Community-based and inclusive renewable energy systems in underserved and marginalized communities are advancing rapidly around the world. To empower communities to take the lead in planning their energy futures, I co-founded and co-organize the global initiative “Let Communities Lead” advocacy. This platform highlights the work of researchers globally in co-producing knowledge with communities on empowerment, local ownership, and self-governance capacities through grassroots actions. The initiative was launched by the Center for Energy and Society of the Arizona State University (ASU) and the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in November 2021.