How Do Distinguished Contributors Contribute
Overview
The Distinguished Contributor (DC) Program recognizes individuals and organizations whose past and ongoing contributions have meaningfully shaped the Open edX platform and community.
If you are selected, it means you have already demonstrated excellence: you embody the spirit of open source and learning, not only in what you’ve built but also in how you uplift others.
No Obligations, Just Impact
There are no required duties, deliverables, or obligations placed on you. However, we hope you will remain visible, engaged, and inspiring, helping strengthen the community and shape the program for future contributors. We encourage you to continue to:
Lead by example
Share knowledge and mentor others
Spotlight other emerging contributors
Continue embodying the open-source and open-learning ethos
Suggested Ways to Stay Involved
You may choose to support the community and the program in ways that feel natural to you. Examples include:
🧭 Area | 🌱 Examples |
|---|---|
Mentorship & Growth | Offer casual mentorship to new contributors, participate in community Q&As, or help others navigate their first PRs or design discussions. |
Knowledge Sharing | Speak at Open edX events, contribute to blog posts or documentation, or present at meetups or conferences. |
Advocacy & Evangelism | Champion Open edX externally by writing, speaking, or participating in ecosystem conversations. |
Program Support | Help validate nominations, provide input into future cohorts, or serve as a reference for upcoming nominees. |
Shared Values, Not Contracts
The program doesn’t assign work, it aligns around shared values. We spotlight contributors not just for what they know, but for how they lead by example, inviting others into the community and keeping it open and generous.
The goal is to provide a vision of what good looks like, not a to-do list.
Proposal: Open edX "Distinguished Contributor Program"