Blacks and Hispanics Need to be Represented
at Flagship WordCamp Conferences
William Jackson, MAT
CEO MetaverseWP & My Quest To Teach, World
Metaverse Council Metaverse Education Program
Director and Technology Education Program
Director for One Africa Forum
What is the value of attending the Flagship
WordPress Conferences of WordCamp US 2024?
This is a question that Blacks and Hispanics have
to attend to answer for themselves. Since 2010
I have participated in multiple WordCamp Conferences
and Flagship Conferences from 2019.
The values can be placed by being in the spaces of
multi-million-dollar tech companies that are thriving.
Taking advantage of speaking to people that have
international influences and connections. Learning
the language of business, entrepreneurialism, and
collaboration and practicing “the pitch” to obtain
funding and partnerships.
Our lanyards for WCUS 2024
The educational value is phenomenal, you will not
find any school, that can match the learning
potential that is happening at WordCamp US unless
you attend a WordCamp Conference unless there
is a teacher like myself teaching the blending of
Web Development, Social Media, AI, VR, Metaverse
and community engagement.
I have been blessed since 2017 to be able to volunteer,
speak, organize, teach, promote, advocate, build
community and witness the growth of ecosystems
of digital expression and representation.
My wife Aida Correa-Jackson, Afro-Latina
(LoveBuilt Life) and I have taken elementary students,
higher education students, adults, teens, mature
and seasoned seniors to tech conferences to
introduce them to the potential scaling, adaptions,
growth, expansion and development that will not
be found in classrooms.
In my educational journey of 33 years, 20 of those
years have been amplified for me as a teacher and
business owner
(MetaverseWP 2022 & My Quest To Teach 2017).
Not just teaching about the developments of tech,
but how it can amplify, inspire, encourage and magnify
the influences of Black and Hispanic voices.
William and Aida Jackson, teaching in Managua Nicaragua 2024
This National Hispanic Heritage Month 2024
should be a great start of gather and participate
in the availability of affordable events that have
been around for 20 years starting in
2003 History of WordPress: Concise Overview.
WordCamp US 2024 https://us.wordcamp.org/2024/
Representation at events like WordCamp US are crucial for
marginalized communities, foreign nations especially for
Blacks and Hispanics. As the Flagship WordPress conference,
WordCamp US is a prime space for individuals to connect,
learn, and grow in the tech industry. Offering a platform
where diverse voices can share knowledge and ideas. Given
the growing role of technologies such as AI, VR, IoT, and
the Metaverse.
Representation of Blacks and Hispanics in such spaces is
essential to ensure their perspectives, innovations,
ideas, experiences, and cultural contributions are not only
recognized but actively shape the future of technology.
American, Costa Rican, Puerto Rican, and Spain WordCamp US 2024
Youth, teens and young adults of diverse heritages and
cultures need to see the motivation and inspiration that
should be at events like WCUS (United States), WCEU (Europe),
WCCA (Central America), WC Asia, WCEH (Canada) and WC Africa.
William and Aida teaching in Nigeria
The foundations of AI, VR, IOT
Representation in tech conferences like WordCamp US
goes beyond having a seat at the table. It’s about visibility,
inclusion, and showing that the tech world is open to
everyone. When Blacks and Hispanics are present and active
participants in spaces like WordCamp, it challenges the
narrative around who belongs in tech. Diversity does belong,
but opportunities need to be available which WordCamp
Conferences globally still struggle with.
“Representation is about ensuring that diverse communities
see themselves reflected in the tech they use and create,”
says William Jackson, a blogger and writer for MetaverseWP.
“When Black and Hispanic developers, designers, and creators
are present at WordCamp US, they’re not just participating
they’re inspiring the next generation of tech professionals
from their communities.” The responsibility is to “bring
others with you” like youth and teens. William and his wife
Aida have been accompanied by elementary, middle, high school
and higher education students. They put their money, time,
experiences and purpose where their mouth and money are.
University students taught by Aida and William
in Costa Rica 2023. WordCamp San Jose
Visibility is crucial because it can encourage more young
people from underrepresented groups to pursue careers in
web development, AI, VR, and the Metaverse. Seeing someone
who looks like them, shares their experiences, and succeeds
in tech can be the spark that ignites their own journey
into the field. By increasing representation at such events,
we open doors for more Blacks and Hispanics to access the
tools, networks, and resources necessary for success.
The collaboration that happens at WordCamp fosters the
sharing of best practices, tools, and ideas, helping to
close the gap between those who have historically had
access to tech knowledge and those who have not.
