Community is a gift in every way. At Ushahidi, we are truly lucky to have each of you contributing, using our software and supporting each other. Thank you. For over the past two years, I’ve had the pleasure of building stuff, answering your questions, helping you flourish, giving you thanks, and, most of all, shouting from rooftops about each of you and your projects. It with sadness that I share my news. I’m making some personal changes and will moving on to the Open Knowledge Foundation. While it will be tough to leave the Ushahidi team, we all agree that it is great that I am moving to an organization that shares so many of the same ethos, mission, and friends. Truly, as I believe in the community, team and projects, I’ll continue be involved as a community member. (More about my future plans and journey on my personal blog.) (Uchaguzi Event with Jessica and Patrick (January 2013), Photo by Nekesa Were)

To Fellow Community members:

You inspire me. Your map projects, ideas and strength to amplify citizen voices. We’ve talked from the inception of your map project ideas all the way to a full implementation with feedback loops. You are the unusual suspects: the people who are trying to use and analyze new technology to make a difference in your community and world. Don’t stop, ever. This drive to make a difference is what makes you special. A free and open Internet means we can collaborate globally and tell our stories. Leveling the data and map playing field has been a joy. I know you can help us all keep up that mission. You are building this one map at a time. Angela Odour, Community Developer Liaison, and the team are here for you to keep answering your questions and guiding your Ushahidi experiences. We will provide more details on who to contact for what in the coming days. (This will be on the wiki (naturally).

To the Ninjas and Pirates:

You juggle code and business like no other I’ve ever seen. We started calling the tech team Ninjas for a reason. Seriously, folks, please keep on creating, building, and making. To team Pirates: you keep the air and juices flowing. It is breathless to see the ideas and drive. Each of you have touched my life in ways that I cannot even begin to measure. I will miss working so closely with you. But, I can’t wait to see what you do next. From the sidelines, I hope that I can continue to help, and cheer. #fanclub

On Community Management

The base layer of Ushahidi’s community framework and strategy has been built. Now it is time for the next Community leaders to join Ushahidi, remix it and make it better. Community Management is a career and a journey not for the light of heart. You will be a translator for technology and human. Navigating, creating, mapping, documenting, sharing, mentoring, conversing, writing and distilling are your forte. If you think you are up for the task, let Erik know. (Erik at ushahidi dot com). Honest, I am a bit jealous of your adventures. Thank you all and see you on the interwebs!