Fill out this form to be considered as a Co-Author for our DEI Handbook: https://numfocus.typeform.com/to/go2ODhjG
We seek individual contributors and partnering organizations to create an online Handbook on good practices in building diverse, equal, and inclusive open-source projects.
According to multiple publications diverse, equal, and inclusive environments result in creative and well-received solutions [1][2]. In the era of Artificial Intelligence, and widely used software, diverse perspectives of the creators help to better understand the needs and barriers for potential users. That is why a diverse representation of open-source contributors is so important.
There is a need to build a comprehensive compendium of good practices covering diversity, equity, and inclusion in open-source ecosystems. The need is addressed both by selected projects associated with NumFOCUS and might be identified based on available data covering the current demographic representation of the open-source contributors [1].
The idea of the DEI Handbook first accrued at the DISC Unconference 2023. During this two-day event, a group of DEI leaders contributed to creating the outline for the publication. We are ready to elevate their work to the next level by developing an online publication.
The Handbook: diverse, equal, and inclusive open source projects
We envision the DEI Handbook as an online multimedia publication including video, infographics, and text. We hope that this form will be easy to digest and use in practice by open-source community leaders, and the research community.
As the draft of the outline, we will use the DISC Unconference 2023 project DEI Handbook, including chapters such as Introduction to DEI in Open Source, creating an inclusive Community, Code of Conduct, DEI Policies, and Governance; and Inclusive Language & Communication.
Recognition and Attribution
Contribution to the DEI Handbook is voluntary and will not be related to monetary compensation.
All the co-authors of the DEI Handbook will be recognized for their efforts. The recognition will include:
- author credits in the final publication
- mentions in promotional materials
- opportunities to present their work at NumFOCUS or related events
You can become a co-author!
We are looking for individual contributors and partnering organizations to create an online Handbook on good practices in building diverse, equal, and inclusive open-source projects. As the contributor, you will co-create one or more chapters for the online materials, as well as participate in the review process of the work of other contributors. The form of the material should be text, video, or infographics.
Your skills and experience
The project would benefit the most from authors who meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Have experience in working, or volunteering in DEI-oriented projects,
- Are researchers studying the DEI related subjects,
- Are open-source contributors caring deeply about diversity, equity, and inclusion in their community.
If you do not do any of the above, but you’re interested in contributing, please do not hesitate to fill out the form. We want to learn more about your story and motivation.
Expectations and Commitment
To make the publication successful, we are asking the contributors to the committee to:
- Participation in at least three organizational meetings in total
- Being active on the contributor’s Slack channel
- Review of one chapter created by another co-author
- Take an active role in creating one chapter, including creating written, audio, and/or video infographic materials.
The total number of hours is estimated at 30 in three months (excluding winter break and local holidays).
Publication Timeline & Form
We plan to publish one chapter monthly starting in 2025. This format will help us promote the material and, we hope, create a faster feedback loop.
The platform of the publication is to be decided and will depend heavily on the type of content that the co-authors are willing to contribute. In addition to the platform type, the content will be hosted on NumFOCUS infrastructure and subject to the NumFOCUS Privilege Policy and the Code of Conduct.
The DEI Handbook is not a commercial product. It will be available under the CC-BY 4.0 license (or similar open source license), an open-source license that allows anyone to freely access, share, and adapt the material, including for commercial use. This ensures that our handbook is accessible to all, fostering a sense of inclusivity and openness.
Next steps
If you are interested in becoming the DEI Handbook co-author, please follow the next steps:
- Filling out the form https://numfocus.typeform.com/to/go2ODhjG
- Within a week of submitting the form, you should receive an email from @numfocus.org with a call request. Please find a time that works for you.
- Prepare for an informal call with one of the DEI Handbook team members, during which you will discuss the project in detail. A maximum of a week after the call, you should receive an email confirmation about the DEI Handbook team's decision if you are accepted as a future co-author.
- For the next three months, you will collaborate on the online materials with the DEI Handbook team and other future co-authors.
- As a successful contributor to the DEI Handbook, you will be publicly recognized as the co-author.
If, for any reason, you will not be able to contribute successfully to the DEI Handbook, meaning your contribution will not be used in the publication, we reserve the right to acknowledge your contribution to the process but not list you as a co-author.
DEI Handbook Team
- Anita Ihuman, DISC Committee Member
- Kweyakie Blebo, DISC Committee Member
- Kamila Stepniowska, Project DEI Lead at NumFOCUS kamila@numfocus.org
[1] Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Open Source
[2] https://lpsonline.sas.upenn.edu/features/dei-workplace-why-its-important-company-culture
