I’ve attended quite a few virtual events this year and one thing has been true is that there have been Joe’s everywhere — six Joes (Joey, Joann, etc) on the volunteer team at WordCamp Los Angeles, Joe Casabona of the How Built It Podcast, and Joe Dolson leading WordPress Accessibility Day. In early December, I talked with Joe Howard of WPBuffs, who was there at my first WordCamp event as a speaker.
When I was accepted to speak at WordCamp Chicago, during the first presentation of the day, I saw Joe present, “Converting new website visitors into paying customers”, a business and marketing topic. Joe was the first African-American or Black man that I had seen on stage, as an organizer, or in other leadership roles at WordCamps I had attended (6 to that point). Joe inspired me with his message and being a business owner really excited me with possibilities.
Years later, speaking about the WordPress Community on his business podcast was an interesting fit but it allowed us to talk about things that we have in common, share paths to inclusion, and more.
You can listen to the WPMRR WordPress Podcast, Episode 124, or read about my first time on stage in Chicago and I’d love to hear your feedback.