Universal Code of Conduct/Coordinating Committee/Election/2024/Candidates/Chinmayee Mishra
| Account | Chinmayee Mishra (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA) |
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| Candidate details |
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| Selected home wiki | Wikimedia Commons |
| Type of seat (regional; community-at-large; or both) (division of regional seats) | Regional- South Asia |
| Candidate Introduction | |
| Introductory statement / Application summary (maximum 200 words): Why are you running for the Universal Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee? What would you contribute? | I understand what ethics and values we should prioritize to sustain and support long term contributions from wikimedians across the world and especially my primary focus is South Asia. Being an advocate for inclusivity, transparency, and community well-being within the Wikimedia movement, I am running for the Universal Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee with a deep commitment to fostering a safe and respectful online environment for all the users. I strongly feel my experience in promoting diversity, mediating conflicts, and facilitating constructive dialogue among diverse stakeholders will be beneficial to the committee as well as my background in community building and active involvement in promoting digital literacy over the years, aligns well with the goals of the Universal Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee.
I am supporting the intent of creating a welcoming and inclusive space where diverse perspectives are valued, and users feel empowered to share their knowledge without fear of harassment or discrimination. With a proactive approach to addressing issues of conduct and promoting positive interactions, I aim to contribute meaningfully to the development and implementation of effective policies that uphold the values of the Wikimedia movement. |
| Please describe your Wikimedia experience (such as contributions to the Wikimedia projects, memberships in Wikimedia organizations or affiliates, experience working on conduct issues in your community, activities as a Wikimedia movement organizer, or participation in building Wikimedia policies). | 1. My major contributions are on Odia Wikisource, Wikimedia commons and Wikipedia. Contributions can be seen here. .[1]
2. Leading the Wiki women camp 2023 with the COT and WMF staff. It was not only a great experience to host such an international conference in India successfully, but also evolved me as an individual in several skillful ways. Managing difficult conversations, facing and tackling crises, coordinating among team members over different time zones, many conference related processes and tools, implementing safety protocols, communication-documentation and social media management etc. [2] 3. Participated in my first ever wikimania in 2023 in person and believe that I made the best use of that platform and experience forward which kind of acted as catalyst to my preparation for Wiki Women Camp 2023 in a more professional way as per the wikimedia standard. Also participated in the programming and execution of WIki women summit 2023. [3] 4. Co-organised local Wikimania in August 2022 - Odia wikimedians user group, in Bhubaneswar, India. [4] 5. Worked as an ambassador for Movement Strategy Community Consultation program in South-Asia. Currently working for the final round of consultation as a volunteer. 6. Conducted a short session for my home community to give an update about the ratification of the “Universal Code of Conduct” and encouraged contributors to take part in several voting processes relevant to the movement initiatives. Below content was revised and discussed in the meeting. [5] 7. Worked as an election volunteer-EV for WM Community Board selection and spreaded the word with regional communities. [6] 8. Throughout the year I keep on informing the regional communities about the Movement initiatives and creative competitions. Last year a few highlights were the Wikimedia sound logo project, wiki loves monuments and to vote for favorite tool of the year. The community was informed with the timelines and encouraged to join on possible terms of contributions. 9. Worked closely with the “Program team” for “WikiConference India -2023”. Aim was to review the proposals and finalize themes aligning with the conference’s goal. The selected proposals were presented during the event. [7] Also acted as the Trust and Safety team member before and during the conference. 10. Being a part of the Odia WIkimedians User group, I have always tried my level best to make an inclusive space for my community members to open up with their concerns. I prioritise everyone’s safety, wellness and comfort to make sure that they realize their voices are being heard and issues are addressed. Also proper recognition of their work and visibility in the global movement. |
| Professional Experience, Skills and Education | |
| Please briefly describe 3 situations that show how you worked on, or advised others on, a complex conduct or policy issue. How did you work with others to address the situations? | 1. Facilitating a community workshop on doxing & online harassment: I organized a workshop for Wikimedia contributors in the region to address issues of online harassment and develop strategies to promote respectful communication. I collaborated with experienced moderators and community members to create a safe space for open dialogue and shared experiences.
2. Mediating a conflict between users: I intervened in a dispute between two editors regarding content disagreements on a Wikimedia project as well as in terms of difference of opinions. I actively listened to both parties, identified key concerns, and facilitated a constructive dialogue to find common ground. By encouraging empathy, understanding, and good faith, I supported the users in resolving their differences amicably and reaching a mutually acceptable solution. |
| Leadership Experience | |
| Can you describe a policy, on wiki or off, that you helped to create or change? What did you learn from this experience? | I collaborated with a team to update the general social media policy for a non-profit organization in the region. Through extensive research, stakeholder consultations, and drafting sessions, we revised the policy to reflect current trends, address emerging risks with the use of AI tools, and promote responsible online engagement. This experience taught me the importance of clear communication, attention to detail, quick decision making, consensus-building, and adapting policies to meet evolving needs while balancing various interests and perspectives. |
| How have you been able to empower people to make their voices heard? | Yes, I did it thorough required modes of communication(1:1 or in small group/safe space) making sure that they are confident enough and are aware of the ideal steps that can be helpful, with associated support. I will always continue doing that. |
| Sometimes in professional situations, there are personality conflicts. Explain how you remain productive even with personality conflicts. | 1. I make myself emotionally stronger not to take comments or remarks personally, and follow the best advice I have ever received in this context, “When you stay calm in a negative situation , you learn, you grow and you win." and this has helped me a lot to remain productive while working extremely under pressure.
2. I believe that everything in this world & nature takes its own course, so do we humans and our situations. I try my best not to lose patience, try to do the root cause analysis only if the personality conflict is leading to any professional dispute and prefer to communicate transparently to find a mutual solution to achieve the common goal. |
| Strategic Thinking | |
| In your opinion, how can the U4C be a positive influence in the Wikimedia movement? | It has the potential to be a positive influence in the Wikimedia movement by promoting a culture of respect, inclusivity, and accountability across its diverse global community. It can help foster a safer and more welcoming environment for contributors from different backgrounds, thereby encouraging greater participation and collaboration. By setting clear expectations for behavior and providing mechanisms for addressing disputes and harassment, the U4C can help uphold the values of Wikimedia projects and ensure that they remain spaces for open knowledge sharing and constructive dialogue. The implementation of the U4C can strengthen trust, enhance community cohesion, and support the long-term sustainability of the Wikimedia movement. |
| How would you help the Universal Code of Conduct develop and improve over time? | I would help the Universal Code of Conduct develop and improve over time by actively listening to feedback from community members, engaging in constructive dialogue to address concerns and incorporate diverse perspectives, and conducting regular reviews and assessments to identify areas for enhancement or refinement. More scope for transparency in decision-making processes, and a commitment to continual learning and adaptation will be key in ensuring that the U4C remains relevant, effective, and aligned with the evolving needs and values of the Wikimedia movement. |