WordPress Contributor Day is my favorite part of WordCamps, not because it’s perfect, but because it’s the day that feels most like real community, in practice. It’s a laid-back, people-first space where contributors gather informally, share what they know, learn from one another, and build WordPress together in the most human way possible.

Over the years, Contributor Day has shaped my leadership deeply. Here’s why.

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Why Contributor Day is special to me

Contributor Day feels like a bigger version of what I have always loved about community work: people showing up side-by-side to serve something bigger than themselves.

There is no hierarchy in the room, just purpose.

You can be a first-time attendee learning how to contribute, or a long-time contributor guiding others, and you are both equally welcome. That openness is rare, and it matters.

It is the one day at WordCamp where you see the WordPress community being WordPress — not just talking about it.

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What I learned as a participant

I came into WordPress years ago as a curious volunteer looking for a place to learn and belong. WordPress blogging gave me an identity in the Tech World with no tech educational background.

Contributor Day reinforced a lesson I carry everywhere now:

Contribution isn’t reserved for experts. It’s for anyone willing to help.

At every Contributor Day I have attended, I have watched people who arrived unsure, leave with confidence — because someone created space for them to try, explore, and contribute in small but meaningful ways.

I learned that communities grow when:

• Newcomers feel safe to ask questions
• Small contributions are celebrated
• People are guided, not judged

Those moments taught me that leadership is not about being the most visible person in the room; it’s about helping others find their place in the work.

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What hosting in Lagos taught me (systems, onboarding, belonging)

Hosting two Contributor Days for WordCamp Lagos was a turning point for me.

It moved me from participating to stewarding, and it taught me how much good community leadership depends on systems.

When you host, you realize quickly that the success of the day isn’t based on hype. It’s based on structure:

• Clear onboarding pathways for first timers
• Supportive table leads who make people feel seen
• Simple tasks people can actually finish
• An atmosphere where nobody feels “behind.”

In Lagos, I saw firsthand what happens when people feel welcomed and useful:

They contribute more confidently.
They stay longer.
They return.

That’s belonging in action, and belonging is the engine of any sustainable community.

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How this shaped my work today as a Community Strategist

Contributor Day didn’t just give me WordPress memories. It gave me a leadership framework.

It shaped the kind of Community Strategist I am today — one who believes sustainable communities are built on:

• People over ego
• Teamwork over heroism
• Belonging over perfection

Those values sit underneath everything I do, consulting, building programs, mentoring leaders, and supporting open-source ecosystems.

Contributor Day keeps me grounded in the truth that communities last when the work is shared, the systems are clear, and people feel they belong.

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If you are new, start small — contribution is for everyone

If you have ever looked at WordPress and thought, “I’m not sure I have enough to contribute,” I want you to hear this clearly:

You do.

Start small:

• Join a Contributor Day once
• Sit at a table that interests you
• Ask questions
• Try a tiny task
• Learn in public

WordPress is built by people choosing to show up, and your small contribution can be the one that welcomes someone else tomorrow.

Contributor Day reminds me why I still contribute:
to serve the mission, support the people, and keep WordPress a tool for inclusion and opportunity for all.

If you have read this far, thank you. I’m grateful you are here. Here’s the short video version of this story if you would rather watch/listen.