Grants:Rapid/Black Lunch Table/Summer 2017/Report

From Meta, a Wikimedia project coordination wiki
Report accepted
This report for a Rapid Grant approved in FY 2017-18 has been reviewed and accepted by the Wikimedia Foundation.
  • To read the approved grant submission describing the plan for this project, please visit Grants:Rapid/Black Lunch Table/Summer 2017.
  • You may still comment on this report on its discussion page, or visit the discussion page to read the discussion about this report.
  • You are welcome to Email rapidgrants at wikimedia dot org at any time if you have questions or concerns about this report.


Goals[edit]

Did you meet your goals? Are you happy with how the project went?

With this funding we were able to buy a project computer, create swag and host three edit-a-thons. We were successful in providing one alternative to potential editors who arrive with no computer and a way for our assistant to help us organize in one dependable place. We were also successful in creating collectible mementos for events. We were able to forge new connections and educate new editors in Milwaukee, Sheboygan, and at the Brooklyn Library. We value the quality and sustainability of the interaction and experience over the quantity of attendees present.

Outcome[edit]

Please report on your original project targets.


Target outcome Achieved outcome Explanation
engage at least 3 new users who don’t have access to a computer. engaged 6 new users with no access to proper computer. For each event the BLT computer was used by at least one new editor each event. Every time we host an event there are interested people who don't own computers or people who try to edit on their smartphones. This computer allowed more people to be directly involved. We also brought the computer to KickstarterPWL Camp and to The Road Less Traveled Conference at John Michael Kohler Art Center where it was used outside of editathons.
increase our participation to at least 60 participants for three events this summer. We hosted 87 editors this summer. We hosted events at MoMA, Brooklyn Library, Mt Mary University, and John Michael Kohler Art Center. Events in New York always pull more people because of exposure and population, but when we partner with schools who are able to bring entire college classes, we always inspire new editors, which is what happened in Wisconsin.
increase content to at least 6 new quality articles this summer. Our events created 31 new articles on Wikipedia this summer. WikiLovesPride is always a high-trafficked event with editors coming to create new articles which exceeded our expectations for Summer goals by far. Most often though we encourage new editors (the majority of our participants) to start editing existing articles so they can learn how to comfortably and correctly edit Wikipedia, thus other events don't always have high results in article creation.


Learning[edit]

Projects do not always go according to plan. Sharing what you learned can help you and others plan similar projects in the future. Help the movement learn from your experience by answering the following questions:

  • What worked well?
Providing computers always works better with our nomadic project. Having that one or two extra helped us involve more people. Our group does not rely on outdated personal computers to organize events any longer. The promotion of the project has spread via collectible swag.
  • What did not work so well?
Swag cost more than expected when it came time to select it, so we have buttons done and blank bags purchased for future silkscreening. We weren't able to afford tshirts yet.
More computers are always better. Though we were able to provide one computer to participants during editathons, there were at least 3 people this summer who worked on phones or not at all for lack of computer access. Our project is nomadic and it is important to us to provide this work in spaces also outside academia and exclusive spaces so everyone can be included. It is a challenge how to do that without a truckload of computers.
  • What would you do differently next time?

Increase budget to reflect the actual purchases we need to make. Also possibly include other costs like transportation and admin time.

Finances[edit]

Grant funds spent[edit]

Please describe how much grant money you spent for approved expenses, and tell us what you spent it on.

  1. Food and drink = $168.18
  2. computer = $878.94 (with insurance, adapter and case)
  3. swag - $215.33
Total spent = $1,262.45 USD

Remaining funds[edit]

Do you have any remaining grant funds?

No

Anything else[edit]

Anything else you want to share about your project? Here are links to our Wiki Commons documentation:

Here are a few articles that mention our project from this summer: