User:CCasares (WMF)
About me
My name is Cassandra Rose Casares, here in the Movement I go by Cassie. I was born and raised in Oakland, California by my two fathers along side my younger brother. Being a Bay Area baby I graduated from the University of San Francisco where I received my B.A in Environmental Studies with a minor in Ethnic Studies.
I started at the Wikimedia Foundation as an intern in 2018-2020. I was a front office assistant at the San Francisco California main headquarters. As front office assistant, I welcomed guests and WMF staff every morning, processed our mounds of mail from the public, I made sure the kitchens were cleaned and well kept, maintained our bathrooms and filled the snack baskets and refrigerators with sodas for the WMF staff members. From time to time I also picked up lunch and food for our chief executives (sounds like a movie, I know!). (Please keep in mind, this was all taking place before covid). I also set up the main office spaces for WMF staff events and meetings. There I was able to get a small peak and hear glimpses of what Wikimedia was all about. I had no idea Wikimedia existed. I only knew of Wikipedia. I remember seeing colorful sticky notes across whiteboards that were left behind by staff members. Topics of "community health" "content creators" "strategies" were small foreshadows of what I was to be a part of one day (little did I know). I had absolutely no tech background. I did not think Wikimedia could have someone like me here - an environmental studies major with years of customer service work experience.
Zoom to 2020 - present, I have been on the Community Development team for the past 4 years. A team that has been my introduction to the Wikimedia Movement. I am grateful where I started in my journey and am always in awe as to how much I have learned so far. As a full time lead now, my main goal in all my work (besides organizing and writing all day to various people) is to do my best to create safe spaces for people to be themselves. I want you to know that you do not need to know everything about anything about Wikimedia Movement - because I dont. Every project we start together, we will both learn something from the experience while staying focused to ensure the environment for Wikimedians is judgment free. I look forward to also hearing your story as to why you are here and what keeps you contributing to Wikimedia projects.
Outside of work I am a part time artist. My medium is acrylic on canvas and used makeup as paint. I also love being outside hiking, running, or roller skating on my quad skates out on Lake Merritt in Oakland. I am so blessed I have access to travel - to meet people from different cultures, hear different languages and try new foods!! I love eating :)
My work
I am the Learning and Development Specialist for the Community Development team and Program Lead of Let's Connect.
Working on a team that is 100% community facing is inspiring and enriching. I am constantly learning from not not only my team members but from newcomers and matured contributors in the movement. Please reach out to me if you want to share your story with me or would like to know more about the Community Development team and/or Let's Connect :)
Contact me
ccasares@wikimedia.org