Annual report (2022–2023)

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This report describes the activities of Wikimedia District of Columbia during Fiscal Year 2022–23, covering the period from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.

Programs

Institutional partnerships and public editing events

Anthropology and Community Connections University of Maryland Edit-a-thon

Wikimedia DC continues to hold collaborative editing events (edit-a-thons), which is our main institutional partnership program activity. Most of these are public events organized by our staff and include training for new editors and users. Our partner organizations typically request themes that align with their missions, upcoming events, or initiatives.

During the 2022–23 fiscal year, Wikimedia DC ran or supported 18 events in partnership with 13 institutional partners and two for-profit companies seeking a rewarding volunteer experience. Partners included a broad spectrum of cultural, academic, and government institutions, and non-governmental organizations. These events are listed below:

• DC Statehood and Home Rule Edit-a-thon - DC History Center
• Kensho Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
• University of Maryland Punk Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
• Odenton Library Black History Month Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
• Howard County Library Wiki-Edit-a-Thon: A Celebration of Black Authors and Artists
• Black History Month Wikipedia Edit-a-thon with Tennessee State University and University of South Florida
• National Nanotechnology Initiative Black History Month Edit-a-thon
• SAGE edit-a-thon
• Women's History Month Wikipedia Edit-a-thon with Tennessee State University and University of South Florida
• American University Qualitative Methods in International Relations editing workshop
• University of Maryland Women in Public Health Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
• University of Maryland Edit-a-thon: Anthropology and Community Connections
• Nobel Solution Session edit-a-thon
• Hispanic Heritage Month Edit-a-thon with Tennessee State University and University of South Florida
• Mastercard AAPI edit-a-thon
• Open Gov Hub edit-a-thon

Research projects

North American Hub Research Project

In April 2023, Wikimedia DC was awarded a grant from the Wikimedia Foundation for the purpose of researching the feasibility of creating a North American Hub. A potential hub would consist of Wikimedia's North American affiliates, chapters, and user groups.

Working team

• Ariel Cetrone, Institutional Partnerships Manager, Wikimedia DC
• Peter Meyer, President, Wikimedia DC
• Sara Snyder, Treasurer, Wikimedia DC
• Richard Knipel, President, Wikimedia NYC, chair of the advisory committee
• Advisory Committee

From May to December of 2023, the working team, under the lead of Wikimedia DC, surveyed and interviewed Wikimedians who are associated with existing or emerging chapters, affiliates or user groups, as well as those who may wish to create organized Wikimedia entities in the future. The goals of the research were to 1) determine the needs of North American Wikimedia entities and interested parties and 2) decide if a North American hub can help meet these needs and grow capacities through collaboration, services, and support.

Participants in the research phase identified and ranked three main service and support areas for a potential hub to prioritize.

Priority 1: Community and capacity building

• Programs, events, and initiatives
• Education
• Administration
• Professional development
• Communications

Priority 2: Movement

• Policy
• Advocacy
• Online safety

Priority 3: Other

• Product

Board

• Peter Meyer President
• John Sadowski Vice President
• Diane Shaw Secretary
• Sara Snyder Treasurer
• Robert Fernandez Board member
• Kevin Payravi Board member
• Gerald Shields, Board member

Conferences and workshops

• We supported WCNA, the conference and the user group, and the effort to combine with other North American user groups to conduct more activities under the North American (WNCA) umbrella.

Organizational development

• We conducted our regular board election in fall 2023. For the first time we did it with an online software platform instead of by postal mail, following the lead of WMNY. This went smoothly overall. It made the election quicker and easier for the voting members, and reduced costs.
• We budgeted for strategic planning, intended to take place in summer 2024, for the first time in many years
• We regained tax-deductible nonprofit status in early 2023, retroactively back in time completely covering the period when it was in question.
• We filed for two grants and completed two contract projects: the ARTT Guide and WikiCred's small grants program for 2023.