I asked members in our #WCUS-2023 channel for their takeaways from WordCamp US 2023:
“WordCamps are like an old denim jacket. Even if you haven’t worn it in a while, it’s still comfortable. WCUS 2023 was my first in-person WordCamp since WCUS 2019. But I was able to resume conversations without a beat. It was good to see old friends, and create new friends (especially the ones that only seen on Zoom). Regardless of the little controversies and the spats that we do have, we’re still a strong vibrant community, and one that I’m proud to be a part of.” —Ray Mitchell
“I think people were ready to be together again. Particularly with a lot of smaller camps still on hiatus from the pandemic.” —Eric Karkovack
“It felt like accessibility was well represented throughout the conference and top of mind for many in attendance.” —Steve Jones
“It was my first in-person WordPress event ever. I’ve always been too introverted and unsure of myself to go before, but after meeting people virtually here and for the In The Loop Podcast I felt it was time to jump in. I’d particularly like to thank @Megan Rose for encouraging me to be more active in the WordPress community.
The event was VERY overwhelming. like walking into an airport full of people with the expectation that you’re actually supposed to try to interact with all of these strangers! But after experiencing it all, I realize that each time you go, that crowd will be less full of strangers. I understand why most people probably work their way up from meetups to local WordCamps to the big national ones.
I’m an agency developer, so it was really nice getting to meet other devs like me to talk shop. The sessions were great too. But my biggest takeaway was that I should have started attending these 10 years ago.” —Cory Hughart
“We have a wider range of skills in this community than I think we often consider. I took away how much we need to step outside our old connections and both make new ones but get to know again others. The recent years saw many changing their focus, approach and priorities either due to global change or just life – we have all in some way changed.
I also took away we need more space to connect diverse building. It’s great if two similar people create something but even better if different people don’t. It’s great if someone successful grows more success but how can they pass that on? I saw gaps still and spaces we need to be honest about from core through to products where we haven’t done our collective best yet to grow.” —Tammie Lister
- “The sponsor hall should be closer to the talks.
- BlackPress exists and is awesome.
- The WordPress community is still super-strong.” —Zack Katz
“Even though the most viewed tweet on the hashtag was a anti Pride event one the community had our back. That was great to see.” —Mike Demo
“Great networking and catching up with friends is always something I look forward to every year.” —Alex Stine
“It was such a great time to see everyone in person and stay upto-date with where WP market is going. Loved the playground.wordpress” —Baljinder Singh
- “It’s amazing how the people at WordCamp USA, who help power a $597 billion WordPress economy, are so down-to-earth. Hanging out with them feels both humbling and easygoing.
- The venue was the perfect place for sparking meaningful conversations, fostering teamwork, and finding new inspiration.
- The new Q&A setup is a win! It seems like a great way to get even the introvert folks to join in on the discussions.
- Anyone else wondering why Matt didn’t reveal the location for the next WordCamp USA?
- How cool would it be if the WordCamp organizers set up a system for more attendees to have quick one-on-one chats with Matt? Usually, it’s the folks who are already close to him who get most of the face time. What if there was a random draw for attendees who are interested to get a 15-minute sit-down with him at future events? Just a thought!” —Anil Gupta
“I think it was just so great to see everyone in real life for the first time in 3 years and it made it so much more special”. —Seth Goldstein
“The WordPress Community is both personally and professionally vested in everyone’s achievements no matter the size and there for you when you need a hand. WordPress is continuously growing and we are not stopping now.
THE GREATS
- Being able to network in person again
- Hugging old WP friends and making new ones
- Listening to what is to come
- Great food and great venue
THE GROWTH OPTIONS
- Sponsor hall should have been closer
- Wished National Harbor would have been closer to the Metro (subway)
- Always never enough time to say hello to everyone!” —Michele Butcher-Jones
“It was a great to have a full WCUS back again after several years. The venue’s size was a problem in some ways, but sure made for a memorable location. On the downside, I’m not an agency owner myself, but heard from a lot of people that their agencies were having a tough year.” —Steve Burge
“WordCamp U.S. stands out not just for its business insights, but also for the unique harmony of community and camaraderie it fosters. Rather than being a typical conference dominated by competition, WCUS is a confluence where professionals unite, exemplifying the true spirit of the WordPress community. It’s rare to find such settings in today’s competitive landscapes, a testament to WordPress’s positive ethos. My discussions around WP Cloud and Jetpack AI were invigorating, and the launch of the WordPress.com 100-year plan set our gaze on the 22nd century. At its heart, WCUS is as much about building lasting relationships as it is about advancing technological frontiers.” —Jesse Friedman
