Contributing to Open Source: Part 1 - The Planning Stage

Hello!! 👋

As I embark on my journey of contributing to open-source projects, I’m excited to document my experience in this three-part blog series. This first post focuses on choosing a meaningful project, planning my contributions, setting clear goals, and laying out a roadmap for success. I’ll be working with Clean and Green Philly, an initiative dedicated to transforming Philadelphia by greening and cleaning vacant and abandoned parcels—a powerful strategy to reduce gun violence and foster community well-being.

What I Plan to Do

My primary goal for this phase is to address front-end bugs or enhancements in the project. Specifically, I’ll:

1. Investigate and resolve existing issues: Dive into the GitHub repository to identify front-end problems that require attention.
2. Work on new feature requests: One notable feature request is creating an outreach/contact us page, which will streamline communication between stakeholders and the project team. This page will make it easier for community members and partners to connect with the initiative.

Why I Am Choosing This Work and Project

I’ve chosen this project because it aligns with my values and offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to social impact. The work being done by Clean and Green Philly goes beyond technology—it’s about fostering safer neighbourhoods and creating spaces that inspire hope and resilience. Being part of such a transformative initiative motivates me to bring my best effort to this contribution.

How I Will Approach It

1. Identify opportunities: I’ll regularly check the project’s GitHub repository for open issues, enhancements, or new proposals.
2. Thorough investigation: For each issue or feature request, I’ll take time to understand the problem deeply by reviewing documentation, code, and stakeholder feedback.
3. Collaboration: Since the contact us page involves cross-functional teams such as UX/UI designers, I’ll communicate and coordinate with relevant departments, and gather requirements to ensure the final product meets expectations.
4. Iterative development: I’ll adopt an agile mindset, delivering smaller milestones and gathering feedback throughout the process to refine the work.

What I Hope to Achieve

Through this phase, I aim to:

• Enhance my technical skills by working on real-world front-end development challenges.
• Develop soft skills such as collaboration and project management by engaging with different teams.
• Make a tangible contribution to a project that improves lives and communities in Philadelphia.

By setting clear goals and committing to a structured approach, I’m setting myself up for success. I’m eager to see the positive difference I can make through my work and look forward to the learning experiences along the way.

If you made it this far, thank you! And stay tuned for part 2 and 3! ✌️