# Building Tech Communities: From Teaching HTML to Leading Global Events > [!NOTE] Cite this: > Lau, Grace G. “Building Tech Communities: From Teaching HTML to Leading Global Events.” _Grace G. Lau_ (blog), February 13, 2025. https://graceglau.com/content/writing/Building+Tech+Communities. ## Looking Back: My First Steps in Community Building It was 2005, and everything was different then. The iPhone hadn't been invented yet, though Apple was starting to make waves on college campuses—you'd see MacBooks everywhere. I was in library school, where each class had about fifty or sixty students. We all shared the same worry: Did we need to know how to program to be librarians? Back then, the bar for "programming" was much lower than it is today. Nobody was talking about Python or R. If you knew basic HTML, you were considered technically skilled enough. I noticed how many of my fellow students were anxious about this. They'd ask, "Do I need to learn programming?" So, I organized a few workshops to give my peers some very basic HTML understanding. It wasn't anything fancy—just simple, practical skills that would help them feel more confident about reading HTML. Looking back, this was my first real experience organizing events for a community. I didn't think of it as "community building" at the time - I was trying to help solve a problem that I saw my classmates struggling with. The formula was simple: there was a need, and I thought other people might be interested, so I organized something to address it. Interestingly, this small act - teaching HTML to nervous library students - ended up being the first step in a much longer journey of community building. I didn't know then that I'd eventually help create the LA UX meetup group or get involved with World IA Day. I was trying to help my fellow students learn enough HTML to feel confident about their future careers. ## The Tech Waves that Shaped Us After I left library school and entered the working world, I found myself riding the wave of massive changes in our industry. It started with our meetup group in LA. When we first created it, we called it the IA (Information Architecture) meetup group - this was back when Meetup.com was starting. UX wasn't really a thing yet; IA was the prominent term, and that's what we all identified with. But then everything started shifting beneath our feet. The iPhone came out, changing how people thought about digital experiences. Job titles began morphing—suddenly, we saw roles for "Interaction Design" and organizations like IXDA popping up. The term "UX" started gaining traction, and our little IA meetup group evolved into the LA UX meetup group to reflect these changes. What's interesting is that while the labels kept changing, the core work remained remarkably consistent. During my time at Disney and later, when I shifted to focus more on taxonomy work, I kept reminding myself that my title might change, but I'm still doing the same fundamental work—designing interactions, organizing information, and making things make sense for users. I remember thinking, "The work doesn't change, even if the title does." I was still doing interaction design, thinking about structuring information and focusing on making things usable. When I wanted to go into taxonomy work, it felt less like a career change and more like returning to my roots. That's when I picked up Heather Hedden's "Accidental Taxonomist" book and started getting more involved with different communities. The key was staying flexible while keeping sight of the fundamental principles. As technology evolved and new platforms emerged, the core challenges remained: how do we organize information? How do we make it accessible? How do we create systems that make sense to users? Whether we were calling ourselves information architects, UX designers, or taxonomists, these questions stayed relevant. To stay current, I kept learning and engaging with different communities. I didn't want to keep up with trends—I wanted to understand the deeper patterns of how our field was evolving. This drew me to taxonomy work, which led to governance, technical writing, and communications, which led to content design. Community building is not about chasing every new trend but creating spaces where people can navigate these changes together. Whether we're calling ourselves IA practitioners or UX designers, we're all trying to solve similar problems with ever-changing tools and contexts. ## Going Global: A Community Builder's Journey It started in 2015 when I attended the IA Summit in Minneapolis. I remember thinking, "There has to be a better way." Not everyone could afford these conferences—between flights, hotels, tickets, and time away from family, it was out of reach for many. What if we could bring these learning opportunities closer to home? That drew me to World IA Day, which Abby Covert and others started in 2012. The idea was simple: we'd bring the content to the local communities instead of everyone traveling to a conference. When I started helping organize World IA Day Los Angeles, I saw firsthand how this model could work. We were creating accessible events that connected to a global conversation. The journey from organizing local HTML workshops to co-chairing major conferences was quite a ride. In 2021, I became a co-chair of the IA Conference, which gave me a whole new perspective on building communities at scale. We focused on making these synchronous events more accessible through equity scholarships and flexible pricing options. The online revolution really changed everything. Our Taxonomy Talk Discord server started connecting people worldwide, and the conversations became richer because we had perspectives from different cultures and contexts. Someone in Boston could learn from someone in LA, and vice versa. That's why when I hear where people are located, I immediately think about how they could stay connected through these global networks while building new local connections. I've learned that you need local and global community building. Local connections give you that personal touch - like being able to meet face-to-face in real life. But global connections give you that broader perspective and keep you connected no matter where you are. Being an introvert myself, I never imagined I'd be helping to build these global communities. But I've discovered that community building isn't about being the loudest voice in the room - it's about creating spaces where people can connect, learn, and grow together, whether in the same city or across the world. ## An Introvert's Path to Community Building People often assume community builders are extroverts. I'm living proof that's wrong. Recently, I was chatting with another UX professional about this - we both laughed about how others see us as extroverted. Still, we're actually introverts who've learned to engage "by necessity." Being an introvert can be a strength in community building. We're often good listeners, picking up on what people really need. When I started those HTML workshops in library school, it came from quietly observing my classmates' anxieties about technology. Being introverted helped me notice these unspoken needs. Creating inclusive spaces means making space for different personality types. Some people thrive in loud, energetic meetups, while others prefer quiet discussions or online interactions. I create events that offer both. During the IA Conference, we make sure there are spaces for high-energy networking and quieter corners for smaller conversations. Online platforms have been a game-changer for introverted community builders like me. They let us engage thoughtfully and on our own terms, helping me stay connected without getting overwhelmed. The key is playing to your strengths. Do you love organizing? Focus on that. Do you prefer one-on-one conversations? Make those connections. Being a community builder doesn't mean you have to be the center of attention—it means creating spaces where others can connect in ways that work for them. ## Building Communities that Last Creating a community is one thing - keeping it alive and thriving is another challenge entirely. Over the years, from running the LA UX meetup to organizing World IA Day events, I've learned that sustainability comes down to consistent, thoughtful engagement. It's like tending a garden. You can't just plant seeds and walk away. When I started the Taxonomy Talk server, I learned that regular activity matters more than big, flashy events. Sometimes, it's as simple as sharing an interesting article or asking a thought-provoking question. But that consistency keeps people coming back and keeps conversations flowing. One of my biggest revelations was realizing I couldn't - and shouldn't - do everything myself. In library school, I might have been one of the more active students organizing a career fair and coordinating events with the student board. Still, as our communities grew, I focused on creating opportunities for others to step up. When someone shows interest in a topic, I encourage them to follow that thread and turn it into a guided research project. This prevents burnout and brings fresh perspectives and energy to the community. The trick is finding the right balance between structure and flexibility. You need enough structure to keep things organized—like regular meeting times or clear guidelines—but enough flexibility to let the community evolve naturally. When we saw the field shifting from IA to UX, we adapted. When the pandemic hit, we pivoted to online events. When AI became a hot topic, we created space for those discussions and experimented together. Keeping a community relevant means staying tuned to what members need, not what we think they need. Sometimes, that means letting go of programs that aren't serving the community anymore or creating new initiatives based on emerging interests. Too many communities wind down because they stick rigidly to their original mission instead of growing with their members. Most importantly, I've learned that the communities people return to are those built on relationships, not just events or platforms. When people feel connected to each other and see real value in their participation, they stay engaged for the long haul. That's why I always encourage people to reach out, share their experiences, and help others—because those connections are what truly keep a community alive. ## Lessons from Two Decades of Community Building The digital revolution changed everything about community building but didn't replace the need for human connection. I've learned to blend online and offline engagement. Our Taxonomy Talk server connects people globally, while local meetups provide irreplaceable face-to-face interaction. The magic happens when you can bridge these worlds—when someone who's been chatting online for months finally meets their community in person at a conference. The most important lesson is to let communities evolve naturally. You can't force growth or dictate direction. We adapted when I saw our IA meetup group naturally shifting toward UX discussions. When our members asked questions about AI and taxonomy, we created space for those conversations. Good community builders are like gardeners - we create the conditions for growth. Still, we let the community determine its own path. These lessons weren't learned from books or training - they came from years of trying, failing, adjusting, and trying again. The best communities aren't built overnight; they grow organically from genuine connections and shared needs. ## Growing Together: The Ripple Effect Looking back, I never imagined hosting HTML workshops would lead to co-chairing international conferences and building global communities. But that's the magic of community building - you never know how far those initial ripples will spread. In tech, we often focus on tools and frameworks. Inadvertently, after two decades, I've learned that the communities we are part of are what our identity is and the impact we leave behind. Whether helping each other navigate AI, supporting career transitions, or sharing knowledge, these connections matter more than ever. Here's my challenge: What need do you see in your community? Start small, stay genuine, and let your community guide the way. You don't need to create a global conference - sometimes, the biggest movements start with a simple workshop or conversation. Remember, today's small action could be tomorrow's worldwide movement. All it takes is that first step. # Sidebar: "Community Building Quick Tips" - Listen to your community's needs - Start small and focused - Be consistent in engagement - Create inclusive spaces - Embrace both digital and physical spaces - Allow for organic growth Published: 2025-02-13 Last updated: 2025-02-13