Nim Sharon: Community Builder
When Nim Sharon moved to Deerfield, Illinois, he was starting from scratch.\
New town. New neighborhood. A whole new network to build for himself and his family.
He wanted to meet other Dads and get involved in the community. It didn’t take long to notice that the moms seemed to have the local intelligence network and the community calendar pretty well covered.
Need a plumber? Ask the moms. Babysitter? Ask the moms. Recommendation for just about anything? There was probably a Facebook group for it.
The Dads? Not so much.
So, in 2012, Nim started one.
He called it Deerfield Dads. Mostly as a joke. He never expected it to become much of anything. When he floated the idea to a few people, the feedback wasn’t exactly encouraging.
He did it anyway.
Today, Deerfield Dads is a community of roughly 2,700 men across Chicago’s North Shore who help each other find jobs, grow businesses, raise money for important causes, solve everyday problems, and sometimes just find someone to grab a beer with.
From Facebook Group to Community
I've known Nim for years. He's outgoing, funny, and seems to know just about everyone. Whether it’s online or in person, it makes perfect sense that he helped bring this group together.
I asked Nim what surprised him most about creating Deerfield Dads.
His answer wasn't about the number of members or how popular the group had become.
It was about how many people needed help.
"I think what really surprised me is that there are people in our community that really do need help, and they kind of suppress a lot of their struggles."
Over the years, the group has helped people navigate job losses, family challenges, COVID, and the tragedy of the Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooting.
What started as a place to ask for a handyman recommendation became a place where people could turn when life got difficult.
As Nim explained, “These are our neighbors. We should care about the people living next to us and find ways to support one another.”
That's when a small group becomes something much more meaningful.
Connecting the Dots
Nim has a demanding career in sales and business development. He's a husband and father. And yet, he spends an enormous amount of time managing the group.
His wife occasionally reminds him just how much time.
So why does he do it?
Because connecting people is part of who he is.
Nim said, “My full first name is Nimrod, which means ‘hunter’ in Hebrew.” He laughed about the irony because he's probably the last person you'd find hunting in the woods.
In sales, Nim is a hunter. He finds opportunities and goes after them. In Deerfield, he's found another kind of opportunity: connecting people who can help each other.
When someone loses a job, he thinks about who in his network might be hiring. When someone launches a business, he looks for ways to connect them with customers. When a family needs support, he figures out how to rally people around them.
"I'm really trying to do this to better the community," he explained. "I share my network with everyone."
That's a different way to think about networking. Instead of collecting contacts for what they might do for you, Nim treats his network as something he can share.
He has flipped the idea of networking around. It's not just about who you know. It's about knowing who you can turn to when someone needs help.
The Business of NotWorking
Of course, not everything in the Dads group is serious.
Sometimes it's just a bunch of guys grilling meat, going to a concert, or having a party at one of the many unique spots around Chicago’s North Shore.
Nim and the group have organized events they jokingly call "Sausage Fests." Picture a backyard full of grills, great food, live music, and Dads hanging out.
They've also organized Moonlight Golf, where Dads played after dark with glow-in-the-dark golf balls.
Nim calls these gatherings "not-working" events.
No name tags. No awkward elevator pitches. No pressure to make a business connection. Just people being themselves.
As we get older, especially as Dads, maintaining friendships can become surprisingly difficult. Between work, kids, family obligations, and everything else, getting together with friends often falls to the bottom of the list.
These events give people an excuse to make new connections in a relaxed environment.
When Community Really Matters
One of the most moving parts of our conversation was hearing how Deerfield Dads has supported families during difficult times.
Nim told me about one of the group's administrators, whose beloved dog tragically died after being left in a hot vehicle by a pet transportation service.
The community rallied around the family, raising thousands of dollars and helping arrange a memorial tree and bench at a local dog park.
The group also came together to support a family whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver.
And when Nim's own family was affected by type 1 diabetes, he turned his passion for helping others into fundraising for research and support. In one year, those efforts raised more than $30,000.
These aren't just Facebook posts. They're people showing up for other people.
Helping Local Businesses Thrive
Deerfield Dads has also become a surprisingly effective way for local businesses to grow.
I mentioned to Nim that I've hired people through Deerfield Dads and connected with others looking for work.
I joked that local AC, heating and plumbing member Louis Hanna seems to receive more glowing recommendations than just about anyone.
Nim laughed and agreed. Louis has built a reputation by consistently doing great work and being responsive.
Other members have used the group to introduce new businesses, test ideas, and find customers.
And Nim hasn't made a dollar from running it. That's not why he does it.
He genuinely enjoys watching someone take an idea, make a connection, and succeed.
Community Doesn't Happen by Accident
Well, maybe it starts by accident. But keeping it going takes work.
Nim has had to make some tough decisions about the group. He's eliminated anonymous posting, established expectations around self-promotion, and even removed members who were bullying others.
He wants people to be authentic, respectful, and helpful.
That doesn't mean everyone has to agree. It means people have to remember there's another human being on the other side of the conversation.
Nim didn't start with a strategic plan or a community engagement consultant. He saw something missing and created a place for people to come together.
Then he kept showing up. And a simple Dad’s group became something much harder to build: a community.
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