FOSS Backstage 2025

Commit to Inclusion: Building Better Open Source Culture
2025-03-11 , Wintergarten

Division and discord seem to be spreading at an unprecedented rate. What can we do to ensure that the open source community remains focused on championing FOSS while also promoting and protecting the diverse voices and perspectives that are necessary for collaboration, retention, and resilience in open source?


What does someone with an MSc in Counter-Terrorism and hate crime know about open source communities? Surprisingly, quite a bit! While working at AWS on their Open Source Software team, I often found parallels between the open source community's goals and the work I did with marginalized communities. Both are focused on building and protecting spaces where people feel safe, secure, and like they belong. By applying the same principles of inclusion and protection, we can make open source communities more welcoming and resilient.

A semi-professional 40-something woman who does all of the things, to varying degrees of success. A fan of community, academia, and bending things into workable shapes.