Open source is fueled by the continual influx of new contributors who offer fresh talent and diverse perspectives. Mentoring programs and activities, like the Google Summer of Code (GSoC), Outreachy, Upstream Institute, First Contact SIG, Long-term Mentoring and Speed Mentoring, are critical in inspiring this next generation of contributors, yet each also brings its own challenges. This interactive panel discussion will explore multiple mentor programs through which new contributors enter the OpenStack community, tracking contributions from participants along their paths and examining their retention once their program participation ends. Learn about several of the mentor initiatives across multiple OpenStack projects, and how they are working to attract and retain contributors. And explore the pros and cons of a small group “cohort” mentor model over 1x1 mentor interaction as we pinpoint what works most effectively for our OpenStack community.
1. From the Google Summer of Code (GSoC), Outreachy and the Upstream Institute to the First Contact SIG, Long-term Mentoring and Speed Mentoring, the audience will gain insights into keys to efficient mentoring activities.
2. This session will also reveal the latest data from the ongoing OpenStack gender diversity research, which audience members can use to guide their own mentor programs and activities. (Previous blog & research report attached below. This report is continually evolving to include additional information based on community input.)
