Creating spaces where people feel like they belong — and want to come back.
I’ve built communities from the ground up: a student meditation community of 130, a global team working on dialogue across divides, and a local chapter of a global movement. Each one taught me something different about what makes people stay.
Started with four people sitting in a circle and an idea. Grew to 130 members, with regular sessions, a teacher programme, and a team of 20 volunteers. Still running years after I stepped back — which is the goal. studentmeditation.nl
A community of people committed to understanding across disagreement. Grew from 2 people to 25 contributors in 11 countries. Remote-first, volunteer-driven, and held together by a shared belief that dialogue is possible even where it seems impossible.
Part of the team building the Amsterdam chapter of Effective Altruism — a community of people trying to do the most good they can. Involved in events, strategy, and welcoming new members. eaamsterdam.com
The thing that determines whether a community grows or quietly fades is whether people feel genuinely seen. Not just welcomed — actually noticed. It’s hard to systematise, but it starts with the person at the top of the community caring about that more than anything else.
I’ve also learned that the best communities are built around a real shared purpose, not just shared interests. People who meditate together once a week aren’t necessarily a community. But people who are trying to change something about themselves together — that’s a different bond.
The hardest part of community building is stepping back. Handing over to someone else, trusting what you built, and watching it change. I’ve done that twice now, and it doesn’t get easier — but it’s also the sign that you built something real.
If you’re building a community and want to think it through together, I’d love to talk.
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