Ijeoma Onwuka
Ijeoma Onwuka is an experienced Community Manager with over 3 years of building thriving communities for tech startups and non-profits. She currently leads programs at Scandium Systems Limited, creating engaging spaces for developers, technical writers, and tech enthusiasts.
Passionate about open source, she actively contributes to projects like OpenSSF, DevRel Foundation, CHAOSS, and UNICEF, focusing on the intersection of technology and community.
Session
Open source projects often measure success with stars, forks, and downloads. But these metrics don’t reflect the health of the community behind the code. This talk introduces the CHAOSS DEI Project Badging initiative as a way to rethink sustainability through the lens of inclusion, transparency, and contributor well-being. A simple badge earned through documenting efforts in access, leadership, communication, and newcomer experience can highlight a project’s commitment to a healthy and welcoming environment.
We’ll explore how DEI.md files guide self-reflection, help attract and retain contributors, and signal project resilience. By walking through the practical steps for applying for a CHAOSS badge, we’ll show how these small, community-focused signals can create big impacts in long-term sustainability and security.
This talk will challenge the way we view success in open source. Instead of just counting users or contributors, what if we also asked: Are people staying? Do they feel seen? Are new voices joining in? These are the questions that make a project resilient.
By shifting the focus from popularity to people, this session offers a fresh perspective on what makes open source sustainable. Not just from a technical standpoint, but from a human one.
Whether you’re a maintainer, contributor, or an organization supporting open source, you’ll leave with practical steps and a people-first lens on how to support vibrant, inclusive communities.