Nearly a decade ago, a small group of menders (and one maker) found community with each other at a conference and Legacy Code Rocks was born. Since then, the Legacy Code Rocks community has grown to over 1000 people, 150 podcast episodes, a weekly meetup and of course, MenderCon. In this talk, Andrea Goulet, the maker who kindled the spark, will take us back to those early days and reflect on how the bedrock of the Legacy Code Rocks community has always been creating a sense of belonging. Compassion and empathy are at the core of being a mender. Mending is caring deeply, seeing potential, and being willing to work through the frustration of making things better one small step at a time. This commitment to helping others feel seen instead of shame is why the Legacy Code Rocks community is so special — and it’s exactly why having the heart of the mender is what our world needs now more than ever.