Finding Your People: How to Join a Group (or Start Your Own)

So, you want to join a group? It’s a great way to combat a growing trend among U.S. adults who report feeling lonely or emotionally disconnected. Plus, numerous physical and mental benefits of social connections include reduced risk of chronic disease and serious illness; lower levels of stress and loneliness; and higher self-esteem and motivation.

What’s your goal? First, identify and prioritize your motivations for joining a group. Do you want to learn a new hobby or sport? Share your time and talents by volunteering? Boost your career and job prospects through networking? Make new friends in your community, church or neighborhood? Seek support from others going through a similar experience, such as grief, illness or addiction? Knowing your goal helps narrow your search and makes it easier to find groups that are a good fit for you. 

Let’s get social. Social media tools have made it easier than ever to find and join a group of like-minded people. Meetup.com calls itself “The people platform. Where interests become friendships.” With just a few clicks, you can narrow your search by interest, type of group or event (online or in person), and distance from you.

According to Facebook Groups, over 1 billion people across the globe use the platform to explore their favorite topics, so you’ll definitely want to use its search tools to refine and find groups or events that closely match your interests, availability and location.

Start close to home. Many coffee shops and restaurants still use bulletin boards to post local groups and events, as do many libraries, religious, community, civic and fitness centers. Enrichment programs and adult education classes offer even more great ways to meet and enjoy the company of others. Explore close-to-home learning environments, including:

• Canton Leisure Services
• Village Arts Factory
• Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
• Schoolcraft College
• Wayne County Community College
• Huron-Clinton Metroparks

At the library. Don’t overlook the myriad groups offered through Canton Public Library. Helping you connect with others is at the core of what we do: connecting your community.

• Adult Writers’ Group (twice a month)
• Anime & Manga Club (ages 18+)
• Board Gaming League of Canton (monthly, all ages, all skill levels)
• Book groups: Join CPL’s Contemporary Book Group, Eclectic Book Group and Senior Book Group
• Canton Knit & Crochet Club (twice a month)
• CPL Trivia Night (every other month, adults)
• English language learner (ELL) groups include: ELL Conversation Group (every Friday), Zoom ELL Conversation Group (every Thursday), and Zoom ELL Book Club

No group? No problem! If you have a very specific interest or passion yet can’t find a group for it, first call or visit CPL; a librarian can help you with your search.

If you still can’t find a suitable match, you may very well have the skills and tools needed to form your own group. Start by clearly defining your group’s mission and goals, the venue (in person or online), and the target audience.

To promote your group, use many of the same methods other groups do, including social media and bulletin boards. As you get started, don’t worry about attracting a big number of members. Even small groups of two to four people can still have a big impact on the quality of the connections made—and friendships built—with each other.