Building & Nurturing User Communities with Mary Grygleski
As developers, it’s easy to get lost in our code, but connecting with others is crucial for our growth. This post breaks down how to build, nurture, and get involved in developer communities, with expert advice from Java Champion and community leader, Mary Grygleski.
Why Join a Developer Community? #
Let’s be honest, working in tech can sometimes feel isolating. But it doesn’t have to be! User communities, like Java User Groups (JUGs), are amazing places to meet people, share ideas, and learn together.
It’s not just about making friends; it’s about staying current. Technology moves fast, and many companies can’t keep up. A community helps you see what’s new and what’s possible, even if your daily job involves older tech.
As Mary Grygleski explains, communities keep you from falling behind:
A lot of businesses or organizations are not quite up to date with the latest version… but we have already traveled so far ahead. So, if you keep working in the same environment, you may not know what’s new. That’s why you come together as a community. People come in and share what’s the latest. Not to say you have to adopt it right away, but at least you’re aware…You learn about what’s out there and what’s available.
Plus, communities remind us of the human side of technology. Interacting with peers energizes you, broadens your perspective, and can even spark new ideas for your own projects. It’s about connection, not just code.
How to Get More Involved (Even if You’re Shy) #
So, you want to contribute, but you’re not sure how? Maybe you feel a bit scared to reach out to the organizers. That’s a totally normal feeling!
Remember, community organizers want your help. The first step can be as simple as sending an email. From there, there are many ways to contribute, big or small. You don’t have to commit a lot of time to make a difference.
Mary suggests a few easy ways to start:
Maybe identify a couple of tasks that people can do and then ask them… For example, if someone is a coder, we have a simple intro slide deck before each event. You can introduce them to it: ‘Maybe you can help update the slide deck before every meeting?’ Or if people have suggestions for talk titles or interesting topics, encourage them to give us all kinds of input… It all depends on the group, the dynamics, and the personality.
Here are some simple ideas to get you started:
- Suggest topics for future meetups.
- Help update slides or other simple materials.
- Share your ideas with the organizers.
- Offer to help with setup or food on the day of an event.
- Be active on the group’s
Discordserver or social media channels.
Every little bit helps build a stronger, more vibrant community for everyone.
What if There’s No Community Near Me? #
Living far from a major city can make it hard to attend in-person events. Big cities have huge traffic, and commuting for hours isn’t always possible, especially if you work from home.
The good news? Many communities now offer hybrid events. This means they happen in-person but are also live-streamed for remote attendees. This allows you to participate, learn, and connect no matter where you live. While being there in person is great for networking, online access is a fantastic alternative.
Mary shares how her group, the Chicago JUG, adapted:
We have folks who aren’t living right in the city. We also live-stream the event, so we publish the live stream link. We give people a chance to watch it remotely, especially when they are too far away… They have a choice to watch it online rather than always having to be there in person. But I like to say, the best is to be in person, but if not, there’s always the option of watching it remotely.
If your local group isn’t offering a hybrid option, maybe you can suggest it! You could even volunteer to help set up the streaming.
Tips for Growing a Community #
Are you thinking about starting your own community or helping an existing one grow? The secret ingredient is consistency.
People need to know when and where to find you. Having a regular schedule, like a meetup on the same day each month, helps build a loyal following. It shows that you’re committed and reliable.
But it’s not just about monthly meetings. To keep things fresh and attract new members, Mary suggests:
- Hosting different types of events, like workshops or hackathons.
- Organizing social events, like a holiday party, for members to mingle.
- Partnering with other local tech groups.
Mary found success by collaborating with other communities:
I think if we maintain some consistency, it’s always good. Try to be as consistent as possible so folks can adapt to your cadence… Another thing we’re doing is partnering with other user communities… In that case, you’re bringing different groups of people together to mingle. I think that can also help.
By partnering with other groups, you can cross-promote events and introduce your members to a wider network of developers.
To Summarize It #
Developer communities are more than just meetups; they are essential ecosystems for learning, networking, and career growth. Whether you’re a member or an organizer, there are countless ways to get involved. You can stay up-to-date with technology, find support from your peers, and even contribute by sharing your own skills and ideas. The key is to take that first step.
What is the AI Collective? #
The AI Collective is a global, non-profit organization focused on all aspects of Artificial Intelligence. It grew very quickly, reaching approximately 80,000 subscribers worldwide within two years. Mary Grygleski is actively involved as the Regional Director for North America East.
Key Characteristics & Focus #
Its operating model and audience are distinctly different from a traditional developer user group like a JUG.
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Diverse, Business-Focused Audience: The group is not just for technologists. It actively includes a wide range of professionals:
- Business leaders and founders looking to apply AI.
- Investors seeking to fund AI-driven startups.
- Product managers, marketing professionals, and other non-tech roles.
- Professionals from other fields, such as lawyers, looking to solve industry-specific problems with AI.
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Practical & Commercial Application: A primary goal is to connect ideas with funding and real-world implementation. The events are designed to foster this connection. As Mary described it, “It’s really about business trying to use AI in their stuff.”
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Problem-Solving Orientation: The group tackles tangible challenges. Mary gave a specific example of working with lawyers in the group to explore how Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) could be used to sort through complex legal documents.
Types of Activities #
The AI Collective hosts a variety of events that go beyond standard tech talks:
- Founder Pitches: Start-up founders pitch their AI-related ideas directly to investors who are present at the meetings.
- Workshops & Hackathons: Hands-on events for building and learning.
- Technology Showcases: The group partners with companies to feature and demonstrate their AI-related products and tools.
- Exclusive Networking Events: They also consider events like “investors’ dinners” to facilitate deeper connections.
Global Expansion #
The initiative has a deliberate global expansion strategy with regional directors responsible for building chapters. Mary noted that since starting the global push in July (of the previous year), chapters are growing rapidly in:
- North and South America (including interest in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru).
- Europe (with chapters in Poland, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, France, the UK, and more).
- Asia and Africa.
Mary actively encourages listeners from around the world to get involved and start their own local chapters.
This Out of the Box conversation was inspired by Mary’s session at JCrete 2025. I’m so grateful to Mary for taking the time to record this video with me while we were there: