NextGen WordPress Events: A New Era of Innovation and Collaboration
WordPress, the popular content management system, is known for its vibrant and inclusive community. The Community team behind WordPress is now taking the WordCamp format to the next level by introducing NextGen WordPress events. These events aim to promote adoption, training, and networking for professionals, while leaving flagship events to focus more on connection and inspiration. With this change, the possibilities for creative concepts and innovative approaches to WordPress events are endless.
The NextGen WordPress events have already gained momentum with the successful completion of two pilot events. One of these events was a community-building workshop in Japan, while the other was WordCamp Bengaluru, a one-day event that showcased the local culture and included a walking tour of the city. These events set the stage for what’s to come in the NextGen WordPress event series.
To inspire organizers and provide them with a starting point, the Community team has compiled a list of more than three dozen concepts for NextGen events. These concepts cover a wide range of ideas, including college campus-based groups, sponsor networking days, show and tell nights, job fairs, events for agencies, WordPress retreats, and many more. The goal is to encourage organizers to think outside the box and come up with unique event ideas that cater to specific interests and needs within the WordPress community.
If you’re interested in hosting one of these new event types, the Community team invites you to fill out a form to share your ideas. The form captures information about your proposed event and allows you to select a category that best aligns with your vision. The categories include WP expertise level (beginners, intermediate, advanced), focused activity (training, recruiting, networking, contributing, conferencing, etc), job status (students, fresh graduates, job seekers, freelancers, business owners, etc), identity-based (women, castes, BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQI+, tribes, age, etc), and content topic focused (designers, block development, SEO, etc).
It’s important to note that the form is not just a survey but an interest form. The Community team wants to hear from organizers who are passionate about their ideas and willing to have a discussion about them. By collecting contact information, the team can reach out to those who show a genuine interest in hosting a NextGen WordPress event and provide them with the necessary support and guidance.
The introduction of NextGen WordPress events marks a new era of innovation and collaboration within the WordPress community. These events aim to celebrate the community by accelerating 21st-century skills, professional opportunities, and partnerships for WordPressers of today and tomorrow. By focusing on accessibility, training, and networking, NextGen events will play a crucial role in sparking innovation and driving adoption of WordPress.
The Community team’s vision for NextGen events goes beyond traditional WordCamps. While WordCamps will continue to be an integral part of the WordPress ecosystem, NextGen events will offer a fresh perspective and cater to specific interests and needs within the community. Whether you’re a beginner looking for training opportunities, an advanced user seeking networking opportunities, or a business owner looking to recruit talent, there will be a NextGen event tailored to your needs.
As the NextGen WordPress event series continues to evolve, organizers have the opportunity to shape the future of WordPress events. By bringing their unique ideas and perspectives to the table, organizers can create events that resonate with their local communities and contribute to the growth and development of WordPress as a whole.
In conclusion, the Community team’s initiative to introduce NextGen WordPress events is an exciting development for the WordPress community. These events will provide professionals with valuable training and networking opportunities while allowing flagship events to focus on inspiration and connection. With a wide range of concepts to inspire organizers and an invitation to share their ideas, the NextGen WordPress event series promises to be a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and growth within the WordPress community. So, if you have a vision for a NextGen event, don’t hesitate to fill out the form and be a part of this exciting new chapter in WordPress history.
