diff --git a/crates/workspace/src/sidebar/mod.rs b/crates/workspace/src/sidebar/mod.rs
index 99313cfa..9498a9dc 100644
--- a/crates/workspace/src/sidebar/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace/src/sidebar/mod.rs
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ impl Sidebar {
             section: TreeSection::Requests,
             count: requests.len(),
         });
+
         if self.is_expanded(TreeSection::Requests) {
             if requests.is_empty() {
                 rows.push(SidebarRow::Hint {
@@ -167,12 +168,20 @@ impl Sidebar {
             section: TreeSection::Community,
             count: communities.len(),
         });
+
         if self.is_expanded(TreeSection::Community) {
-            rows.extend(
-                communities
-                    .iter()
-                    .map(|entry| SidebarRow::Community { entry, depth: 1 }),
-            );
+            if communities.is_empty() {
+                rows.push(SidebarRow::Hint {
+                    text: "No communities yet".into(),
+                    depth: 1,
+                });
+            } else {
+                rows.extend(
+                    communities
+                        .iter()
+                        .map(|entry| SidebarRow::Community { entry, depth: 1 }),
+                );
+            }
         }
 
         let messages = chat.rooms(&RoomKind::Ongoing, cx);
@@ -180,6 +189,7 @@ impl Sidebar {
             section: TreeSection::Messages,
             count: messages.len(),
         });
+
         if self.is_expanded(TreeSection::Messages) {
             if messages.is_empty() {
                 rows.push(SidebarRow::Hint {
@@ -450,8 +460,9 @@ impl Focusable for Sidebar {
 impl Render for Sidebar {
     fn render(&mut self, window: &mut Window, cx: &mut Context<Self>) -> impl IntoElement {
         let nostr = NostrRegistry::global(cx);
-        let chat = ChatRegistry::global(cx);
         let logged_in = nostr.read(cx).current_user().is_some();
+
+        let chat = ChatRegistry::global(cx);
         let loading = chat.read(cx).loading() && logged_in;
 
         let rows = Rc::new(self.tree_rows(cx));
diff --git a/docs/sidebar-tree-redesign.md b/docs/sidebar-tree-redesign.md
index a81ce9eb..a59ab35e 100644
--- a/docs/sidebar-tree-redesign.md
+++ b/docs/sidebar-tree-redesign.md
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 # Sidebar tree redesign
 
-Status: steps 1-6 implemented. Search lives in `panels/search.rs`; the sidebar
-renders the nav rail, the flattened tree, and per-row pin/unpin menus. Remaining:
-step 7 (confirm the placeholder community names), optional step 8 (persistence),
-step 9 (remove the unused `TreeRow::selected` and run the final cleanup).
+Status: steps 1-7 implemented. Search lives in `panels/search.rs`; the sidebar
+renders the nav rail, the flattened tree, per-row pin/unpin menus, and the
+Community section from placeholder data (`TODO(concord)`). Remaining: optional
+step 8 (persistence), step 9 (remove the unused `TreeRow::selected` and run the
+final cleanup).
 
 Scope: `crates/workspace/src/sidebar` (`mod.rs`, `entry.rs`, new `tree.rs`),
 new panel shells in `crates/workspace/src/panels/`, and the `Command` wiring in
@@ -343,10 +344,11 @@ unused until step 5 consumes them. Run the checks in §15 after each step.
   element's `on_click` when that element recorded the matching mouse-down, so the
   row's `emit_room` click does not fire when the menu trigger is clicked. No extra
   handling was needed.
-- [ ] **Step 7 — community section.** Render dummy entries and hint; add the
-  `TODO(concord)` marker. The flattening and rendering landed with step 5
-  (`SidebarRow::Community` -> `TreeRow`, dummy data from `dummy_communities()`),
-  so this step is effectively complete once the names in §10 are confirmed.
+- [x] **Step 7 — community section.** Dummy entries and the empty-state hint are
+  rendered; the `TODO(concord)` marker sits on `dummy_communities()`. The
+  flattening and rendering landed with step 5 (`SidebarRow::Community` ->
+  `TreeRow`), so this step added the missing hint branch and confirmed the §10
+  placeholder names.
 - [ ] **Step 8 (optional) — persistence.** Add
   `#[serde(default)] pinned_rooms: Vec<u64>` (and optionally
   `expanded_sections: Vec<String>`) to `settings::Settings`, register accessors