SOTMUS 2015: Improving Diversity in OpenStreetMap

Presented at State of the Map US 2015 at the UN Headquarters in New York City.

Abstract:
Open source has a diversity problem, and OpenStreetMap is no exception. In this talk I will not focus on proving that there is a problem; instead, I will provide concrete action items that we as a community can implement to help debug this issue. From the smallest local level to the national scale and even (or perhaps especially) internationally from the OpenStreetMap Foundation there is much the OpenStreetMap community can do to ensure that our community reflects the world we’re mapping.

I will share examples from other open communities that have successfully promoted diversity initiatives and share ideas for how we can apply their lessons to the OpenStreetMap community. I will also talk about the work that is already happening in OpenStreetMap and pitch a few ideas for ways to extend them.

My goal is to show you that while improving diversity is a big challenge there are a lot of things that we can do to start moving in the right direction today.

Transcript

1. Improving Diversity in OSM Kathleen Danielson @KathleenLD State of the Map US 2015 June 7, 2015
5. Diversity? • Gender • Racial • Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity • Disability • Socioeconomic status
6. Suggested Reading: “Feminism is for Everybody” bell hooks
7. The Problem(s) with FOSS
8. Implicit Power Structures
9. Suggested Reading: “The Tyranny of Structurelessness” Jo Freeman http://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm
10. Privilege and Marginalized Groups
11. Suggested Reading: “Straight White Male: The Lowest Difficulty Setting There Is” John Scalzi http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/straight-white-male-the-lowest- difficulty-setting-there-is/
12. Unequal Distribution of Funds
13. OSM Isn't Immune
14. Suggested Reading: “The Threads of OSM Discussion: Are the Doors Really Open?” Alyssa Wright http://www.slideshare.net/apw217/changing-the-ratio http://vimeopro.com/openstreetmapus/state-of-the-map-us- 2013/video/68098504
15. What am I NOT discussing? • Proving there's a problem • The Pipeline • Geographic & Linguistic Diversity
16. Learning From Friends
17. Building New Communities
18. Communities of Identity • Building communication channels, access to networks • Spotting and combating problematic patterns
19. “Adjacent” Communities • Black Girls Code • Rails Girls • DjangoGirls • PyLadies • Trans*H4CK
20. Improving Existing Communities
21. Boston Python Workshop • Packaged workshop materials • Increase diversity of local UGs rather than creating new groups • PSF grants
22. Outreachy (Formerly “GNOME Outreach Program for Women”)
23. Providing Resources
24. The Ada Initiative • Codes of Conduct • Imposter Syndrome Trainings • Ally Skills Workshops • AdaCamps
25. Geek Feminism Wiki • Timeline of Incidents • Feminism 101 • Helps “baby feminists” • Outlines abuser patterns
26. Wikimedia Gender Gap Task Force • Surveys • Academic Scholarship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia: WikiProject_Countering_systemic_bias/ Gender_gap_task_force
27. What about OSM?
28. What are we already doing?
29. Current OSM Diversity Work • Codes of Conduct • Travel Grants • Diversity mailing list • Fundraising for The Ada Initiative
30. The Ada Initiative https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/KathleenLD/diary/23967
31. What Next?
32. WARNING: Beware Invisible Labor!
33. Make Our Spaces Healthier
34. Stop Tolerating Bad Behavior! • SOTM Codes of Conduct • Mailing list Codes of Conduct • Implementation support
35. Increase Access to Funding
36. Where is the Money? • Who makes a living off of this project? • Not just larger companies
37. Capture Our Experiences
38. We have a wiki-- let's use it!
39. OSM Diversity research
40. Best practices & resources (Wikimedia!)
41. Mailing List Greatest Hits
42. Track ongoing diversity projects
43. this problem is not Too Big
44. Tell your boards (or run for your board!)
45. Educate yourself
46. Learn to spot bad behavior and say something
47. Stop relying on invisible labor
48. Money Talks
49. Pay the Experts! (Ada Initiative, Outreachy)
50. Diversity Matters.
51. Thank You! @KathleenLD
52. Any Questions? (For comments, find me in the hall or on Twitter!) @KathleenLD