Streamlining Django Community Engagement with a New GitHub Repository

The Django Online Community Working Group (OCWG) has launched a new GitHub repository aimed at centralizing the management and tracking of ideas, suggestions, and improvements across Django's diverse online community platforms.

Inspired by the successful implementation of the 'New Features' repository, the OCWG has introduced its own dedicated repository. This new platform works collaboratively with the 'Online Community Working Group Ideas' GitHub project, establishing a streamlined mechanism to collect, monitor, and progress feedback, suggestions, and ideas from across the entire online community.

The primary objective is to enhance the alignment of Django's presence across its various online platforms by offering:

• Centralization: A platform-agnostic space to gather feedback, suggestions, and ideas from members across all of Django's online communities.
• Visibility: Given the diverse range of community platforms, some of which restrict access to content without an account, discussions can often occur in isolated 'silos'. This centralized repository ensures that all suggestions and ideas are publicly accessible, promoting transparency for every community member, irrespective of their preferred platform.
• Consistency: A valuable suggestion for one platform may also benefit others. By centralizing issue and idea submission, the OCWG can evaluate proposals across all platforms, fostering a more cohesive and unified Django online community experience.

How to Utilize the Online Community Working Group Repository

If you have an idea or suggestion for any of Django's online community platforms (e.g., the Forum, Discord, or others), the initial step is to create an issue within the new repository.

You will be prompted to summarize your idea and answer a few concise questions concerning the applicable platform(s) and the underlying rationale.

Once submitted, the suggestion will be visible on a public board. Community members can show quick support through emoji reactions or contribute more detailed feedback by adding comments to the issue.

The Online Community Working Group will diligently review, triage, and respond to all submissions, subsequently determining the feasibility and method of implementation across the community.

Integrating with Existing Online Communities

It is important to note that this initiative does not require you to cease using existing feedback mechanisms within your current community (e.g., the Discord #suggestions channel will remain active). However, the OCWG may request that certain suggestions or ideas initially flagged within a specific platform be formally submitted via this new GitHub repository. This helps increase visibility, allows for application across multiple communities, and facilitates more effective tracking of their resolution.

Conclusion

The Online Community Working Group was established with the overarching goal of enhancing the online experience for all members of Django's communities. This new GitHub repository represents a significant first step towards achieving that goal. We encourage everyone to visit the repository at django/online-community-working-group on GitHub to learn more and actively contribute to shaping Django's excellent online community presence.