Creating Community and Building a Network at ICF Metro DC

There are many ways to broaden your coaching community at ICF Metro DC! You'll find a long list of chapter happenings intended to foster networking and community, below. 

And remember: you can create community wherever you are! We recommend that at any ICF Metro DC event or gathering you attend, you: 

- Introduce yourself to somebody new! Whether in a virtual breakout room, across the table at a Coaches Coffee, or in line for lunch at a conference, be the first to offer up a handshake and hello. 
- Share your contact information after making a new acquaintance. If you miss an opportunity to swap emails in a learning session breakout room, email us at admin@icfmetrodc.org and we might be able to help you connect. 
- Speak up! Ask questions and offer insights. You may catch the attention of somebody who will want to collaborate with you. 

• Coaches Coffee Groups: Coaches Coffee Group gatherings are probably the place to find community and build your network most easily. They are where ICF Metro DC members gather to get to know one another, share challenges and opportunities, and learn together in informal settings. We offer ten different groups, occurring online and in-person, most monthly or close to it. Although the groups are mostly organized around geographic areas (a vestige of the pre-pandemic way of life!), most meet at least occasionally online and all are open to everyone. You may attend as many as you'd like! Click through to the Coaches Coffee page to find contact information for group leaders and to learn when each group meets next. Sign-ups for these groups happen according to the method each individual leader has set up, not through the chapter website. It usually just takes an email to get on a group's mailing list and receive alerts and zoom info/locations for future gatherings. 
  
  
• New Member Meetings: New chapter members are invited to orientation meetings on the second Friday of each month at 2 p.m.  These gatherings serve as a wonderful opportunity for you to gain valuable information about our chapter's activities and to meet other new members. We discuss various initiatives, events, and projects that you can get involved in, all aimed at fostering a vibrant and engaging community. Participants have a chance to get to know other new members, ask questions, share your ideas, and set oneself up to have a relationship with the chapter that is both fulfilling and enriching. You can attend as many times as you'd like! Register on our Events Calendar.
  
  
• Support Circle for ICF Metro DC Coaches: Life in and around Washington, D.C. lately has been complicated. We created this group to provide a community-centered space for coaches impacted—personally or through supporting their clients—by what’s happening in the world, especially in the D.C. area. The focus is on shared humanity, connection, and emotional processing rather than formal learning and development. It offers structured but flexible opportunities to process emotions in a supportive group setting, share insights and wisdom, and cultivate agency and optimism. This group meets in person. Find the next occurrence and register on our Events Calendar. 

• Coaching Book Club: ICF Metro DC is home to a Coaching Book Club! This initiative offers coaches an enriching space to learn from leading experts in coaching, adult learning, and behavioral science through books, articles, and various media. Virtual meet-ups provide participants with the chance to learn from one another and build connections through guided discussions. The Coaching Book Club convenes every other month. Look for the next meeting on our Events Calendar. 

• Credentialing Support Group: The ICF Metro DC Credentialing Support Group is designed specifically for chapter members working toward ACC or PCC credentialing. It occurs monthly and is a place to take next steps in the path toward your new credential, alongside fellow coaches also seeking credentialing. Register for the next session on our Events Calendar. 

• Learning & Development Opportunities: There are always opportunities to connect with fellow coaches and coaches-in-training at our Learning & Development sessions. We offer at least two unique and valuable learning sessions per month, providing the chance to earn continuing coaching education credits while building your community. You'll find all of our sessions on our Events Calendar. Be sure you're logged in to the website so you can access these sessions for free - part of your chapter member benefits! 
  
  
• Coaching Dojo: The ICF Metro DC Coaching Dojo is a safe place to deliberately practice with your peers and get feedback to improve and refine your coaching skills. There are few better ways to create a connection with a fellow coach than by coaching each other!   
  
  
• Join a Committee or Volunteer: Serving alongside others is a fantastic way to build relationships and expand your knowledge and networking. Our chapter depends on volunteers to operate smoothly and bring value to our many members - how will you contribute? Visit our Committee page to learn about consistently available opportunities, and if you have an idea you don't see there, email us at admin@icfmetrodc.org to set up a time to discuss it! 
  
  
• Connect Online: Join our ICF Metro DC Chapter LinkedIn Group, where you can connect with fellow members, pose questions, or post opportunities.