## Introduction GitLab has switched to an outbound-only recruiting model in an effort to enhance both the quality of our recruiting efforts and the diversity of our team simultaneously. One problem left unsolved by this approach is that our technical recruiting efforts are downstream from bottlenecks such as the talent pool of the technology industry in general and the university system, both of which do not reflect society at large. Our diversity value means we have an ethical imperative to try and create more opportunity in the technology industry for currently underrepresented groups. This is despite the fact that it may not benefit GitLab directly because of the timespans involved, and even if it does it may not be measurable. ## Working Group This working group will design and launch a program to harness the technical talent of the GitLab team to teach technical skills (programming, networking, security, etc) to members of underrepresented groups. To do this we may partner with an existing program that already has students and curriculum. Secondarily, we may try to see if we can help solve infrastructure issues that are holding some people back (such as access to high-bandwidth connections or computers) through a monetary or equipment donation program. ## This Epic We will use this Epic to gather all issues related to the Upstream Diversity Working Group. Each Exit criteria will have a DRI and we focus on meeting the exit criteria by October 31st, 2020. ## Planning | Check | Date | Tasks | |-|-|-| | ✔ | 2020-09-23 | Reached out and talked to 5 vendors of the list (Hardware and Software) | | ✔ | 2020-09-30 | Reached out and talked to 10 vendors of the list (Hardware and Software) | | ✔ | 2020-10-01 | Draft [Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging initiatives in Engineering page](https://about.gitlab.com/company/culture/inclusion/engineering-initiatives/) | | ✔ | 2020-10-07 | Reached out and talked to 15 vendors of the list (Hardware and Software) | | ✔ | 2020-10-13 | Finish ranking/scoring of the vendors - determine which vendors we're collaborating with (5 for software - proposal for hardware to E-group) | | | 2020-10-20 | Finish Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging initiatives in Engineering page | | ✔ | 2020-10-23 | First draft of proposal on Hardware for E-Group | | ✔ | 2020-10-28 | Final version of Proposal to E-Group | | ✔ | 2020-10-25 | Week to pick up final tasks/implementation | | ✔ | 2020-10-28 | Evaluate Exit Criteria - determine next courses of action and DRI's | | | | | | ## Other Information - [Handbook Page](https://about.gitlab.com/company/team/structure/working-groups/upstream-diversity/) - [Working Group Agenda Document](https://docs.google.com/document/d/15m8If-AcX6DTnOHt89kzIetOeu8OhCzpC7Uk2OpP50E/edit) - Slack channel: #wg_upstream_diversity ## Resources - [Engineering Internship Pilot Program](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/internships/) - DIB Issue - [HBCU (Historical Black Colleges and Universities) Partnerships](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/diversity-and-inclusion/-/issues/241) - Recruiting Issue - [Gitlab Partnerships with URG orgs](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/people-group/recruiting/-/issues/492) - DIB [Be The Bridge Program](https://about.gitlab.com/company/culture/inclusion/be-the-bridge-program/) - DIB Issue - [Proposal: 1% for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/diversity-and-inclusion/-/issues/245)