2025:Program/Wikicurious: How to use cultural strategy to recruit and activate new editors
Session title: Wikicurious: How to use cultural strategy to recruit and activate new editors
- Session type: Lecture
- Track: Community Engagement
- Language: en
đ„ Session recording: https://w.wiki/FCes đ„
In 2024, Wikimedia New York City launched a new series called "Wikicurious" to engage and train beginners who were curious about how Wikimedia platforms work and how to edit. Over the course of the year, we used cultural strategy to reach new editors and trained over 1000 beginners at in person events across New York City. Due to its success, we've expanded Wikicurious events to towns and cities across the United States of America. In this session, you'll learn the basics of cultural strategy and how to use it to engage your own communities.
Description
In 2024, Wikimedia New York City launched a new series called "Wikicurious" to engage and train beginners who were curious about how Wikimedia platforms work and how to edit. Over the course of the year, we used cultural strategy to reach new editors and trained over 1000 beginners at in person events across New York City. Due to its success, we've expanded Wikicurious events to towns and cities across the United States of America and are exploring how this program adapts to both rural and urban environments. In this session, you'll learn the basics of cultural strategy and how to use it to engage your own communities. We will present on Wikicurious events in New York City as a case study for a new model of beginner edit-a-thons, discuss how partnerships can be the key to reaching new audiences, and share our plans for facilitating the recruitment and growth of editors in different communities across the United States of America over the next three years. At the end of the session, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the presentation and how a model like Wikicurious could be adopted in other regions around the world.
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 â Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
This session relates to the theme of inclusivity, impact, and sustainability because Wikicurious embodies bringing diverse audiences into the movement, using cultural strategy to help positively shape the perception of the Wikimedia community, supporting emerging editors on the ground with face to face connections that build community, and helping to train and support the next generation of Wikimedia editors. In addition, the Wikicurious series helps develop capacity building for experienced editors in communities within the United States of America where there isn't a geographical affiliate or user group to support them with resources and skills building.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Resources
Speakers
- Pacita Rudder
- Pacita Rudder is the first Executive Director for Wikimedia New York City, a regional affiliate of the Wikimedia movement. Her previous work included designing and executing strategic campaigns, rooted in narrative, to educate and mobilize communities to engage in public policy. Prior to that, her work centered on leveraging her cultural strategy experience to activate a network of high influence artists, entertainment industry executives, and movement leaders to use their power and platforms for good. Since 2024 she has been leading on national efforts to bring Wikicurious programming to communities throughout the United States of America.