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<p>URL: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://sfconservancy.org/news/2020/dec/02/sharp-newest-employee/">https://sfconservancy.org/news/2020/dec/02/sharp-newest-employee/</a><br>
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<p>Today Software Freedom Conservancy announces its newest employee,
Sage Sharp. Sharp has been critical to the success of Outreachy,
Conservancy’s diversity initiative that provides paid, remote
internships to people who are subject to systemic bias or impacted
by underrepresentation in tech. Sharp joins as Senior Director of
Diversity & Inclusion, focusing on Outreachy.</p>
Sharp is a long-standing free software contributor, and known for
their work as a Linux kernel maintainer for seven years. They also
founded their own company, Otter Tech, with which they trained over
400 people on how to enforce a Code of Conduct. Sharp also advised
free software communities on their Code of Conduct enforcement
procedures. Also notably, Sharp created or consulted on custom Codes
of Conduct and enforcement procedures for the PyCon U.S. conference,
the Python Software Foundation, Elastic, GNOME Foundation, and The
Carpentries.<br>
<br>
Sharp has given numerous talks at free software conferences.
Recently, Sharp gave the 2019 keynote at SeaGL entitled “Countering
Impostor Syndrome Culture”. Sharp has also won awards for their free
software contributions, including the 2016 O’Reilly Open Source
Award and the 2015 Women in Open Source Award sponsored by Red Hat.
Sharp came out as non-binary and transgender in 2017. Sharp now uses
they/them pronouns.<br>
<br>
For the last seven years, Sage Sharp has worked with Outreachy.
Sharp was the coordinator for Outreachy Linux kernel mentors 2013 to
2015. In 2015, Sharp stepped up to become an Outreachy organizer,
working with Outreachy participants from many free software
communities. Sharp worked alongside Outreachy organizers and fellow
Outreachy Project Leadership Committee members Marina
Zhurakhinskaya, Karen Sandler, and Tony Sebro.<br>
<br>
“We are so fortunate that Sage has dedicated their talents to
growing and improving Outreachy, first as a Linux kernel coordinator
and mentor, then as a contractor, and now as a full-time employee,”
said Marina Zhurakhinskaya, who relaunched the internship program in
2010. “As we celebrate 10 years of Outreachy internships and over
700 interns whom we supported in becoming established free software
contributors, we are poised for continued success and growth thanks
to Sage’s leadership.”<br>
<br>
Sharp will be working full-time as an Outreachy internship
organizer, seeking grants and funding for Outreachy, promoting the
program, and ensuring that the Outreachy mentors, coordinators,
applicants, interns, and alums are supported.<br>
<br>
“Having Sage, with their impressive skills and experience, as a
full-time employee is momentous for both Conservancy and Outreachy,”
commented Karen Sandler, who has been part of Outreachy’s leadership
since 2011 and is Conservancy’s Executive Director. “This is the
first time Conservancy has hired a full-time employee to work on one
of its member projects. With Sage in this role, Outreachy will be a
more stable program and poised to grow.”<br>
<br>
“To me, the challenge of getting people to use and contribute to
free software is closely aligned with the struggle to make our free
software communities more inclusive,” said Sage Sharp. “Free
software communities need a diverse set of contributors to
understand people’s needs, especially the needs of marginalized
groups. That is how we ensure all people use free software. But in
order for free software to attract and retain a diverse set of
contributors, our communities need to change their culture to become
more inclusive. Outreachy provides the link between people from
marginalized groups and supportive free software communities.
Working closely with Conservancy is essential for the success of
Outreachy and the future of free software.”<br>
<br>
Sharp will also host weekly office hours for Conservancy member
projects. Conservancy is proud to support free software member
projects who seek advice on diversity, inclusion, and creating safe
and welcoming communities.<br>
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