About us
We're all a little addicted to our screens, and it's getting harder to remember what a real, unhurried conversation with another human even feels like. Chicago's full of ways to meet people, happy hours, dating apps, activity meetups, but most of them are built for small talk, not real connection. What if there was a place we could go to really connect with people?
I'm AJ. I moved to Chicago from DC this year, where a few years ago I started Higher Grounds, a group built around exactly this kind of conversation. It began small and grew to nearly 600 people, run now by the community itself, proof that people are hungry for this even in a city as busy and distracted as DC. (https://www.meetup.com/higher-grounds-dmv) I wanted to see if the same thing could take root here, so I'm bringing the format to Chicago and giving it a real shot, starting from scratch, in a new city, with new people.
How It Works
- We meet in coffee shops, tables of two to six.
- At each table, an informal moderator gets things started, and everyone goes around for a quick round of introductions, starting with one question: "what makes you you?" Where you work and what you do comes later, if at all.
- From there it's conversational jazz. No rigid agenda, just people listening, engaging, and following wherever the room takes it.
- Conversations range widely and organically: technology and AI, generational differences, major life transitions, empty nesting, starting over single, travel and living in other cultures, identity, belief, mortality, work and purpose, relationships, and more.
- Politics and religion aren't off-limits, but the tone stays toward sharing wisdom and lived experience, not pontificating or judging.
- A list of optional discussion questions is included in case a table ever needs a nudge, though most groups never need it.
We'll kick things off in Andersonville and Lincoln Square. Eventually, we'll be looking for co-facilitators who can lead groups in other neighborhoods and help manage current activities, develop new ideas, and explore expansion across Chicago. Reach out to me directly on Meetup if that's interesting to you.
If you'd like to start a chapter in your own neighborhood, come to at least three sessions first to get a feel for how we do things, then let's talk about your location and ideas.
Higher Grounds Community Guidelines
Behaviors That Are Out of Bounds:
- Sexual Harassment - Unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate comments, unwanted physical contact, or persistent romantic pursuit after being declined.
- Disruptive Behavior - Dominating conversations and refusing to let others speak, belittling or dismissing others' perspectives, consistently interrupting or talking over people, creating a hostile atmosphere through rudeness or aggression.
- Hate Speech - Discriminatory language or targeted harassment based on identity (race, gender, sexuality, religion, etc.).
- Breach of Confidentiality - Sharing what others have disclosed in the group without their explicit permission.
- Solicitation - Using the group for networking, recruiting, sales, or promotional purposes.
Repercussions:
- Sexual harassment: Immediate and permanent removal from Higher Grounds.
- Hate speech: Immediate and permanent removal from Higher Grounds.
- Disruptive behavior: A group leader will contact you privately to discuss and course correct. If the behavior persists, you may face expulsion from the group.
- Breach of confidentiality: Depending on severity, either a warning or removal from the group.
- Solicitation: A warning first, then removal if it continues.
Reporting: Contact an organizer or facilitator privately with concerns. All reports are handled with discretion.
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