Aside from searching the directory for others near you, you can connect with folks in your neighborhood or area by getting curious about where spiritual energy is already flowing. Look for gatherings around themes like mindfulness, justice, arts, or community healing—they often draw people with shared values, even if they use different language. Visit local nonprofits, cultural centers, or interfaith groups and introduce yourself. Don’t be afraid to reach out directly to someone whose work inspires you and invite them for coffee or a walk; most people welcome genuine connection. Hosting a simple meetup or dinner can also create a gathering point for like-minded innovators who might not know each other yet. Start small, stay open, and remember: collaboration often begins with a single, brave hello.
Top tips for where to find your people locally
Check out any local interfaith organizations as a starting point to see what religious communities and leaders are in your local area. Other hubs of potentially aligned leaders are civic and volunteer organizations, yoga and other wellness studios, even art studios, cafes and community centers.
Or, start making friends with local neighbors and ask around! Supernuclear is a newsletter about living near friends and frequently features inspiring stories of local communities doing simple things with extraordinary impact–like this one.
Or learn from Kat Vellos, a skilled experience designer and writer with lots of wisdom about building local community.
How to host a meetup of spiritual innovators in your area
Tony Bacigalupo moved to a new town and started hosting meetups to connect meaningfully with other locals. As a community builder who’d previously been active in the co-working movement, Tony has great practical insights that apply to any type of community leader.
Or, check out Meetup.com–the classic local get-together tool. Other good tools for local communities include Heylo and Geneva.
