{"id":3678,"date":"2020-03-23T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.codemotion.com\/magazine\/?p=3678"},"modified":"2023-05-30T15:46:16","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T13:46:16","slug":"pyroma-django-girls-deluca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.codemotion.com\/magazine\/community-management\/pyroma-django-girls-deluca\/","title":{"rendered":"PyRoma and Django Girls communities: interview with Fiorella de Luca"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTable Of Contents\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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  1. PyRoma and Diango Girls communities<\/a>
  2. Being a Tech Community Manager<\/a>
  3. Diversity in Tech Communities<\/a>
  4. Why and how to become a Community Manager<\/a>
  5. PyRoma: the success of a tech community<\/a><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n

    Fiorella de Luca is community<\/span> leader<\/strong> of the PyRoma<\/strong> community<\/span>. She began as a participant and later coach and organizer for the Italian Django<\/span> Girls community<\/span><\/strong>. She also took part in the Google Summer of Code<\/span> 2017 with the OpenWISP community<\/span>, and was a Mentor of Google Code-in<\/span> 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"Fiorella
    Fiorella de Luca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    The event is organized<\/span> by Python<\/span> Italia, a non-profit<\/span> organization<\/span> whose purpose is the spread of Python<\/span> throughout the Italian territory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before you keep on reading, let us suggest you read our full guide on how to be a better developer community manager<\/a>, and go through our list of the best tools for planning a virtual conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    PyRoma and Diango Girls communities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Hi Fiorella! Please tell us about your tech community<\/span>, its members and objectives. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    PyRoma is a technological community<\/span> that aims to spread the Python<\/span> programming language<\/span> on the Italian territory. The community<\/span> is supported by the no-profit association Python<\/span> Italia that every year organises<\/span> PyCon Italia<\/a>, the largest Italian conference on Python<\/span> which today has more than 700 participants.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Django Girls<\/a> is a community<\/span> founded in Berlin in 2014 by women developers<\/span> with the support of the entire Django<\/span> community<\/span>. In Italy<\/span>, Django<\/span> Girls is also supported by the non-profit<\/span> association FuzzyBrains<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We are a community<\/span> of developers<\/span> who are trying to introduce more diversity into the world of programming. We believe that more diversity within technological workplaces generates positive benefits, more interchange of ideas and a more stimulating environment in which to grow. We organize free workshops<\/span> to teach women how to build a site with Django<\/span> and Python<\/span> starting from the basics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Being a Tech Community Manager<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    What is it like being a tech community<\/span> manager in your country? What is the tech scene in your country?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I must say that I did not become PyRoma community<\/span> manager for work but more for passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It would be a beautiful profession that could help a lot in the working\nand social world but unfortunately in Italy<\/span> the figure of community<\/span> manager is\nnot seen as a professional figure. Hopefully things will change!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Italy<\/span> is rich in technological communities<\/span> and important conferences. A\nlot of value is being given to technological development and the sharing of\nskills. There are vertical conferences that deal with a single language or\nframework and then there are conferences like Codemotion<\/span> that try to embrace\nmultiple languages and every novelty in the technology sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What were the biggest problems you’ve had to overcome and how have you done this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Every day is a challenge can always arise small problems just find the way to solve them quietly.  Perhaps the biggest problem was to try not to take some criticism and controversy of some people personally. I\u2019m still trying not to feel bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Diversity in Tech Communities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Do you encourage Diversity in your tech community<\/span>, and during your meetups? How important is it to have a code of conduct? Have you ever had to apply it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, absolutely. I care a lot about this and I think there is really a lot of need to talk about this topic. I always hope to have managed to organize inclusive events and never to offend anyone. In our events we always try to bring some history related to the importance of diversity both in the world of work and social.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s essential to have a code of conduct in your community<\/span> so that every\nperson who joins the group knows what are the basic rules to respect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fortunately, no, and I hope I never have to apply it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why and how to become a Community Manager<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Why did you decide to become a community<\/span> manager, and what is the most valuable thing you got in return? How do you balance your work time and personal life with being a community<\/span> manager?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It wasn’t really my choice to become a community<\/span> manager. I attended the Django Girls Florence workshop<\/span> in April 2016 as a participant and it was a great experience. Let’s just say that I have held various roles within the Django Girls community<\/span>. I started out as a participant and was later offered to be a coach. After the various beautiful workshops<\/span> I attended as a coach, I wanted to organize one in Rome<\/span>. Mine was more a path within the community<\/span> until becoming community<\/span> manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the same event, Django Girls Florence, I got in touch with the\nassociation Python Italia, since the workshop<\/span> was held within their conference.\nLater in 2017 I took over as community<\/span> manager of PyRoma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I’ve received a lot from these communities<\/span> and I’ve found some very good\nfriends<\/span> with whom I’ve had great relationships. I had the opportunity to get\ninvolved, to grow both professionally and personally, and to be a speaker at\nsome events. The best thing is the opportunity to compare yourself with\nother people, exchange ideas and collaborate together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How do I find a balance? Let’s just say I’m trying to find a\nbalance again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What skills and experience does a tech community<\/span> manager need? What is the secret to building relationships in a tech community<\/span>, and how do you maintain these relationships? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I believe that the fundamental thing of a community<\/span> are the people so\nthe most important skill for a community<\/span> manager is the ability to understand\nthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One must be able to accept constructive criticism and be open to new\nideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Compare with your community<\/span> every day and involve them in the organization<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Above all, I think it is very important to make people understand how\nvaluable it is to be able to learn from others and share their knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The secret to building relationships in a technology community<\/span> is to\nmake sure there is always food, beer and drinks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Please list some dos and don’ts for aspiring tech community<\/span> managers. What distinguishes a good tech community<\/span> from a bad one?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What to do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n