIS TRACK AT FOSSY?** *"What elements of the technical, legal, community and diversity issues of FOSS does your track provide?"*

This track speaks to the heart of how we find each other and how we build cultures, projects, and movements. We are providing space for matters of community building and management, and all that entails. Further, recognizing many topics don't get critical mass for dedicated tracks - such as contributor experience, governance, marketing - community tracks often offer a big tent those other topics can reasonably fit within. We will adjust the themes we cover so as to be complementary with other accepted tracks, we don't want to be duplicative.

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**PRIMARY PROPOSER AND EMAIL:** Josh Simmons, [e-mail]

**SECONDARY PROPOSER AND EMAIL:** Monica Ayhens-Madon, [e-mail] (julia ferraioli [e-mail] as backup)

**WHY ARE THE PROPOSERS THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO ORGANIZE THIS TRACK?** *"What experience and unique perspective will you bring to the track, do you have experience running a conference track?"*

The proposers of this track are a combination of newer and veteran organizers, covering many dimensions of underrepresented identity. Between us, we have experience running conferences (logistics, fundraising, AV, and outreach), being session hosts, as program committee members and program chairs. Further, the organizers are deeply connected and capable of pulling in speakers – new and old – and helping everyone put their best foot forward.

While Josh and Monica are the named proposers for the form, julia ferraioli is an equal partner in designing and organizing this track, and we are also collaborating with Stephen Kellat. We stand ready to recruit more fabulous people to the team if we are accepted.

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**SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:** *"Technical, accessibility or other needs"*

It's important to us that we incorporate open captions and hybrid participation, and we're willing to help raise funds and manage logistics as needed to make it happen.

To run the track successfuly, Stephen has offered his experienced insights on necessary staffing. Three online volunteers will moderate and support the track at any time, and will be able to devote their attention solely to the online component of the track. Four online volunteers will handle the in-person track, with a dedicated MC role, a hybrid coordinator, and a 'gopher' who can handle whatever impromptu tasks might arise.

To ensure these staffing levels, and also ensure volunteers have ample breaks and time to participate in this and other tracks, we would aim to have six online volunteers and eight in-person volunteers.

**RELEVANT URLS AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION:**

Depending on how the rest of the conference is organized, we'd like to include a variety of content types, such as lightning talks, short and long talks, workshops, panels, opening or closing keynotes.