Lua Salazar receives the Yoast Care fund for her contribution to the WordPress community

Today, you can meet Lua Salazar, a treasured member of the WordPress Community Team! Alex Cuadra has nominated her for the Yoast Care fund, recognizing her unwavering commitment and significant contributions to the community. Let’s share this excited WordPress fan’s story and learn why she loves the platform so much.

Nominator Alex Cuadra: “Lua has been supporting our local community in Nicaragua since 2019. She is significantly committed to organizing meetups and being part of the organizing team for WordCamp Managua. As a speaker, she has participated in three different WordCamps on two continents. Honestly, WordCamp Managua 2023 wouldn’t be possible without her support.”

Let’s get to know Lua Salazar

That’s quite an introduction, Alex! We would love to get to know Lua even better. That’s why we asked her some questions about her work and her passion for WordPress:

Hi, Lua! Why did you start contributing? Could you share your first contribution with us?

At the end of 2018, I discovered the WordPress community in Nicaragua, and instantly felt at home. Back then, Vanessa, Rebeca, and Adriana were there. They helped me get involved in the community. In 2019, I attended WordCamp Managua as an assistant. It was incredible; I loved the talks and workshops, and I met wonderful people from El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. That same year, I volunteered for Wuapu Day, where children are taught to create their first website.

Then, the pandemic hit, paralyzing us all. For WordCamp 2021, which was held online, I had the opportunity to support as a volunteer in Marketing under Rebecca’s direction. This allowed me to see the WordPress community from the inside, and learn what happens behind the scenes of each event. In 2022, a group from our community went to WordCamp San José. Vanessa, Aura, Alex, and Juan were speakers, and I attended as an assistant. The experience was enough to ignite the WordPress flame.

Since January 2023, we started meetups, and it was terrific. People said they’d really missed the community, which is why I began coordinating more meetups, managing social media, creating content, leading the marketing team, and being a speaker at meetups. I always enjoy speaking in public and sharing with others, so volunteering in the community was right up my alley. I had the support of Vanessa, Aura, Alex, and Mario.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

I am proud every time we teach kids; be it Wapuday or the Kids Camp. These days have become iconic moments for the community. First, because we introduce WordPress to children, who are amazed they can create a website about their favorite cartoons or video games. And second, because we know we’re contributing to future generations where WordPress will be the foundation of their technological knowledge.

What would you love to do in the future?

I would love to work as a speaker-motivator for WordCamp communities. Coordinate teams that, from the headquarters, dedicate themselves to “evangelizing,” so to speak, in each country. Organize meetups and then create WordCamps for that country. Establish a team that takes charge of the community and sparks the WordPress flame in each country. Undoubtedly, it will make technology accessible to several countries, mainly to introduce the WordPress community.

What did you work on?

I worked for over 17 years in administration, logistics, human resources, events, and everything related to the business world. Then, the pandemic hit, sending everyone home, and I chose to reinvent myself with something that had already attracted me: digital marketing. I started my certification process, and it has been three years since I’ve been working as a content creator and writer. Currently, I also support recruitment and internal projects.

Where may people find you? Online, WordCamps, other meetups?

Certainly. You can contact me on my LinkedIn. It will be great to connect with all the community enthusiasts.

Thank you for this interview, Lua, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Lua Salazar who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.