Belonging to a community of peers can be one of the most rewarding and valuable experiences in our jobs. In this session, Christina Manikus and Jean Fox will share practical lessons learned from building grassroots UX communities across organizations and professional networks. Through real-world examples, attendees will learn a repeatable framework for bringing people together around shared interests, challenges, and opportunities for growth.  Participants will leave with actionable strategies for identifying community needs, creating meaningful engagement opportunities, sustaining momentum, avoiding pitfalls, and empowering others to become community leaders.