January 22 2025 Meeting

Attending

Website updates
Fundraiser report
Updates on setting up AWS for our gen-AI projects
Discussion of GSoC 2025 -- what projects would we like to focus on? Do we want to do DMP again this year?
Outreach ideas for 2025

We made some small updates to the website, and we now have a new product page for our merchandise: https://www.sugarlabs.org/product/
At some time in the next 6 months or so we need to decide what we want to do about the website -- whether to stay on Jekyll or do something else. If we choose Jekyll, we still need to think about migrating to a new and well-maintained theme. But, otherwise, my focus has been to clean it up, add new articles, and make it "just work"
We also have a new page for Sugar Stories: https://www.sugarlabs.org/sugar-stories/
Who else should write some stories? Cynthia Solomon? Artemis Papert? TK Kang? Sebastian? Sumit?

We now have a partnership to sell USB sticks with the Fedora SoaS pre-installed. They are up at https://www.usbmemorydirect.com/store/novelty/sugarlabs/ | We will receive 100% of profits. They also handle S&H (and inventory and flashing).
We also received a large donation.
The grants Devin is tracking are here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17g1noBI-PJ6WixjjFEMvsHgxkWZ8PrZhMRRI00aKDLM/edit?tab=t.0

Ibiam is working on docker image bloat by removing some unneeded dependencies.
Devin has ask our lawyer for advice on keeping us GDPR and COPPA compliant as we work to deploy these services.
Ajeet's collaboration service needs testing

According to https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/, the window is January 27 through Feb 11. So, ideally, we have our ideas in at least draft form by 1/27
We need to recruit mentors: Walter, Devin, Ibiam, Sumit, Tincho?...
and write up our project ideas...

GSOC themes/ideas:

Installfest -- at least in Boston area
A series of 3-4 online events to discuss our approach to gen-AI for education: Some context on "AI"; Constructionist approach; Ethics; Our work so far, and what we expect for the future
we're participating in Reimagine Africa. "Generation Africa is a network of young, bold, and resilient African innovators and creatives, primed to unlock Africa’s potential and redefine its narrative. With a population of 1.3 billion, Africa boasts the world’s youngest demographic, with 60% aged 25 and below."
A White Paper on mentoring and Constructionism
Boston Code Camp (www.bostoncodecamp.com) ???