At Lucid, we are always on the lookout for meaningful ways to connect with people from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives in our community, and we’ve discovered that we’re not alone in those efforts.

We put together a list of active Utah-based groups and resources that can help you find a place for learning, socializing, and support. Whether you’re looking to join an identity-based group, build professional industry connections, or just love dogs, there are groups in Utah who share your background and/or interests.

Business

Utah’s thriving business scene has earned it the nickname “Silicon Slopes,” and there is no shortage of career and business groups to help you further your professional development:

Business + socializing

• Where Business Meets Beer and Coffee
• Young Professionals
• Access Salt Lake

Startups

• Silicon Slopes
• BoomStartup

Real estate

• Real Estate Investing
• Real Estate Networking

Marketing

• Utah DMC (formerly "SLC|SEM")
• American Marketing Association SLC
• Content Professionals

Technical

• UtahJS
• Big Data
• Python
• Data Science
• Google Developers
• AWS
• Ruby
• DevOps

Women in business

• WTC
• WomenHack
• Girl Develop It
• Tech Ladies
• Lean In

Emotional health

One in five adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in a given year—these groups and courses offer assistance for those suffering and opportunities for individuals looking to help:

• NAMI
• Anxiety Education
• Recovery Support Group
• Art therapy
• Mindfulness
• DBT

Environment conservation

Passionate about preserving the environment, reducing waste, and keeping the air clean? Connect with these groups to get involved:

• Clean Air group
• Utah Environmental Organizations (list)
• TreeUtah

Foreign languages

Looking for a group to practice a language with? Whether it’s your native language or you’re just starting to learn, check out these groups:

• Spanish
• French
• Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese)
• Chinese (Mandarin)
• Italian
• Indian
• Scandinavian

Hobbies

However you spend your free time, you can pursue your hobbies with a committed group in Utah:  

• Climbing
• Backcountry skiing
• Snowboarding
• Drones/RC
• Knitting
• Scrapbooking/card-making
• Board games
• Books
• Dogs

LGBTQ

If you’re wanting to connect with other members of the LGBTQ community, including allies, there are a number of groups in the Salt Lake area for you to join:

• Utah Pride
• Queer Friends
• Salt Lake City Rainbow Girls
• SLC Reclaiming Spirit
• Encircle Together
• Salt Lake City PFLAG Chapter
• TEA of Utah (Transgender Education Advocates)
• Utah Women Unite

People of color

These groups are designed to bring people from shared ethnic backgrounds together:

• African American Social Group
• NAACP
• Hawaiian Cultural Center
• Utah Division of Indian Affairs
• Utah Women Unite

Religious beliefs

Religion is often a fundamental part of a person’s identity, and Utah has groups for you to connect with others who share your beliefs:

• Atheist
• Baptist
• Buddhist
• Catholic
• LDS (Mormon)
• Hindu
• Judaism
• Lutheran
• Methodist
• Muslim
• Presbyterian

For a more complete list of religions of Utah, including contact information and locations, check out the Utah Valley Interfaith website.

Volunteering

Interested in volunteering for a good cause? Help people in Utah get out of poverty, feed the homeless, or help kids get a head start on their education:

• Circles Utah Valley
• United Way (find a location close to you with lots of local options)
• Kids on the Move
• Rescue Salt Lake
• Catholic Community Services of Utah - Immigration & Refugee Resettlement
• Communities United
• International Rescue Committee (Salt Lake City Office)
• Refugee and Immigrant Center

We hope you found a group on this list that you’re excited about—if you know of a group we missed, we’d love to add it to the list! Feel free to comment on this post with recommendations for additional affinity groups.