Ada Initiative

The Ada Initiative was a nonprofit organization established in 2011 to increase women's participation in open-source software, free culture, open technology, and adjacent communities. It was founded by Valerie Aurora, a Linux kernel developer and open-source advocate, and Mary Gardiner, an Australian open-source advocate and founder of AussieChix. The organization took its name from Ada Lovelace, whose historical association with early computer programming also connects to the Ada programming language. The Initiative emerged from practical organizing around harassment and exclusion in technology communities. Aurora, Gardiner, and members of Geek Feminism worked on conference anti-harassment policies following the sexual assault of Noirin Shirley at ApacheCon 2010. Rather than focusing only on awareness, the Ada Initiative developed reusable policies, training materials, event guidance, research, and programs intended to change institutional practices and improve participation by women and other people historically underrepresented in open technology. Its work included advising conference organizers on codes of conduct and incident-response procedures; creating frameworks for women-in-open-source scholarships; producing outreach and event-planning guides; and running Allies Workshops for people and organizations seeking to support women in technology. The organization also promoted First Patch Week activities, which paired women interested in free and open-source software with mentoring and practical opportunities to make an initial contribution. Its freely available workshop materials were designed for reuse, while the Initiative also offered facilitation and training. Research was another part of its remit. The Ada Initiative sought to update demographic and experience data about open-source and free-culture communities, including software, hardware, open mapping, maker spaces, hacker spaces, Creative Commons, online activism, and related fields. It conducted an initial census in 2011 and repeated the survey in 2013, aiming to provide a more current reference point for the technology sector. The organization was also known for AdaCamp, an unconference focused on increasing women's participation in open technology and culture. Seven AdaCamp events were held between 2012 and 2015. Its policy work influenced event practices beyond its own programs: Ubuntu Developer Summits and Linux Foundation events, including LinuxCon, adopted policies based on or informed by its approach. The Ada Initiative operated with a small staff and provided its services pro bono. It relied on member donations and support from sponsors including Linux Australia, Puppet Labs, DreamHost, The Mail Archive, and Google. A 2011 fundraising campaign sought contributions from 100 funders and concluded before its scheduled deadline. Leadership succession became the organization's central challenge. Aurora announced in 2014 that she intended to leave the executive-director role, and a search process was organized. In March 2015, the board announced Crystal Huff as the new executive director, although the arrangement did not continue. In August 2015, the board announced that the organization would close in October. Both founders were unwilling to continue as executive director, and the board concluded that it could not identify an acceptable replacement or a sustainable alternative operating model. The Ada Initiative therefore chose an orderly shutdown and committed to releasing its remaining knowledge and expertise in reusable, modifiable form. It ceased operations in 2015.

The Ada Initiative was formed in February 2011 by Valerie Aurora and Mary Gardiner. Its immediate background was the effort by open-source and Geek Feminism organizers to develop effective anti-harassment policies for technology conferences. That work followed the sexual assault of Noirin Shirley at ApacheCon 2010 and reflected a wider recognition that informal community norms were insufficient to protect attendees or broaden participation. Aurora brought experience as a Linux kernel developer and advocate for women in open source. Gardiner was an Australian open-source advocate and founder of AussieChix, described as a major organization for women in open source in Australia. Together they established a nonprofit named after Ada Lovelace, with a mission spanning open-source technology, free culture, and open culture rather than software development alone. The organization used a practical, reusable model. It helped conference organizers create, communicate, and enforce anti-harassment policies; provided templates and advice for safer events; and encouraged institutions to treat inclusion as an operational responsibility. Its work was adopted or adapted by events including Ubuntu Developer Summits and Linux Foundation conferences such as LinuxCon. The Ada Initiative also designed a policy framework for women-in-open-source scholarships and created guidance for outreach programs and community events. Education and mentoring were central programs. Allies Workshops trained male participants and institutional supporters to understand and address barriers facing women. First Patch Week encouraged women to make initial contributions to free and open-source software with mentoring and structured support. Workshop materials were made available for free reuse, while the organization could also provide facilitators for in-person sessions. The Ada Initiative complemented program work with research. Its 2011 census examined gender and participation across open source, free software, open hardware, open mapping, Creative Commons, online activism, maker and hacker spaces, and related forms of free culture. A repeat survey in 2013 was intended to keep the sector's evidence base current and provide a standard resource for organizations working on participation and inclusion. AdaCamp became the organization's best-known public program. Structured as an unconference, it brought together people interested in increasing women's participation in open technology and culture. Seven AdaCamps were held from 2012 to 2015, creating spaces for discussion, networking, project development, and exchange of practical strategies. The Initiative's interventions could also generate controversy. In 2013, concerns attributed to the organization contributed to the cancellation of Violet Blue's presentation at Security B-Sides San Francisco. The proposed talk was described as involving rape-related triggers and was also questioned as a fit for a security event. The cancellation led to a heated discussion about harassment prevention, content boundaries, speaker treatment, and decision-making authority. Accounts from the conference organizer, Blue, and the Ada Initiative did not fully agree. Administration remained intentionally small. Services were provided pro bono, with operating support coming from member donations and sponsors including Linux Australia, Puppet Labs, DreamHost, The Mail Archive, and Google. Aurora and Gardiner served as the only full-time staff members. A seven-person board oversaw management, supported by an advisory board of roughly thirty people. Board members identified in contemporary descriptions included Gardiner, Sue Gardner, Amelia Greenhall, Rachel Chalmers, Alicia Gibb, Andrea Horbinski, and Marina Zhurakhinskaya. Succession eventually determined the organization's fate. Aurora announced in 2014 that she planned to step down as executive director. A search committee led by Sumana Harihareswara and Mary Gardiner sought a replacement; Gardiner did not apply for the position. In March 2015, the organization announced that Crystal Huff had been hired. The arrangement did not work out, however, and neither founder intended to resume the executive-director role. In August 2015, the board announced an orderly shutdown planned for October. It considered continuing with different programs or a volunteer-only structure, but concluded that finding a replacement with the necessary fit and capacity was unlikely. The board treated organizational closure as a legitimate outcome rather than an institutional failure and planned to publish the Initiative's remaining knowledge and expertise in freely reusable and modifiable form. The Ada Initiative is therefore a defunct organization, but many of its policy concepts, event practices, and training resources continued to influence open-technology communities after its closure.

• 2015

  Crystal Huff announced as executive director

  [1]Ada Initiativeen.wikipedia.org

  The board announced Huff as Aurora's successor after an executive search.

• 2015

  Organization closes

  [1]Ada Initiativeen.wikipedia.org

  The board announced an orderly shutdown after concluding that replacement leadership and alternative operating models were not viable.

• 2014

  Executive succession process begins

  [1]Ada Initiativeen.wikipedia.org

  Valerie Aurora announced plans to leave the executive-director position, leading to the formation of a search committee.

• 2013

  Second participation census conducted

  [1]Ada Initiativeen.wikipedia.org

  A repeat survey was undertaken to update the evidence base on gender balance and experiences in open-source and related communities.

• 2012

  AdaCamp begins

  [1]Ada Initiativeen.wikipedia.org

  The Initiative began organizing its unconference series dedicated to women's participation in open technology and culture.

• 2011

  Ada Initiative founded

  [1]Ada Initiativeen.wikipedia.org

  Valerie Aurora and Mary Gardiner established the nonprofit to increase women's participation in open source, free culture, and open technology.

• 2011

  Initial participation census conducted

  [1]Ada Initiativeen.wikipedia.org

  The organization developed and conducted a survey covering gender and experiences across multiple open-technology and free-culture communities.

• 2011

  Startup fundraising campaign completed

  [1]Ada Initiativeen.wikipedia.org

  A campaign seeking contributions from 100 funders ended ahead of schedule and helped support the organization's early work.

A practical advocacy and capacity-building organization for making open-source, free-culture, and open-technology communities safer, more inclusive, and more accessible to women.

• Community event · 2012

  AdaCamp

  An unconference series focused on women's participation in open technology and culture. AdaCamp created a dedicated setting for sharing experiences, discussing structural barriers, building networks, and developing practical projects. Seven events were held between 2012 and 2015.

• Policy and organizational guidance · 2011

  Conference anti-harassment policy resources

  Templates, recommendations, and implementation guidance for conferences seeking to prevent harassment and respond to incidents. The resources addressed policy communication and event administration and were designed for adaptation by open-source and technology organizers.

• Training

  Allies Workshops

  Workshops for male allies, institutions, and other supporters seeking practical ways to improve women's experiences and participation in open technology. The framework was distributed for reuse, and the Initiative also offered facilitators for in-person delivery.

• Mentoring and outreach program

  First Patch Week

  A structured initiative encouraging women to make an initial contribution to free and open-source software. It combined mentoring with an accessible first-project experience intended to reduce barriers to entry.

• Research · 2011

  Open technology participation census

  Survey research examining gender, participation, and experiences across open source, free software, open hardware, open mapping, free culture, and related communities. Surveys were conducted in 2011 and 2013.

• 2013

  Violet Blue presentation cancellation controversy

  Security B-Sides San Francisco canceled Violet Blue's scheduled presentation after concerns associated with the Ada Initiative about rape-related triggers and the talk's relevance to a security conference. The abrupt decision prompted extensive debate, and subsequent accounts by the speaker, event organizer, and Ada Initiative differed.

  Source

Read more

• 2012AdaCamp

  Open technology and free-culture communities

  A recurring unconference program designed to increase women's participation in open technology and culture through discussion, networking, and collaborative problem-solving.

  Outcome. Seven AdaCamps were held between 2012 and 2015.

  Source
• 2011Startup fundraising campaign

  International open-source community

  The Ada Initiative sought early financial support from 100 funders to establish its operations and programs. The drive ended six days before its planned deadline.

  Outcome. The campaign concluded ahead of schedule; the organization subsequently received support from sponsors including Linux Australia, Puppet Labs, DreamHost, The Mail Archive, and Google.

  Source

• 2015

  Board chooses an orderly shutdownStrategy

  Background

  The founders were not prepared to continue in the executive-director role, and the leadership search did not produce a sustainable replacement. The board also considered changing the program mix or operating as a volunteer-only organization.

  Action taken

  The board decided to close the organization in October 2015 and release its remaining knowledge and expertise in freely reusable and modifiable form.

  Aftermath

  The Ada Initiative became defunct after its planned shutdown.

  Source

1. 1Ada Initiativeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ada Initiative official websiteadainitiative.org