LAC Hub/Preparation
The preparation phase for the Latin America and Caribbean hub began on March 6, 2024, following the survey, which began on February 15, 2024.
Survey Results
Fifty (50) people responded to the survey; 45 anonymously and 5 by providing their contact information.
Some of the responses are highlighted here:
Strengthen established communities and projects without neglecting the attraction of new volunteers.
A hub that truly connects existing user groups and creates workspaces with an emphasis on Spanish and Portuguese.
The hub should focus solely on Latin America and the Caribbean, as only affiliates from this region share common interests and challenges. Allowing participation from Europe and North America could hinder understanding of these collective needs.
The hub must work to prevent decisions from being influenced by close personal relationships. It must also prevent large affiliates from exercising excessive power over smaller affiliates.
40 of these people indicated that the hub should focus on Latin America and the Caribbean, while the remaining 10 people indicated that it should follow the guidelines of Iberocoop. The same number of people expressed a fear that the hub would follow in the footsteps of Iberocoop or that it would be a successor or replacement for that initiative.
Preparatory structure
The survey indicated that the hub should have an interim structure that establishes rules, procedures, and principles that the hub and its members must follow.
The survey determined that the LAC Hub should be guided by a Founding Council and an Interim Executive Committee.
The survey itself also points out that we must be in constant discussions to shape the hub by answering the following questions:
- What do we want to achieve at the LAC Hub?
- What do we want the LAC Hub to be like?
- How far will we go with the LAC Hub?
During this period, affiliates are expected to define the direction of the hub by participating in the monthly discussions. They are also expected to participate in the structuring and establishment of regulations through the temporary structures. After the preparatory phase, the temporary structures will be dissolved, and all participating affiliates must reapply for admission, which will be accepted based on the established rules.
Resources
The hub will use as resources the Hispanic community workshop held by Wikimedia Chile in 2022 and the research on Latin American and Caribbean hubs organized by Wikimedians of Uruguay in 2023.
He will also be in contact with Foundation staff and members with expertise in the Movement's Charter.
Founding Council
It will make all decisions and organize everything related to the committee. For the time being, it will be composed of all recognized affiliates and interested emerging groups. It will also have the discretion to add seats to individuals who are not part of any recognized affiliate or emerging group, as well as individuals nominated by Wikimedia communities.
Of the 19 guests, 5 had agreed to join the Founding Council, listed below in order of entry:
A formal email was sent to affiliates and emerging groups in the region. Given that six months have passed without any return communications, it is understood that they have declined the invitation. The letter is forwarded to the Founding Council.
Chapters
| Organization | Representative | State |
|---|---|---|
| Wikimedia Argentina | - | Sin respuesta |
| Wikimedia Chile | - | Sin respuesta |
| Wikimedia Colombia | N/A | Asiento rechazado |
| Wikimedia México | - | Sin respuesta |
| Wikimedia Venezuela | Issa Abdul-Rahman | Miembro |
User Groups
| Organization | Representative | State |
|---|---|---|
| Community Wikimedia User Group Haïti | Kitanago | Miembro |
| Muj(lh)eres latinoamericanas en Wikimedia | - | Sin respuesta |
| Wikimedistas de Bolivia | - | Sin respuesta |
| Wikimedistas de Ecuador | - | Sin respuesta |
| Wikimedistas de Perú | - | Sin respuesta |
| Wikimedistas de Uruguay | - | Sin respuesta |
| Wiki Movimento Brasil | N/A | Asiento rechazado |
| Wikimedistas del Museo de La Plata | - | Sin respuesta |
| Wikimedia Small Projects | RichdVarela | Miembro |
Emerging Groups
| Organization | Representative | State |
|---|---|---|
| WikiAcción Perú | N/A | Asiento rechazado |
| WikiMedistas Wayúu | N/A | Asiento rechazado |
| Centro Latinoamericano de Investigaciones Sobre el Internet | Jluismendoza | Miembro |
| Wikimedistas El Salvador | - | Sin respuesta |
| Wiki for Minorities | Igallards7 | Miembro |
Interim Executive Committee
The Interim Executive Committee will implement the decisions of the Founding Council and organize the necessary documents and meetings during the hub's preparatory phase.
The number of seats will be determined by the number of recognized affiliates or emerging groups that are part of the Foundation Council. Assuming that all nineteen (19) invited members accept a seat on the Foundation Council, it is estimated that the Interim Executive Committee will be composed of nine (9) seats.