Thanks for sharing this comprehensive guide, Kevin, Sofia and Kyle! I wanted to respond to your questions based on my experience with EA Austria community building over the past year and co-initiating an Effective Animal Advocacy group with you, Kevin and Therese two years ago.
What problem did it solve for me?
I was doing street activism but found myself questioning, âIs this really effective?â Learning about effective animal advocacy through our community helped me focus both my career and donations more strategically. It gave me the frameworks and knowledge I needed to move from activism based on intuition to impact-driven work.
What made it worth returning to?
The combination of monthly socials (game nights, dinners, picnics) and topic-based events (discussions, workshops, lightning talks) created a space that never felt like work. Many people who came to these events became close friends. Itâs meaningful time with people I enjoy, where we have helpful discussions about effective animal advocacy. That blend of social connection and substantive conversation is what keeps bringing me back.
An underrated tip:
Community is bidirectionalâitâs about both giving and taking. While I can provide resources, connections, and advice to others, I can also reach out when I need help. Creating a culture where itâs normal to both contribute and ask for support has been crucial for making the community sustainable and genuinely valuable.
How we handled a hard moment:
With EA Austria, we had to remove someone from the group for six months because other members felt uncomfortable around them. This was one of the most difficult and energy-consuming decisions Iâve made as a community builder. The biggest mistake was waiting too long. We saw multiple signsâpeople stopped attending events when they knew this person would be thereâbut we hesitated to act.
My advice to other community builders: If a memberâs behavior is causing others to disengage or avoid events, address it quickly. Find a solution that protects the broader communityâs wellbeing, even if it means asking someone to leave. Acting sooner would have prevented more people from having negative experiences and saved everyone involved significant stress.
Thanks for sharing this comprehensive guide, Kevin, Sofia and Kyle! I wanted to respond to your questions based on my experience with EA Austria community building over the past year and co-initiating an Effective Animal Advocacy group with you, Kevin and Therese two years ago.
What problem did it solve for me?
I was doing street activism but found myself questioning, âIs this really effective?â Learning about effective animal advocacy through our community helped me focus both my career and donations more strategically. It gave me the frameworks and knowledge I needed to move from activism based on intuition to impact-driven work.
What made it worth returning to?
The combination of monthly socials (game nights, dinners, picnics) and topic-based events (discussions, workshops, lightning talks) created a space that never felt like work. Many people who came to these events became close friends. Itâs meaningful time with people I enjoy, where we have helpful discussions about effective animal advocacy. That blend of social connection and substantive conversation is what keeps bringing me back.
An underrated tip:
Community is bidirectionalâitâs about both giving and taking. While I can provide resources, connections, and advice to others, I can also reach out when I need help. Creating a culture where itâs normal to both contribute and ask for support has been crucial for making the community sustainable and genuinely valuable.
How we handled a hard moment:
With EA Austria, we had to remove someone from the group for six months because other members felt uncomfortable around them. This was one of the most difficult and energy-consuming decisions Iâve made as a community builder. The biggest mistake was waiting too long. We saw multiple signsâpeople stopped attending events when they knew this person would be thereâbut we hesitated to act.
My advice to other community builders: If a memberâs behavior is causing others to disengage or avoid events, address it quickly. Find a solution that protects the broader communityâs wellbeing, even if it means asking someone to leave. Acting sooner would have prevented more people from having negative experiences and saved everyone involved significant stress.