If events are the moments people meet, Slack is where people stay connected afterwards. It’s our main comms platform, but more importantly, it’s the place where the community becomes real between events. The little conversations. The “anyone else working on this?” messages. The shared links, opportunities, encouragement, and the occasional chaotic meme. That’s the stuff that turns a calendar of events into a genuine network of people who recognise each other and keep coming back.
So yes, use Slack for planning and updates, but don’t treat it like a noticeboard. Treat it like a room. If you want a global community that feels close, this is one of the biggest levers you’ve got.
Want to bring someone into the Slack community? Lovely. Use this invite link:
👉 https://join.slack.com/t/one-healthtech/shared_invite/zt-mhu8nqw5-yEPXjQo4nF1NB3L91o9XOA
Just a heads up, you can’t link people directly to a specific Slack channel from outside. So once they’re in, let them know which channel to join.
Each community has two main Slack channels:
Public channel (#oht-your-community-name)
This is the community space. It’s where members hang out, chat, share, ask questions, and keep the conversation going between events.
Private channel (🔒team-your-community)
This is for your core planning team. Use it to coordinate, plan events, chat logistics, and ask questions. The OHT core team is also in here, so it’s the easiest way to get advice, feedback, and support.
This is where people should feel comfortable saying hi, asking questions, sharing something interesting, or starting a conversation sparked by an event. It’s the place where newcomers can land and think, “Oh, people actually talk here.”
As a Fellow, your role isn’t to fill the channel with posts. It’s to set the tone and keep the door open. When you share regularly, reply warmly, and ask the occasional question, you make it easier for others to join in. Over time, the community starts talking to each other, not just to you. That’s the goal.
A lot of people join a new Slack and lurk for a while. That’s normal. Most folks are waiting for a clear invitation, or for someone else to go first. Your job is to make it easier.
The easiest way is to link Slack and your events together. Before an event, nudge people to introduce themselves or drop a question they hope gets covered. After an event, keep the warmth going with a quick thank you, a couple of highlights, and a gentle question like “What should we do next?” or “What did you want more of?” Those tiny follow-ups are where relationships start to form.
You don’t need to be polished. You don’t need to post every day. You just need to show that this is a place where people can speak, be seen, and get a response.