It’s not easy to spot women in open technology and culture. The domain is male-dominated and most women find it hard to contribute additional time amidst work or household chores. AdaCamp ensured that it got women from all over the world together for a two-day unconference and gave them a platform to talk about open technology and culture.
AdaCamp was an initiative started by Mary Gardiner and Valerie Aurora and ran from 2011 -2015. With a unique format and focus on supporting women, it traveled to San Francisco, Washington, Berlin, Portland and Bangalore. In the format of the meet, the attendees led the session and each of them brought out their expertise to talk with the audience. What followed was learning and new experiences.
In 2015, the organizers announced the end of the unconference and brought out a toolkit – a set of resources that would help plan and organize an event like this.
While AdaCamp is not around, the organizers left an idea for all of us. They showed us the path and women who attended sure are the ambassadors to take this forward. There is power in a team and that’s why coming together as one unit makes an impact.
If you work in open technology or culture or know women who do, spread the word and get them together. If that’s done, imagine how many more women will get encouraged and come forward.
I am blogging from A to Z during April and the theme I have chosen is set on women. I am also a minion on co-host Pam’s Unconventional Alliance along with Claire, Shalini and Rajlakshmi. Visit us, show us some love and don’t leave without sharing your thoughts.
happiness and food 
Great start to the A-to-Z Challenge, Parul!
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Thanks Cheryl! 😄
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Beautiful initiative. Kind of sad that it doesn’t excist anymore, but then the memory is there, and so it’s like it never ended, right? 🙂
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter – Jazz Age Jazz
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Yes – it’s like letting you take charge of it! Thank you Jazz.
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Congratulations on your first post ! your women series are very fascinating and empowering. Keep them coming !
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Thank you! 25 more to come. See you around.
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hey that’s a good initiative. Let’s hope that this post revives it.
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Thanks for sharing this info. I’ve always wondered why women are portrayed as technophobes
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That’s a great initiative, Parul. So glad you shared it here…will pass it on for sure! Great first post btw 🙂
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Thank you a much 😄
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Wow Parul.. first post and you nailed it.. I’m sure the entire A to Z series is going to be brilliant.. 🙂 And this post was very informative 🙂
Cheers
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Thank you Geetika! You are always so kind 🙂
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Don’t you think that this type of unconferences should still go on? My teeny brain thinks of ways it might work, but then I have absolutely no idea.
Sharing this post, so it gets the audience it needs.
All the best for the challenge, this first post was a good start 🙂
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Yes, these should go on. There is so much to learn. Having attended one I know their impact. Thanks for the share! 🙂
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Good to know about them via this blog post of yours. Congratulations.
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Thank you Stephen!
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Interesting to see two women taking the plunge in what s male dominated!!
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I may have told this a dozen times by now. But again, you posts are inspiring. And you started the Challenge with a bang. Thanks for this info.
Visit to read Army Wife Tales at Tale of Two Tomatoes
Also drop in to check 26 Chicken Recipes at Something’s Cooking
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Trust you to take up a strong subject and handle it so well. There definitely is a great power in a team. And I can only imagine what a community of strong women with distinct voice and a strong intent can do for creating a better space for us — online and offline.
Will read up more about open technology and the idea of unconference .. let me suggest we bloggers organize something like that too 🙂
Cant wait for tomorrow’s post!
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I can sense the society is no more male dominated one .
Strong topic :).
The way you wrote about it is really good .
Looking ahead for knowing about such more orgs .
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Here’s hoping that the initiative these lovely ladies started gains more support, acceptance and makes a difference in lives of women around the world!
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A powerful theme that you have started off with a wonderful post! I was not aware of AdaCamp. Inspiring indeed.Looking forward to your posts through April Parul. Cheers for the awesome work minioning!
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These kinds of camps and support groups are definitely needed…I hope it inspires more such groups to spurt.
Shubhangi @ The Little Princess
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Lovely to see this support for them…and I totally agree with your last line. If only we could get more women to break the stereotype and become all that they can be. Imagine how far this country could go!
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That’s a great initiative. Should have more of these.
All the best for April! 🙂 Great start.
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I have never heard of them before. Thanks to you now I am googling more info about them 🙂 Great start Parul.
A Whimsical Medley
Twinkle Eyed Traveller
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Very Nice Post…
Welcome in the letter “A”… thank you!
Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2016]
Stop over and find a free “SIX STRINGS: BLOGGING AtoZ CHALLENGE” Here: http://www.jmhdigital.com/
HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
You know you want to know if me or Hollywood… is Nuts?
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Such groups are a boon. Too bad this one couldn’t continue. I agree. Women need to be more empowered, and that feeling of empowerment should come from within. They should consciously make this choice, that will not live under stereotypes any more.
I faced a lot of stereotyping when I started my store. I would love to do a guest post here on this after the a to z, if it’s okay with you. Do mail me if it is.
– Chicky @ http://www.mysteriouskaddu.com
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A conference by women for women. A fantastic idea.
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That was awesome what they did. Appreciate their efforts and support it whole-heartedly!
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Totally needs to be more women in tech. Great post!!
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Great start to A-Z challenge. @CazsBooks http://cazgreenham.blogspot.com Welcome Aboard Greenham’s Yacht #AtoZ
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What they are doing is so awesome! I’ll try to spread the word for sure 🙂
I absolutely loved your theme! Looking forward to more posts about some brilliant women.
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Never heard about this before, looks like a great initiative ..thanks for sharing !!
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Never heard of this one before but we surely need more of these in today’s world too!
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Right On! It is great to hear that such an organization did exist and I am sure even though it is not running now, it left it footprints on the women who are in technological fields.
Thank you and all the best for the Challenge.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
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Oh great post. Yes, I work on Open technology: PHP. Would love to be part of such Unconferences. Hope to read more from you. All the best !
My entry for A to Z Challenge 2016: Letter A for Anchor
http://nav-justanyrandomtopic.blogspot.in/2016/04/atoz-challenge-2016-letter-for-anchor.html
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Firstly, I love your theme. I will drop by for every post to learn more stories about women.Nice read Parul:)
Do drop by at:
http://livetolovelifecrazy.blogspot.com/2016/04/b-brave-is-beautiful-z-challenge-2016.html
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Can I confess that I don’t quite understand the details of what their initiative was about, but I’m certain you know and so will others who might take this idea and run with it in their own chosen field.
More power to women pioneers!
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OpenSource is all that code that’s available for everyone freely. Coders can go change it and add to it. One simple example of Open Source is Wikipedia. As you may guess, women dont have much representation. One of the many things AdaCamp did was to bring women in open source and technology together and talk about them. Learn from each other and be inspired to take things in to your own hands 🙂
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