Cathy Mitchell has been using WordPress since 2007 and launched WPBarista in 2008. What began as a side project during maternity leave grew into a long-running business and, more recently, a deep commitment to the WordPress community. After helping organize WordCamp Canada in 2025, Cathy is now lead organizer for WordCamp Canada 2026. In a conversation with Nathan Wrigley on the Jukebox Podcast, she reflects on why WordPress events matter, how volunteering shapes people and projects, and what the community should focus on next.
An unusually open and welcoming culture
Cathy and Nathan both describe how unexpectedly open the WordPress community felt when they discovered it. Unlike many corporate or bureaucratic volunteer structures, WordPress events and teams tend to say yes and let willing people get meaningful responsibilities quickly. That lack of red tape allows newcomers to jump in, learn fast, and contribute in ways that match their strengths. For many people this accessibility becomes transformative: it creates purpose, belonging, and ongoing friendships.
Dip in and out, but stay connected
One of the strengths of WordPress community involvement is its flexibility. People can dip in and out across life stages — for example when kids grow up or work patterns change — yet still find meaningful roles. Cathy, now an empty nester, has returned to volunteering with renewed enthusiasm: teaching kids, running classes for seniors, and organizing conferences. For her, service provides structure, camaraderie, and a sense of usefulness.
Volunteering as an antidote to loneliness
Both hosts explored the wider social context: loneliness is increasingly recognised as a major public-health issue, and technology is a complicated factor. While digital tools can connect people, they also enable hours of isolated entertainment and scrolling. Cathy points out that service and volunteering — whether in WordPress or elsewhere — can be an antidote. Working toward a shared goal, being part of a team, and meeting people face-to-face at events helps counter loneliness and builds wellbeing.
Why businesses sponsor and why it matters
Cathy approached sponsorship from both personal and corporate angles. Companies often want a demonstrable return on investment, and today that expectation is sharper than during WordPress’s rapid growth years. Economic uncertainty, more competition, and new requirements around trademark use make corporate sponsorship a tougher sell. Yet sponsorship still makes strategic sense: supporting open source helps sustain the ecosystem companies rely on, improves recruitment pipelines, and builds goodwill within the community.
The current landscape: leveling off, not necessarily decline
Both guests acknowledged that WordPress experienced long periods of growth that made community support an easier decision. Now the field feels more leveled, and organizations expect clearer value for their spending. Cathy sees this as a natural adjustment rather than a disaster. It’s a chance to focus resources where they matter most and to invest in the long-term health of open source.
Bring in the next generation
A recurring priority is engaging young people. Programs like Campus Connect and university credits tied to open-source contributions can help bring students into the community and provide tangible educational benefits. Cathy wants to feature these initiatives at WordCamp Canada to make it easier for universities and students in North America to participate. Getting younger people involved is vital for sustaining open-source projects and ensuring the community evolves, hires fresh talent, and remains relevant.
The value of giving — for communities and for individuals
Nathan and Cathy touched on research and intuition about happiness: spending time with others and giving without expecting a return are both strong predictors of wellbeing. Volunteering at WordPress events combines both: you spend time with people while contributing skills and time for free. The result is mutual benefit — organizers get help, volunteers find purpose and social connection, and the broader ecosystem stays healthy.
The cultural ingredients that matter
Cathy credits the culture of openness and volunteer-driven leadership as a distinctive strength. People often step up without a lengthy application process; the community supports and helps one another to succeed. That cultural environment — where folks are willing to teach beginners and shoulder risk together — is hard to replicate but central to why events feel so special.
Practical invitations
For people curious about getting involved, Cathy reminds listeners there are many ways to contribute beyond code: organizing, mentoring, teaching, serving coffee, or helping with accessibility and translation. WordPress’s community teams and local WordCamps make it straightforward to find fitting roles. Cathy points to WordCamp Canada as an example of where newcomers and experienced volunteers can both make a difference.
A hopeful outlook
Despite economic pressures and the rise of new technologies, Cathy remains optimistic about open source and community-powered events. WordCamps are, in her view, one of the best places to demonstrate that open-source projects can be generous, practical, and future-focused. By welcoming new people, investing in youth initiatives, and staying true to service-driven values, the community can continue to thrive.
If you want to learn more about Cathy’s work, WPBarista, or WordCamp Canada, the episode and show notes on WP Tavern include links and details about getting involved.
