Molly de Blanc

My favorite things include biking, books, my cat (bash, who I am happy to show you pictures of), climbing, coffee, cooking for people, free software, and playing the bassoon. I think the bassoon part is probably the most interesting thing about me.

When I was a smaller version of myself (~15), I met some people who did things within open source. As was (and continues to be) my wont, I began stacking chairs at events, which led to organizing them.

Not long after I moved to Boston in 2010, I was thoroughly entrenched in the local free software community. Between attending DebConf 10 in New York, interning at the Free Software Foundation, and working in open education and internet research, my life was nearly completely consumed by free software before my first year as a Somervillen was finished.

I grew up in a political and technological family. My parents valued music and reading and art. Expanding these things into spaces of copyright, ethics in technology, and user freedom was a fairly natural progression, fueled by meeting the right people at the right times.

My interest in Debian specifically came (again) from a social group, and expanded based on an interest in community structures, project governance, and those same views on ethical technology. I think the Debian community is a pretty special place. I think it's done great, but can still do better and that's something I'm interested in helping to make happen.

I was involved with the instigation and first two years of bringing diversity scholarships to DebConf--with the goal of increasing representation of those not traditionally recognized in free software. More recently, I helped create, carry out, and analyze the first Debian Community Survey. We are currently in the process of planning the second (!!!).

I also work at the FSF, and serve on the Open Source Initiative board of directions. I think these points are relevant due to the role Debian has in these organizations--and the role these organizations have in Debian.

I've spent the past couple of years researching the efficacy of codes of conduct, and the role such community policies have had in creating diverse, inclusive communities. I'd really like to bring this to Debian and help with initiatives like the anti-harassment team.

At DC17, Valerie Young and I pulled together a last minute Debian Women's lunch, where we had a productive conversation and a lot of enthusiasm. I think this can be used to do some exciting things, with an initial plan to organize trainings and resources for the tools used around Debian (like IRC) and the eventual organizing of a Debian Women mini-debconf.

I think formal project affiliation is useful for this kind of work. It adds legitimacy to your work and participation. It also creates a greater sense of community, ownership of work, and participation.