Literally any event/gathering is a great place to start. The whole point of bringing groups together is to encourage people to interact. It’s awkward for ever

Literally any event/gathering is a great place to start. The whole point of bringing groups together is to encourage people to interact. It’s awkward for everyone, but you can make it less awkward for others by just being friendly.. complimenting someone, or even just asking a simple question to get some engagement. As long as you are respectful, friendly, and not pushy, everyone will respect you back. Try to find some local gatherings in your own community, maybe a church potluck (they won’t care if you’re not religious, they are just happy you are there) .. maybe a local game shop has some DND evenings, or just find something that aligns with your personal interests. To improve your nervousness about speaking, toastmasters or a Dale Carnegie class are both good options as well.