Open source is woven into nearly all modern technology, making it more important than ever to support new contributors – but entering the world of open source contribution can be a daunting experience. There are unspoken norms to understand, new tools and best practices to learn, and a whole lot of code to navigate.

In 2023, the UC Santa Cruz OSPO launched a summer mentorship program to support students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) contributing to open source. Over the course of eight weeks, each tight-knit cohort learns how to productively contribute to a project of their choosing, while working together both in-person and remotely. Program alumni have returned as peer mentors, spoken at conferences, been interviewed for podcasts, and accepted paid work in open source.

This session will showcase the perspective of both current participants and program alumni, offering insight into how we can all work together to make open source more welcoming and inclusive. Whether you're looking to engage diverse new contributors, or you're just curious about the novice experience, you'll be sure to learn something new!