Hacktoberfest: fighting racism with open source code
If everyone does a little, the Call for Code for Racial Justice community can achieve a lot
Community is at the core of open source innovation. Through Call for Code for Racial Justice, we’ve seen just how powerful community can be when impassioned technologists have the opportunity to get involved and make meaningful contributions to technologies that are fostering equity in society and truly saving lives.
Through Hacktoberfest 2021 problem solvers from around the world stepped up to the plate to leverage their tech talents and make enhancements to the Call for Code for Racial Justice open source projects — and engagement was very strong. With 100 Pull Requests executed and over 30 new contributors to the available projects, the impact they made was clear. Technology is the change agent society needs to promote racial justice in all communities, but it’s the people behind the technology that serve as the fuel to make it a reality. The Call for Code team was able to catch up with a number of Hacktoberfest participants to learn more about what inspired them to get involved in these mission critical tech for good solutions:
John Fiewor — Lusada, Nigeria
Why did you get involved in Call for Code for Racial Justice?
I got involved in Call for Code for Racial Justice because I had heard about how open source can be an effective way of showing and growing your skills. Turns out it’s all that and more! I was able to build my skillset while contributing to solutions that positively impact real people in the real world.
What was the most fulfilling part about contributing to a Call for Code for Racial Justice solution?
The most fulfilling part of all this is the privilege of being part of the movement towards creating an equal world. It’s awesome that I can actively contribute to something that truly matters.
What advice would you give to others interested in getting involved in solving big societal challenges?
Doing a little thing could have a big effect. Regardless of your level of expertise and current technical skillset, anyone can do a little and all the little efforts combined really do help, and in the long run will hopefully eradicate the challenges we face in our societies today. Community is at the heart of progress.
Denny Biasiolli — Savigliano, Italy
Why did you get involved in Call for Code for Racial Justice?
I love contributing to open source projects. I have two main reasons for contributing: the first is that I love giving back to a larger community, and open source allows me to do that in a way that is meaningful.
My job is entirely based on open source software and I’m happy to help improve projects that can be useful for myself and others. The second reason is that I learn something new from every project: from the code style, the best practices, to receiving insightful feedback on my code and pull requests — open source is a great way to continuously sharpen my skillset.
What was the most fulfilling part about contributing to a Call for Code for Racial Justice solution?
Every review, merge or simply a “thank you” is always a great reward for me. I’m just happy to see that my changes are useful to others. These projects have immense potential to help many people who are either directly or indirectly experiencing racial injustice.
What advice would you give to others interested in getting involved in solving big societal challenges?
Start small, don’t be intimidated by the people who are contributing more than you, every step counts and every line of code you write is building your experience. Day after day you will be able to share your growing experience with the whole world.
Whether you are an expert on open source technologies, or simply want to contribute to a mission that matters, Call for Code for Racial Justice projects are looking for your help. Be a part of a community that is using tech to instill equality in all facets of society. Get involved today.
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