I am a social observer, change agent and community facilitator in the process of developing an on-line enterprise, using Drupal. Imagine my delight when the free, open DrupalCon landed in Vancouver in time to expand my understanding of the technology. The technology field, rarely portrayed as socially adroit, seemed an unlikely source for lessons about community development but that is what I got as techno-stereotypes were blown out of the water at DrupalCon 2006, Vancouver. The Drupal Community is special and deserves celebrating.

The following are some of the ways I see that Drupal is unique and a change leader:

• Commitment to a higher purpose
• Integrated process model
• Being open

Commitment to higher purpose

The Drupal community distinguishes itself as unique with an agreeable faith in a higher common purpose. Having a common purpose, that of developing the best CMS in the world, means that each member of the community has the opportunity to contribute. It is remarkable that an international network of people, many of whom had not met face to face until DrupalCon, have created this powerful system.

Transcending human frailties

Agreement and commitment to the higher purpose is an illustrative strategy for community development, it allows human shortcomings to be transcended. Progress continues in spite of ego. Barriers are bridged in a remarkably short time in spite of the diversity of nationalities, backgrounds and training of community members. Hundreds of people came together for DrupalCon focused on the higher purpose and bringing their individual ideas for the software.

Integrated process model

Drupal and the Drupal Community are integrated. Management of effort, innovation and communication uses Drupal technology so that every part of the effort, i.e. the management and the results leads to further innovations in the product. In this way, there is a continual folding back in of knowledge and change.

Drupal is further distinguished by being cross platform. Being open means that ideas and new business applications of the system are welcomed as potential innovations to the product, thereby respecting the higher purpose.

Being open, being free

It was fun and refreshing being a part of the Drupal community. Drupal folks shared themselves with an openness that is uncharacteristic of even the most intentional communities. These folks are open to creating possibility, sharing ideas and knowledge, solving challenges and tinkering with all of the above. There is an inherent and natural inclusiveness in this community. The ability to be inclusiveness is an indicator of both personal evolution and a highly evolved community. Inclusiveness is also at the core of the definition of community. In the Drupal community, if you are interested in the higher goal of developing the best content management system in the world you are welcome; looks, personality, gender, and resources, are secondary. To put a finer point on it, the group operates from joy and love as opposed to the old paradigm of fear-based exclusivity and competition.

Empowering change

Dries’ original intention to call the software ‘dorp’ (Dutch for ‘village’) remains intact. Drupal has created community: a network of “loveable geeks” creating a product that creates community and is even empowering democracy, i.e. http://koumbit.org/en and http://civicspacelabs.org/home/

The Drupal community taught me some powerful lessons about community and gave me hope for the future. Commitment to an overarching common goal is critical for the development of inclusive, productive communities. Creating the possibility for openness and contribution and using the Drupal framework may be the way to change the world. Thank you everyone!