Fabrik's Homegrown Series Week 2: How To Foster Connection In Your City with Tony Bacigalupo
This three-part series is for anyone who loves their city but isn’t content to just live in it. Community-builder, and long-time friend of Fabrik, Tony breaks down the mindsets, maps, and momentum you need to move from newcomer to trusted local leader without burning out. Over three Tuesday evenings we’ll blend stories, step-by-step frameworks, and hands-on mini-workshops so you leave each session with concrete actions to take before the next one.
Whether you just got your keys or you’ve been around for years and want to level-up your impact, you’ll walk away with a clearer plan and a growing crew to cheer you on.
Week 2: How To Foster Connection In Your City
For too long, too many of us have become consumers of the places we live—we make use of the services they afford, but we don’t feel invested and involved in what’s happening.
When was your city’s last council meeting? What was discussed? Who’s in charge, and what decisions are being made?
If you’re interested to learn answers to these kinds of things, you’re not alone—and re-weaving your city’s cultural fabric will go a long way to make your hometown a healthier and happier place in the long run.
Drawing from the Democracy Policy Network’s City Membership policy kit, we’ll discuss some of the easy things you can do—and the long-term changes you can be paving the way for.
We’ll cover:
New in Town Meetup - A program to help people who recently (or not so recently) moved into town get connected to the places, programs, and events that will help them find their people.
Creating a Community Directory - How you can create a ton of value for your city by starting with a simple directory of the community resources that are already available
Learning the Lore & Creating a Visual Brand - Learn about what makes your city special and how to build a stronger sense of shared identity
Civic Fairs - How to raise awareness of what’s going on in town (starting with tabling at existing events)
Micro-Grants & Help with Promotion - How to accelerate community growth with small strategic investments
Inspire People to Organize - Show people simple and fun ways they can host their own gatherings
Alumni Events & Hall of Fame - Build on a big existing event to engage former residents and grow your city’s lore
Let’s make our cities better together!
Our Host: Tony Bacigalupo
Tony Bacigalupo led the charge to open Manhattan’s first coworking space, New Work City, in 2008. Much more than just a workspace, New Work City was home to countless Meetup groups and community programs, acting as a social hub for entrepreneurs and independent workers.
Along the way, he witnessed and supported the growth of the decentralized global coworking movement—seeing it grow from just a few dozen people in a Google Group to a household word that’s changed the world’s relationship with work forever.
Having worked with hundreds of community leaders, Tony has seen firsthand what it takes to build communities that can grow to make a global impact.
He wrote the 2023 State of Belonging Report and is currently hosting the You Are Invited radio show. He is also publishing a series of zines called Recipes for Belonging. He is organizing local programming and coordinating with the local government to make his new hometown of Norwalk the most belongful city in the world—and daring others to do better.