Wiki Women* Task Force/Nominations/Chinmayee Mishra

Chinmayee Mishra

Primary Wikimedia projects:

Wikimedia Commons, MetaWiki, Odia Wikisource, TranslatetWiki

Region:

South Asia

Language capabilities (language and level of proficiency):

First language /Native : Fluent with reading, writing, understanding - Odia
Second language : Fluent with reading, writing, understanding - English
Third language : Fluent with reading, writing, understanding - Hindi
Others : Able to understand - Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, Nepali
Beginner: Spanish

Regional experiences:

As an active member of the Odia Wikimedian Community (now ODW UG - a recognised small affiliate in India, South Asia) for 8 years now, I have learnt a lot from the fellow Wikimedians and have contributed to the Wikimedia movement, both locally and globally.
To keep the summary relevant and aligned to the recent happenings in the movement, here are some highlights from my last 2 years of association & contributions. In my leadership experiences, I have worked as the grantee and COT member for Wiki Women Camp 2023. This camp revived the iterations after seven years, uniting women and allies from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds to address gender gaps in Wikimedia projects. I have also worked with the Wiki Women Summit 2024 COT, supporting design of the program and moderating the assigned sessions. WWS 2024 brought women together at Wikimania Katowice to share learnings, engage meaningfully, and celebrate inclusivity. As a regional representative for the home community and movement advocacy, I have participated in the World Odia Language Conference 2024, Wikimedia India Summit 2024 and Wikimedia Summit 2024. In these platforms, I have not only represented the Odia Wikimedians User Group but also contributed to strategic discussions on regional language inclusion, community sustainability, and governance. In my individual interest, I have applied & participated in skill building events like technical training, hackathon, technology summits etc. extending supports too like scholarship evaluation, session moderation, note taking, co-hosting, meta page updating, media outreach and most importantly the translation of resources to local languages. This has helped bridging language barriers by translating essential movement resources, promoting inclusivity and understanding within the Wikimedia community. I have also participated in thematic projects and outreaches like Wikidata-WikiProject India and Wiki Africa Hours.
In my professional role, I am associated with the Let’s Connect peer learning program as a Working Group member from South Asia for the last 1.9 years.

Personal Statement:
As an individual navigating the intersection of technology, community engagement, and advocacy, over the years I have discovered the transformative power of collective learning and collaboration. Every opportunity to represent my community, the ethos of the movement has been an invitation to grow, not just as a contributor but as a bridge-builder between cultures, languages, and ideas. Empathy, I’ve learned, is not just an act of kindness but a cornerstone of sustainable community growth. Technology, too, has been a constant companion in this journey. Above all, my Wikimedia journey is an attestation to the power of shared knowledge and collective action. I feel together, we are not just preserving knowledge—we are reshaping the world’s understanding of it. This movement has taught me that change begins with those who dare to imagine it. I remain committed to imagining, building, and advocating for a more inclusive, equitable, and empowered Wikimedia movement for all.
Considerations for Personal Statement

Why do you want to join the Wiki Women* Task Force?
- [Explain your motivation and reasons for wanting to join the task force]

“Let's be contributors, not just consumers of free knowledge”, this has always been my motivation to thrive in the Wikimedia ecosystem and has kept my contributions alive both on wiki and off wiki mediums. Adding another feather to it, I want to join the Wiki Women* Task Force to continue addressing gender gaps in the Wikimedia movement by fostering inclusivity and empowering women* contributors. Having experience from the Wiki Women Camp 2023 and working closely with initiatives like the Wiki Women Summit, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact of collaboration and representation. Joining the task force will allow me to contribute my experience in community building, advocacy, and technical support to create sustainable change and amplify diverse voices within the movement. Also, I feel peaceful, to be in a space where diverse voices converge, where local stories gain global relevance, and where one person’s contribution, no matter how small, ripples across the movement. I am proud of the milestones my community and I have achieved, but I am even more excited about what lies ahead.

What specific skills or experiences can you contribute to the Wiki Women* Task Force?
- [Detail Strategic Vision and Leadership Potential]

I bring over eight years of experience in community building, event organization, and advocacy within the Wikimedia movement. I bring in the skills like: 1. Working in a diverse team, co-designing programs : Wiki Women Camp 2023, Wiki Women Summit 2024, Let’s Connect learning clinics
2. Implementing skill & community building activities & programs : Train the Trainer India 2024, Indic Wikimedia Hackathon 2024
3. Facilitating major consultations and addressing community voices : UCoC facilitator 2020, MCDC regional ambassador 2022, Wikimedia India Summit 2024, Wikimedia Summit Berlin 2024
4. My technical skills include website management, resource translation, and supporting diverse communities with tools for collaboration and outreach.
5. Cultural & gender sensitivity : Understanding of cultural biases, implicit factors affecting the Women* Wikimedians directly or indirectly
6. Critical thinking, finding solutions with an empathetic approach during adversities or unforeseen challenges.
Additionally, my experience mentoring first-time participants and fostering inclusivity ensures I can contribute meaningfully to empowering women and allies in the Wikimedia movement and beyond.

What are your goals for participating in the Wiki Women* Task Force?
- [Outline your Commitment to Gender Equity and Inclusion]

My goals for participating in the Wiki Women* Task Force is to further bridge gender gaps in the Wikimedia movement both in terms of contents and human contributors. To create empowering spaces for women and underrepresented groups, and contribute to shaping strategies for inclusive growth. I aim to leverage my experience in community building, communication and event facilitation to support initiatives that amplify diverse voices and ensure equal representation in Wikimedia projects globally. Additionally, I hope to work on expanding outreach efforts and strengthening the network of women* contributors across regions, cultures and languages.

How do you work across diverse group?
- [Outline how you communicate and collaborate]

I work across diverse groups with the practice of open, inclusive communication and valuing the unique perspectives each member brings. I prioritize active listening, empathy, and respect for cultural differences to ensure that all voices are heard and understood. Working in a group for me involves creating spaces where everyone feels safe to share ideas, whether through structured discussions or informal exchanges. I actively use digital tools too to facilitate clear communication with interpretations when needed, project coordination, and ongoing engagement. To collaborate on something for me is not only limited to the idea & effort levels but also establishing a long term human connection, with mutual accountability & respect towards each other. By focusing on shared goals and encouraging diverse contributions, I help teams work cohesively and effectively across cultural and linguistic boundaries.

Endorsements

[Place where others can show support for your application]