Strategy/Wikimedia movement/2018-20/Transition/Discuss/Cluster E

5 December

Video summary of the discussion (same as the written points, recorded during the events).

Key actions (full notes on Etherpad):

Proactively reach out to underrepresented communities. We need to define what we mean by "underrepresented": is it about online or offline activities? One example that has been shared was about the differences between the Korean and Japanese communities. The term "underrepresented" has a broader application, though. It's not always connected to money, as some relatively rich countries are not well represented on Wikimedia - so we need to recognize other barriers as well.
Address legal/bureaucratic barriers to transferring funding abroad. Funding is important, but it should be provided along with resources, support and information. Underrepresented communities need more of a roadmap and more scaffolding to enable them to access funding. There are also a lot of interdependencies between this initiative and some others, including 32. Leadership development and 34. Facilitate a culture of documentation.
Create a toolkit for getting started in community building, to support grassroots activities. We need to recognize the intersectionality in underrepresentation. A language community may be underrepresented, but so is the blind community, LGBT+, etc. Implementation needs to acknowledge this.

Further points:

A clear definition of underrepresented is needed.
Money is important, but is not the only factor. Resources, support and information are also important. Underrepresented communities need more of a roadmap and more scaffolding to enable them to access funding.
Underrepresentation is intersectional: e.g. various languages, the LGBT+, and blind communities across the projects and movement.

Video summary of the discussion (same as the written points, recorded during the events).

Key actions (full notes on Etherpad):

Address legal barriers to transferring funds, by supporting communities where regulations do not allow certain international exchanges.
Support and capacity building for affiliates to be able to obtain and manage resources.
A global fundraising policy with the freedom to fundraise. Hubs can be a good way to coordinate fundraising for communities (and/or countries) in regional proximity, and to prevent multiple non-profits from competing with each other.
Assistance from well-resources affiliates, either to directly apply for funding or to pledge financial resources to underrepresented groups.
Compensation for individuals for non-editing work.

Video summary of the discussion (same as the written points, recorded during the events).

Key actions (full notes on Etherpad):

The Foundation needs to evaluate the underrepresented communities individually, in order to figure out what the communities need exactly (each community is unique and the needs might be difficult).
Identify other resources needed and which of them can be provided through hubs. For example: computers, internet, staff time.
Improve content for, and by, underrepresented communities. This step links to skill development as well.

Video summary of the discussion (same as the written points, recorded during the events).

Key actions (full notes on Etherpad):

Create a simple list of needs that communities can fill up to request support.
Policy: make sure all the rules to obtain funding are the same for everybody.
Provide Compensation for time, as well as money, to build Wikimedia communities.
Dedicate funds for new affiliates (similar to start-up funds).
Put together a fundraising agreement with a focus to empower underrepresented communities to locally fundraise.
Proactively reach out to underrepresented communities, making space for them on governance boards.

Sign below (in whatever capacity or affiliation you like) if you are interested in contributing to the implementation of this cluster: