Fabrik's Homegrown Series Week 1: How To Become a Local Leader From Scratch 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 1: How To Become a Local Leader From Scratch
We shouldn’t feel like we’re just consumers of the cities and neighborhoods we live in—the more we feel like we are an active part of our local community, the more good things happen—especially if you’re looking to put down roots and live there long-term.
When my wife and I moved to Norwalk two years ago, I started my “40 year community project”—figuring out how to put down roots and get embedded in the city where we plan to build a family and a life for the long-term.
Before I knew it, I was involved in civic organizations and getting invited to leadership committees—and befriending many of the folks who run the city.
In this session, I’ll share what I did to get established in my city and how you can do the same—and all the reasons why doing so is worth it. What we’ll cover:
1. Mapping your city’s social infrastructure
Google Maps Safari
Testing out potential hangout spots
Establishing your community headquarters
2. Nurturing your connections
Finding things to join
Creating space for opportunities to find you
The importance of keeping in touch
3. Stepping into leadership
Why hosting is so good for you
Easy ways to start gathering people, even if you’re new
4. Long-term potential
How you can re-shape your city over time
The untapped opportunities most of us can easily access
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.