Improve Sustainability Team handbook

[gusaus]

We need to finish creating the Sustainability Team handbook. To do this we need a process (if we don't have one already) and a team to take this on.

Outline

The handbook should contain the following elements (the project team will extend and refine):

• Mission statement
• Focus areas
• Team and Contributor roles
• Get involved

[noraferreiros]

I left a comment with related information in another issue: #9 (comment)

[CeliGaroe]

I left a comment with related information in another issue: #9 (comment)

[CeliGaroe]

I left a comment with related information in another issue: #9 (comment)

[gusaus]

Now that the handbook is prominently linked on the Welcome box #6, we'd all benefit if we made improving a top priority. Especially since it will be a key component for onboarding new contributors via Contributor Mentorship, Five for the Future and related programs.

Considering processes and policies would reside in the Sustainability handbook, I believe these other admin tasks overlap:

• Define and document process and structure for collaboration and knowledge share #4
  • Define and document a process for creating, evaluating, and prioritizing roadmap items #13 - the issue and ensuing comments illustrate the challenges some new teams have (especially if they don't have mentors, experienced/sponsored contributors, funds, or other resources to help get up and running)
  • Define and document process for running Sustainability Team meetings #20
• Determine team roles, responsibilities, commitments, and resource needs #2 - contains a ChatGPT list of community contributor roles. If there's not yet a master list of community contributor roles residing somewhere on https://make.wordpress.org/, possibly this can be the start of another project we can contribute to!?!

[CeliGaroe]

I created a Pull request to upgrade the index Handbook page so it is more welcoming and helpful for newcomers. I added @YellowlimeNL presentation video! Please, add/correct/delete anything you think appropriate to make it better. Thanks! :)

[CeliGaroe]

I have created a new subpage(to be nested under Get involved handbook page) summarizing the Team Badges official decision and how to ask for them. I think this could help as guideline to new members too. Please, add/correct/delete anything you think appropriate to make it better. Thanks! :) When approved I could add the resulting improved page to the handbook (it is not visible right now).

[CeliGaroe]

Hi there! I created a new subpage (to be nested under Get involved handbook page) with the self-approval system official decision. This could also help as a guideline to new and not so new team members. :) Could you please add/correct/delete anything you think appropriate to make it better? Thanks! I will take care of introducing it in the actual handbook when it is approved by the team (not visible right now).

[gusaus]

I just made a few minor changes to https://make.wordpress.org/sustainability/handbook/contribute/#how-to-contribute-to-this-sustainability-handbook by hitting 'edit' and committing the changes to https://github.com/WordPress/sustainability/blob/trunk/contribute.md.

After the fact, I'm not sure if that was best practice as this section (or the referenced readme file) doesn't seem to provide detailed instructions.

Maybe those are somewhere else?

[CeliGaroe]

Hi @gusaus. You did it perfectly. It just takes a bit of time for the changes to be seen in the frontend. Usually it needs just few minutos (10-15 minutes). I can see your changes correctly now how to contribute section.

[gusaus]

Thanks @CeliGaroe! Good to know that was proper protocol for small changes, but what out something a bit larger? For example, I think the following description (or a slight variation) on https://make.wordpress.org/sustainability/2023/09/06/how-the-wordpress-sustainability-team-was-born-during-wordcamp-europe-2023/ would provide more context and compelling detail than what's currently described on https://make.wordpress.org/sustainability/handbook/about/

The role of the WordPress Sustainability Team is to ensure the continuity of WordPress as a project, and further it in ways that are necessarily aligned with respect for people and the planet. In order to achieve this, we will work cohesively on the following matters, in no particular order:

• The social longevity of the WordPress Project: Finding ways to bring more people into the community, providing opportunities, paying attention to diversity, and taking care of those already in the community.
• The ecological sustainability of the WordPress Project: Guiding the WordPress Project towards growth that respects environmental sustainability parameters.
• The economic longevity of the WordPress Project: Managing the necessary financial support to meet the requirements to make WordPress a lasting project and to ensure no one who wants to contribute fails to do so because of their financial situation.

Sustainability also covers the working areas of other WordPress Teams as well as existing projects, like the Five for the Future, the WordPress Community Team or the Performance Team. The WordPress Sustainability Team will therefore partner closely with those. Only together can we achieve our goals.

Is there a process for creating a pull request?

[CeliGaroe]

You are welcome! To create a pull request to suggest larger changes you have to follow very similar steps:

• Edit the document.
• Save the changes... BUT!
• Instead of 'Commiting directly to the trunk branch', select 'Create a new branch for this commit and start a pull request' and follow the nexts steps (see screenshot).
  
• Then leave a comment about that pull request in this issue and in the next Slack Team Meeting so others can review and approve or add even more suggestions to your changes.
• 2 weeks after, if nobody has added anything to your pull request or oppose to it, you can approve and merge your own pull request.

More or less, we are proceeding like that. Enjoy! :)