March has been a very busy month. With half the team travelling and the new round starting, there was a lot to do. To conclude the December 2024 cohort, we had a video chat with the interns. As to be expected, the energy was warm, and full of positive vibes. It’s always grounding to hear directly from the people we support—what they learned, what challenged them, and how the program has shifted their sense of what’s possible. The interns also had great things to say about their mentors. While not many mentors were able to join the call, the feedback made it clear that the appreciation was mutual.
I ran community onboarding sessions for new communities interested in mentoring. These sessions are designed to introduce them to the Outreachy program and internship structure and to help them understand what participating as a mentoring community involves. Each time I run one of these sessions, I’m reminded of how much context we carry that others don’t—how much work it takes to translate that clearly and patiently.
On our end, the month was packed with preparation for the contribution stage. I was more involved with the contribution stage process. I helped approve applicants, send out applicant approval emails, and got new mentors and coordinators set up on the Zulip server and mailing list. With a new round starting, there were plenty of moving parts to stay on top of. I continued supporting mentors and coordinators by answering questions, helping them navigate the program, clarify expectations, and troubleshoot the occasional hiccup.
We’ve continued to host weekly chats with mentors and coordinators, which provide a space to check in, share updates, and answer questions in real time. These calls have been especially helpful in making sure everyone is supported, particularly with the new mentors and communities joining the round.
With the contribution stage two weeks in, the pace has started to slow down a little. Now, the focus is on making sure the stage is progressing smoothly and offering support where needed. There’s still a lot ahead—final applications and intern vetting are just around the corner—but I’m feeling more grounded going into it.
Tilda's Thoughts 