July was a heavy month filled with tough decisions and conversations. For a while now, Outreachy has been experiencing funding issues, and this month we had to initiate difficult discussions with our mentoring communities about what the future looks like for the program.
We received a lot of input from mentoring communities, mentors, coordinators, and alums of the program. We also held community listening sessions to create space for these conversations. In the midst of all the weighty discussions, there was still comfort to be found in the voices of those who shared how life-changing the program has been for them. Hearing those stories—especially now—was incredibly heartwarming, even if the future feels uncertain.
We received helpful feedback about various program activities like intern/mentor chats, applicant review processes, and intern blogging. Some thoughtful suggestions came out of those discussions, and I’m excited about the possibilities they open up. There’s definitely potential for some of these ideas to be implemented in future cycles.
We also had several intern chats this month, including one about careers in open source. I’ve personally been through that phase of the internship where life after Outreachy feels uncertain, so it felt nice to be able to offer some insight to the current interns. One thing that has stayed consistent across all the intern chats I’ve helped with is how supportive our mentoring communities are when it comes to helping interns navigate their next steps. The level of care and encouragement mentors offer is something I’m always grateful to witness.
Reviews for feedback #2 were completed this month. We received a lot of encouraging reports about the progress interns are making, and I’m hopeful that feedback #3 will reflect even more growth.
As we head into the final stretch of the internship, I’m reminded once again of the strength of the Outreachy community. Even in the midst of challenges, the commitment to supporting interns and each other continues to shine through.
Tilda's Thoughts 