The world of tech has been plagued by stereotypes of introverted, antisocial developers with minimal people skills for as long as dev teams have existed. In reality, IT is filled with a range of personalities as vibrant and nuanced as any other department. Many of us crave strong connections with our peers and a sense of community. This talk will explore one developer’s decades-long journey of involvement in various forms including his community building efforts. We’ll cover some good practices, things to avoid, and encourage audience participation to discuss different perspectives on the topic.