Scott Heiferman didn’t think much of local communities– until he witnessed the outpouring of support all around him after the 9/11 attacks. It gave him an idea: could we use the internet to get off the internet — and meetup instead?
“The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I hoped they wouldn’t bother me.” Scott said in a message to Meetup members earlier this year. “When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors than ever before… People were looking after each other, helping each other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being neighborly.”
Scott put together a small team and launched Meetup.com 9 months later. Today, there are about 80 staff, 10 million members and thousands of “Meetups” daily– from fitness groups to language partners, hiking enthusiasts to depression support communities. Whatever it is you do– or aspire to do– there are now groups of people in your community ready to do the same.
Good People, Good Things 