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The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit organization that operates Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia free knowledge projects. Our vision is a world in which every single human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. We believe that everyone has the potential to contribute something to our sh... Read more
Maryana Iskander
We are guided by a vision of a better world. We are taking on a huge challenge. We revere what has come before and are in awe of the work ahead. It brings us hope. It fills us with wonder. When we are inspired, we play and laugh together. It’s not about one big party, it’s about making space for new ideas and new connections, making space for creativity. Inquisitiveness arises when we’re having fun. It’s ok to wonder, to ponder. We don’t need to take ourselves too seriously. When we are inspired, we do excellent work.
Our words have power. What we say has consequences. Engaging in civil discourse requires kindness, care, respect, tact, empathy, trust, and safety. It is key to getting, giving, and receiving good information. We must create space where people feel safe to express themselves and be heard. This is true especially when we disagree. If we do not understand what the other is feeling, we are still open-minded to where they are coming from. We strive for empathy, we accept no less than civility.
Collaboration is not always easy. Sometimes we struggle. Working together is hard, but it’s worth it. We do it because it makes us stronger. We solve problems better together. For it to work well, each of us needs to be honest, accountable, and transparent to one another. But it runs deeper still for many of us: we find joy and belonging in human connection. We are there for one another; we support one another through life’s ups and downs, our mistakes, our successes. We challenge one another in service of our personal and professional development.
The sum of all knowledge for every single human being; we can’t do that by leaving people out. Our vision is about more than providing universal access to all forms of knowledge. It’s about creating an inclusive culture. It’s about inviting others to join in and thrive with us. It’s about embracing human diversity. It’s about saying, “We see you and you belong with us.” Our differences are precious; they make us smarter, stronger, more humble. They balance our biases and weaknesses. They open our minds. We do our best work when we understand a problem from all its perspectives. We encourage others to do what we can’t, and we help them succeed. When voices are absent, ignored, or silenced, we seek them out. We are welcoming hosts, caring neighbors, and equitable allies. We don’t fear difference. We welcome it with curiosity, delight, and hope.
With leaps and bounds as well as stumbles and false-starts, we seek to continually improve ourselves, our projects, our communities, our world. With initiative and experimentation, we iterate our way toward making the world a better place, an excellent place. With curiosity and humility, we learn from our mistakes as well as our successes. We are duty-bound to steward our resources and deliver exceptional products and services.