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Linked-course communities place students into cohorts, such that students take multiple classes with the same peers. Bridgewater State University has conducted a randomized control trial of STEM linked-course communities where first-year science and mathematics students took a content-rich First Year Seminar focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the first course in their major, and their first mathematics course through the community. Students participating in the communities had higher rates compared to the control group for University retention, STEM retention, rates of A & B grades, and lower rates of D, F, and W grades. In this workshop, participants will learn steps for creating communities, map out local courses for effective communities, and identify the important local players to create effective communities. Participants will be able to explain the underlying theory of why linked-course communities may lead to increased STEM retention and know key players for effective implementation.