Hey everyone, I'm in my early 30s male, vegan of two years. I've realized that I work too much and feel like I have no community or close friends. I didn't have many friends before going vegan, but it feels like it's gotten worse since I made the switch because I've been drifting away from my non-vegan friends, and they have also been contacting me less.

I'm looking for advice on how to make new vegan friends and possibly find a vegan community and/or vegan companionship. I’ve thought about getting involved in activism, but I'm not sure where to start. Plus, I'm not great at debating or trying to persuade others. I’ve also tried online communities, but I still feel pretty isolated there.

For reference, I'm in Chicago. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to read this. :)