Session 3: Meet Our Amazing Teams
- priyapahwa
- Oct. 23, 2024
Collaboration, learning, and a shared vision are at the heart of every thriving community. The Djangonaut Space embodies just that – a place where individuals unite to elevate their Django skills, learn from each other, and grow into future leaders in the Django ecosystem.
We're beyond excited to announce that the Djangonaut Space Session 3 officially took off on October 14, 2024, marking the start of an epic 8-week mentorship mission! Like astronauts venturing into the far reaches of space, our Djangonauts are setting out to explore new frontiers of Django development, contributing to Django core, improving Django CMS, and focusing on accessibility across the Django ecosystem! 💚
The program is a free, self-paced initiative where participants work in small teams in a semi-structured learning environment. Each team has been thoughtfully assembled, like a well-balanced crew aboard a spacecraft, with each member bringing unique skills to the mission.
Each team is made up of:
🚀 1 Navigator - The technical advisors and mentors schedule weekly catch-ups and help with code contributions throughout
🚀 1 Captain - The community managers collaborate with the Navigators and engage in periodic 1:1 sessions with Djangonauts to ensure a safe welcoming space.
🚀 3 or 4 Djangonauts - The mentees going through the current session
Officers (Captains and Navigators) have been carefully paired with Djangonauts based on their time zones, project interests, and a well-rounded mix of skills.
So, without further ado, let’s introduce our stellar teams who have launched into our amazing Django galaxies, in this session! 🪐
Crew 1: Team Venus 🤩
Mission Control: Django Core
Djangonauts: Anthony I Joseph, Soyoung Kang, Tainara
Navigator: Mariusz Felisiak 💜 LinkedIn | Fosstodon | GitHub | Personal Website
I'm a Django 💚 and Python 🐍 contributor, a member of the Django Security, Operations, and Triage & Review team. I'm also a Django 3.1, 4.0, and 4.2 release manager, and a former Django Fellow (2019-2024).
—Mariusz Felisiak
I’m certainly not the first to say it, and I won’t be the last—“I came for the framework, but I stayed for the community.” The Django community has been an amazing source of support and encouragement. I’m committed to giving back to others, investing as much, if not more, into the community as it has invested in me. Here’s a bit about me: at heart, I’m a problem-solver, but by trade, I’m a software developer and project manager based in Chicago, IL. My journey into tech kicked off with a coding bootcamp during the pandemic, but before that adventure, I spent many years in account management. Though I started my tech career as a developer, I’ve since shifted my focus toward project management, and I absolutely love it! I’ve earned my CAPM certification and I’m currently preparing for the PMP exam to continue leveling up my skills.
—Keanya Phelps
Crew 2: Team Saturn 🥳
Mission Control: Django Core
Djangonauts: Yash Raj, Daniel Rios, Maria Hynes
I'm Paolo Melchiorre (paulox) a remote worker living in Pescara 🐬 Computer Engineer graduated from the University of Bologna 🎓 Python developer, PSF fellow and Python Italia member 🐍 Django contributor, DSF member, and Django Girls+ organizer and coach 🦄 Founder of Python Pescara meetup and co-organizer of the PyCon Italia conference 🇮🇹 Conference #speaker, at PyCon, DjangoCon, EuroPython etc … 🗣️ GNU/Linux user and Fre eSoftware advocate 🥑 Pelican blogger 🐦
—Paolo Melchiorre
Captain: Miguel Johnson 💜 Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Fosstodon | GitHub | Medium Blog
From Columbus, OH, US. I have 4 amazing kids(11,9,5,3). I am a data and software engineer. In my free time I stay busy with art, design, and video games.
—Miguel Johnson
Crew 3: Team Neptune 🤩
Mission Control: Accessibility
Djangonauts: Abigail Afi Gbadago, Johanan Oppong Amoateng, Emme Bravo, Sarah Sanger
Navigator: Thibaud Colas 💜 Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Fosstodon | GitHub | Personal Website
At work I’m a dev based in Cambridge, UK, at an agency called Torchbox, primarily working on the Wagtail open source CMS. Outside work – I’m a dad with two kids, and a volunteer across a number of open source projects and communities. Primarily around the climate impact of technology, accessibility, and most things Django. For Django specifically – I’m on the accessibility team for the project, and on the board of the Django Software Foundation.
—Thibaud Colas
Captain: Anna Astori 💜 Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Medium Blog
Software Engineer with background in Computational Linguistics and Artificial Intelligence. PyLadies Boston Co-Organizer and WomenTechMakers Ambassador.
—Anna Astori
Crew 4: Team Mars 🥳
Mission Control: Django CMS
Djangonauts: Waithaka Waweru, Paulo Tintaya, Abdulwasiu Apalowo, Salim
Django CMS Fellow
—Fabian
Software developer, programs lead at WIMLDS Accra. Read a lot of web novels.
—Rahmat Akintola
The energy and collaboration from both our Djangonauts and Officers have been nothing short of inspiring, and we’re incredibly excited to see what this diverse group will achieve in the coming weeks. Here’s to more learning, collaboration, and impactful contributions in the weeks ahead!
Keep an eye on our progress as we continue this exciting journey—there are plenty of code and community contributions along the way!