In this podcast episode, Michelle Frechette and Anne McCarthy discuss the development of a mentorship program and an empowerment grant aimed at supporting the LGBTQ+ community in the WordPress ecosystem. They highlight the need for a safe and inclusive environment, address financial barriers, and consider privacy for those not ready to come out. The episode covers the importance of genuine community support, the mentorship program's timeline, and expectations for engagement. They urge underrepresented groups to apply, offer information on the LGBTQ press website, and invite feedback to improve the initiative. The conversation underscores the value of lived experiences and the commitment to financially empower individuals within the WordPress community.

Top Takeaways:

• Queeromattic Mentorship Program: Anne McCarthy discusses the launch of the Queeromattic Mentorship Program, aimed at supporting individuals in the queer community within the WordPress ecosystem.
• Financial Support for Queer Individuals: The program involves financial support for selected mentees, allowing them to focus on contributing to WordPress without financial constraints.
• Collaboration with Mentorship Programs: The mentorship program collaborates with existing mentorship initiatives, leveraging their expertise and guidance in the selection and support of mentees.
• Application Deadline: Interested individuals are encouraged to apply for the mentorship program, with a deadline set for February 7th, offering a six-week duration from February 19th to March 29th.
• Feedback and Collaboration: Anne invites feedback, collaboration, and ideas from the community to ensure the program evolves to address the needs and challenges faced by queer individuals in the WordPress space.

Mentioned In The Show:

• LGBTQ Press
• Automattician Resource Groups
• Make WordPress Community
• Black Press
• Automattic
• Queeromattic
• Underrepresented in Tech
• Out In Tech
• Lesbians Who Tech

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🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Anne McCarthy (Product Wrangler, Automattic)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

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