Announce Discourse instance

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+author = "Drew DeVault"
+title = "A new community space for discussing free software"
+date = "2024-03-20"
+description = "Introducing our Discourse community"
+tags = ["meta"]
+image = "discourse.jpg"
++++
+
+The purpose of this website is to enrich the free software community by making
+it easier to participate and understand the principles and practices underlying
+the free software movement. We provide [in-depth and accessible information](/)
+regarding these topics to introduce new members to our movement, explaining what
+free software is and how free software works in accessible terms. This content
+has done a great job at on-boarding people into free software and even in
+helping existing members of the community find a deeper understanding of the
+movement.
+
+However, free software is *participatory*. We cannot promote its interests with
+a static presentation of text or a one-way dialogue from us to you. We want
+"*we*" to include *you*. To this end, we've set up a forum for the purpose of
+discussing free software at [discourse.writefreesoftware.org][0], where all
+people, regardless of background, are welcomed and encouraged to be a part of a
+supportive, inclusive community of peers.
+
+[0]: https://discourse.writefreesoftware.org
+
+If you read the main articles on free software here and came away with questions
+or feedback, the Discourse is the right place to go (check the Site Feedback
+section). But, moreover, if you read these articles and came away wanting a
+deeper connection to a *community*, this is the place for you. Questions about
+how licenses work and which one is right for your project, discussions about the
+tools we use to build free software, information about funding opportunities for
+your project and help writing your grant applications -- it's all here, and more
+importantly it's a social place where we can build solidarity and friendships,
+which are the bedrock of a strong political movement.
+
+Please sign up to join us, [introduce yourself][1], and find a few discussions
+to participate in. The success of this community will depend on its early
+members taking an **active role** in building it -- so don't be shy! We're
+depending on you.
+
+[1]: https://discourse.writefreesoftware.org/t/introduce-yourself/14
+
+Finally, a note on community safety. This is a moderated community and is
+an inclusive, safe space for all people regardless of background, race, sex or
+sexual identity, gender or gender expression, visible or invisible disability,
+nationality, level of experience, and so on. We have established a [code of
+conduct](/conduct) and we expect people to participate compassionately and
+respectfully.
+
+We are aware that the free software community as a whole is no exception to
+problems of representation and empowerment. Part of the purpose of our community
+is to establish powerful spaces where these problems are not present, and
+through this build strength and solidarity as the foundation of a stronger
+political movement for free software. To this end we are taking pains to
+establish a diverse and intersectional, but also compassionate and patient, team
+of moderators to oversee our community, with a political awareness that extends
+further than a simple understanding of free software liberation and includes
+solidarity against all struggles for liberation, particularly those which our
+movement has often left behind.
+
+We're looking forward to seeing you there!