At WCEH, we believe Canada’s greatest strength is its mosaic of perspectives – and that spirit extends across the global WordPress community.
One advocate living out that value every day is Winstina Hughes, MCRP, founder of Support Inclusion in Tech (SiNC). Over virtual coffee, we chatted with Winstina about why diverse representation matters, how SiNC funds speaker travel to WordCamps, and what’s next for her rapidly growing initiative.
A Defining Moment
WCEH: Let’s start with a personal story. When did you realise more diverse voices were needed in tech, and what moved you to get involved?
Winstina: Black women are rare yet invaluable in tech. As outsiders, we deeply understand the intentionality needed for truly inclusive spaces where all diverse voices thrive. We bring rich perspectives, innovation, resilience, and strong community-building.
As a graduate student pursuing an advanced degree in transportation planning, I was a rarity in WordPress. I remain involved in the WordPress New York City community because Cami Kaos and Steve Bruner recognized this in me and encouraged me to contribute to the Make WordPress community team as a Meetup and WordCamp Organizer.
The Birth & Future of SiNC
WCEH: How did that experience evolve into SiNC, and where do you see it in five years?
Winstina: This background gave me the insight to support inclusion in technology in a way that increased black voices and sent underrepresented speakers from five continents and the Caribbean to WordCamps through partnerships. In five years,
- Increase the number of diverse speakers at WordPress events worldwide.
- Expand our mentor – mentee programme.
- Launch contributor cohorts across all regions – Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America.
The Dollars and Cents of Inclusion
WCEH: Funding travel isn’t cheap. How do you keep the lights on, and how can the community help?
Winstina: My consulting company covers SiNC’s operating essentials and my partners provide in-kind donations like marketing, design, web hosting, and plugins for our website. Several partners have covered diverse talent’s travel expenses, enabling them to speak at WordCamps.
It’s super kind of you to express an interest in helping. Since we launched three years ago, I’m frequently asked how we sustain our work. Donating to SINC’s Open Collective Tiers directly helps our mission to foster inclusion in the WordPress community. This month, I created the “Maintainer” tier, where a $16.38/month contribution covers 100% of SiNC’s operational essentials. The number of monthly donors is capped.
How the Grant Process Works
WCEH: Walk us through a typical grant – from application to reimbursement.
Winstina: A diverse speaker has to receive their WordCamp acceptance email to apply for support. That’s it. The application for support is on our website. After applying they are paired with a partner. They then submit their travel expenses for reimbursement.
From 2022-2023, we paired speakers directly with partners, each with their own budget. Yoast currently remains an active partner accepting applications. In 2024, I began fundraising on Open Collective for speaker support.
Right now, 6 Open Collective grants are available on a first-come basis.
The Ripple Effect of Representation
WCEH: How would tech – and WordCamps – change if we fully lived out SiNC’s vision?
Winstina: A commitment to all backgrounds, perspectives, and skill sets directly translates to superior tech products, services, and an undeniably better WordCamp.
A Word to the Hesitant
WCEH: What would you say to someone who’s hesitant to contribute or get involved?
Winstina: Trust me. You offer something no one else has.
How You Can Support Increased Representation
Donate: Join the Maintainer tier (or any tier) on SiNC’s Open Collective.
Partner: Offer in‑kind services – design, hosting, plugin licences, marketing.
Mentor: Volunteer time to guide emerging speakers and contributors.
Share: Spread the word about SiNC grants to under‑represented voices in your networks
Conclusion
From Vancouver to St. John’s – and across the globe – WordPress thrives when every voice is heard. Winstina Hughes reminds us that inclusivity isn’t just the Canadian way; it’s the future of tech. If you’ve ever wondered whether your contribution matters, consider this your invitation to jump in, eh?
Interested in virtual coffee with Winstina? Drop her a line – she’s brewing up change, one conversation at a time.
Winstina Hughes is an experienced transportation planner and passionate community builder, educated at Rutgers University. She’s adept at creating inclusive and equitable communities, leveraging her expertise in transportation and technology for positive impact. As an open-source leader passionate about inclusion, she founded Support Inclusion in Tech (SiNC) with partners to fund travel for diverse WordPress speakers, fostering a more equitable open-source community. In 2024, she was a Yoast Care fund recipient for SiNC’s impact and her work organizing WordCamps.
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