ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the decisions and processes that were taken to establish and support a regional Community of Practice (CoP). The CoP described in this chapter formed in 2014 and generally located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, was conceived to connect practicing professionals in the fields of both instructional design and professional development. The goal of forming this regional network was to allow members to connect locally with others in the profession to promote knowledge and innovation sharing in the fields of teaching and learning. In this chapter, founding members of the advisory board describe the decisions made by those forming the community, as well as the steps taken to sustain the community over time, including the planning and hosting of an annual in-person meeting for community members to attend; built-in opportunities for informal mentorship; and virtual gatherings and professional development offerings designed to connect and sustain community membership and engagement throughout the year.
