Donia Chaiehloudj & Troy Connor on Merge Forward & Open Source Inclusion | KubeCon + CloudNativeCon NA 2025

Donia Chaiehloudj and Troy Connor discuss Merge Forward, an initiative focused on strengthening diversity and inclusion across open source communities. They highlight the need for more maintainers, the challenges contributors face, and the importance of mentorship and community support.

They also explore how organizations like the CNCF help create safe spaces, improve accessibility, and elevate underrepresented voices—ultimately driving a more collaborative and inclusive open source ecosystem.