Community Is How I Heal and Grow
Community isn’t a contact list—it’s a lifeline. We love to say “relationship-building” and “staying in touch,” but true community is different. It’s how I’ve healed, built, and been SEEN.
What community means to me:
Building with intention
Creating space for others
Elevating the room with your gifts
Collaborating, not competing—there’s room for everyone
Connecting people to the tools and resources that help them win
Community isn’t transactional—it’s nourishment.
When I left my corporate role, I knew I needed people. LA was the hardest place I’ve lived to find community… and nine years later, I not only found it—I help create it. Daniel Chae, founder of LA in Common, once told me: “When you enter a room, you instantly create community and people gravitate toward you.” That reflection mattered. In rooms where I once fought to be seen, I’m now recognized without pushing. And yes—grief is part of that story. If I hadn’t experienced deep loss, I might not have searched for this level of connection.
Communities that have helped me grow:
LA in Common — Community for founders and builders: peer support, Slack, weekly stand-ups, co-working, curated intros. (Founder: Daniel Chae)
Get Griefy Business Collective — A space (created by Kera Sanchez) for small business owners and creatives working in grief.
Greeting Card Association — The trade group that champions the greeting card and social expression industry.
Reading Rhythms — Monthly reading parties blending silent reading with social connection; I lead the LA chapter.
Because of these connections I’ve:
Made new friends
Secured new selling opportunities
Connected founders with collaborators
Launched Griefy Walks, a monthly walk series
Applied for my first industry award—and became a finalist
Stepped into leadership to create a group for new card business owners (and wasn’t asked to “stay in a box”)
Attended my first sacred rage event
Leaned into my hobbies and discovered the power of my voice
That’s just what I can list off the top. Community has held me up and moved me forward.
How has your community helped you?
