#creatingcommunity

[jusbittersweet]

Join ForbesBLK in Atlanta, GA for the 2024 ForbesBLK Summit from June 23-25, 2024. This three-day summit, centered around the theme, “Investing in Us: Advancing Capital & Creating Community in Black America”, promises to be filled with inspiring ideas and engaging conversations about the future of our community. Act fast and take advantage of the limited-time early bird rate by registering at https://bit.ly/49VLzF6.

An exclusive discount is available for ForbesBLK members. RSVP today!

[malgorzatafricze]

Finding Community as a Remote Worker: A Freelancer's Journey in Italy

London to Treviso: how it all started.

Recently, I came across Venywhere, an exciting project for Venice as a city for remote workers. It prompted me to reflect on my own journey as a person working from anywhere. It all commenced over 5 years ago when I moved from London to a city with less than 100,000 inhabitants not far from Venice, Italy. It was an obvious choice at the time; I didn’t know the language or at least not well enough to land a decent job, and I was basically given a remote position at a new startup based in the US. It seemed too good to say no. I was afraid but was also willing to give it a go. Used to a bustling, office-based environment, I had no experience working from home and identified as someone who thrived on social interaction. The image of me sitting in a quirky bar overlooking a canal with a laptop, slowly sipping the finest Italian espresso, lured me into the vision of a freelancing dream. 

Struggles and Challenges: The reality wasn’t as perfect as I envisioned it.

As a newcomer, I struggled with the language, which meant I also had few friends. My partner (whose job was an hour's drive away) was gone for 10 hours a day, and I was left alone in a place where I didn’t feel I belonged. After a few weeks, neither coffee nor prosecco appeared to be enough. I was craving human interactions, but going out wasn’t a solution to my issue. My basic language skills were not enough to blend in or interact with the Italian community. I remember this one time when a barista looked at me, startled when I asked if he spoke English, and ran away in a panic, looking for help. Then came the pandemic, and although my situation didn’t exactly improve, at least I was spending more time with my Italian partner. 

I was convinced that remote work wasn’t for me. But I wasn’t sure how to change it. 

Out of nowhere, I stumbled upon a community of expats on Facebook that I had no idea existed. (Like, who is still using FB in 2023, right?) Then I came across a post from someone looking to connect with fellow remote workers. And a year later, here we are with a group of over 10 female (yes, only women) freelancers meeting to co-work together a couple of times a week. Over time we started seeing each other outside of “working” hours, going out, having parties, hiking, and we even created a project together with one of them. I’ve also learned the language in the meantime, took a master’s, and had a daughter, but creating a community was what added immense value to my freelance life. 

Embracing the Benefits of Remote Work.

It helped me appreciate the benefits of working from “anywhere” - flexibility in choosing how and when to work and having more time for my family. I realised l wanted to organise my time better, find motivation, and work on projects that allow me to connect with my local environment. I must say, it's still a work in progress, but I wouldn’t switch to a job that requires me to be in an office all day.

Do you think I was fortunate? Maybe luck played a role, but what truly made it possible was our collective effort. Despite our diverse backgrounds and personal circumstances, we all shared a common goal and wanted to make it work. We found the time, made plans, stuck to it, and finally created a bond. 

So, fellow freelancers and remote workers, I'm curious to know how you found or created your community. Is it online or offline? Perhaps you are still searching for one? I would love to hear your stories. Feel free to share your tips to help others out there find their place. 

[octalkradio]

AROUND THE TABLE w/South County Outreach: Lauren Ruiz, Director of Development

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-x8w5p-1615792 Lauren Ruiz, Director of Development for SOUTH COUNTY OUTREACH joins us to discuss RELATIONSHIPs with our clients and our community. #communityengagement #buildingcommunity #hungerrelief #foodbank #foodbanks #homelessness #homelessnessawareness #charity #nonprofit #nonprofitorganization #creatingcommunity #buildingcommunity #southcountyoutreach…

[noordinarymoment]

A vlog recap of our move to Seattle. 🎦 Welcome to the Moment Family Vlog! We want to keep in touch with family and friends and this is one way to do it...sharing our journey and experiences with you. Please drop and line and stay in touch. You are important to us. 💜 #artistvlog #creatingcommunity #stayingintouch #seattlevlogger #abstractartist #newintown (at Seattle, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfsjNTdvo47/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[communityomg]

Family either way...just not through DNA

This is the story of two mothers who came together in a moment of synchronicity to create and validate the true meaning of family. 

RELATED: Adoption Stories for the Stage is a world premiere theatrical event at North Park Vaudeville & Candy Shoppe through this Sunday April 3, 2022 only.

In a way, Samantha Hope Goldstein and Lauren Bergquist adopted each other when they decided a year ago to collaborate. 

A chance mention by Samantha of her adopted daughter from China caught Lauren’s attention during a ZOOM theater class. Lauren and her husband have an adopted young son of their own. She took a leap of faith in approaching her classmate. “She joked that she felt like she was asking me out on a date,” Samantha remembers, “(Lauren) sent me this proposal asking if I would be willing to talk about this.”  

She was referring to the reality of adoption which many people are afraid to talk about as it often carries an unfounded connotation of secrecy. The two ladies met for coffee and ended up talking for six hours.

Goldstein and Bergquist are now the producing team behind RELATED: Adoption Stories for the Stage. The original work is a compilation of stories from diverse perspectives.

The characters are real and the circumstances are actual events that come from more than a dozen local writers who have been touched by adoption. They reveal some difficult conversations, tragedies, along with really funny moments that are part of any family especially those committed to raising their children of choice.

A cast of nine actors brings life to the stories that are performed as a staged reading with podiums and projections of family photos on the back wall. 

Christine McCoy and Melanie Mino play mother and daughter in the opening story. There is clear disagreement between the characters in a conversation about a single woman wanting a baby with no prospects of a husband.

The family of actors and writers have been in process for months having overcome COVID-19 delays. Protections and protocols are in place for audience members who attend the show in the intimate space. 

The stories are formatted as an episodic play much like The Vagina Monologues written in 1996 by Eve Ensler. Bergquist says that play inspired her. 

Tami O'Connell expresses truth responses when telling the story of an adoptive family tree. 

The stories told this weekend help us realize we have all been adopted into a kind of “family of choice” at some point in our lives.  

If you are in need of a good cry, a belly laugh, or just the connection of live theater in a pandemic world...this is a great place to find it all. 

Net proceeds raised during RELATED: Adoption Stories for the Stage will be donated to www.Promises2Kids.org  the award-winning nonprofit organization originally founded 40 years ago as the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation of San Diego County. Since 1981, Promises2Kids has responded to the needs of foster children and provided support to children removed from their home due to abuse and neglect.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at http://www.northparkvaudeville.com/

There are only three more performances:

Saturday, April 2, 2022  8 p.m. and Sunday, April 3, 2022  2 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

[alexerikson]

#sheerelite #artistry #exceleducation @danceteachersummit #607 #creatingcommunity #2019 #celebratingdance #tour @danielcatanach @charmainehunter @nielsvdnheuvel @taylorbanks39 @hanifa_means_truebeliever @jeffrey.salce @magadomene @gwins_ @jodecimilhouse @_jjenks @allisonplamondon @cdenice @petersabasino @collintheshots2 @giannamartello @tjyale @ramastar81 @kurtfroman @garyantle @alexeriksonny @shari.floress @kurtfroman (at New York Hilton Midtown) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmA9yFkBg20/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=db55k82dnc06

[develop-inspire-transform]

Creativity During COVID-19 Part II: The Need For Creative Contributions

Creativity During COVID-19 Part II: The Need For Creative Contributions

Photo by Sarah Kilian on Unsplash

The first blog I wrote on this website on April 18 of this year, Creativity During COVID-19, was also the first blog I’d ever written. I’ve had a great time these past three months, writing, exploring myself, and interacting and engaging with totally new people.

All super cool and amazing people. All of you are. Fun.

I wasn’t even thinking about writing…

[vbphotomag]

#ImNotBlackButISeeYou #ImNotBlackButIHearYou #ImNotBlackButIWillStandWithYouNow @CityOfSantaClarita #SantaClarita #CreatingCommunity Protest for murdered Afro-American George Floyd #GeorgeFloyd @GeorgeFloyd_OfficialPage #BlackLivesMatter #BLM #SayHisName 1 2 @VbPhotoMag 05 Jun 2020 #Tokyo2021 #東京2020 #Tokyo2020 #RoadToTokyo2020 #RoadToTokyo #バレーボール #NcaaVb @NcaaVolleyball #UsaVolleyball @UsaVolleyball #Fivb @VolleyBallWorld #Athlete #VolleyBall #Athletics #Athletic #Athletes #Ncaa #SportsPhotography #Volley #GettyImages #BeachVolleyball #VolleyballPlayer #VolleyballGirls (at Santa Clarita City Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBHxGsIl4I9/?igshid=1dq05hm366ssj

[tafphoto]

#ImNotBlackButISeeYou #ImNotBlackButIHearYou #ImNotBlackButIWillStandWithYouNow @CityOfSantaClarita #SantaClarita #CreatingCommunity Protest for murdered Afro-American George Floyd #GeorgeFloyd @GeorgeFloyd_OfficialPage #BlackLivesMatter #BLM #SayHisName 1 2 @TaFphoto 05 Jun 2020 #Tokyo2021 #東京2020 #Tokyo2020 #RoadToTokyo2020 #RoadToTokyo #陸上競技 #AimBeyond #IaafWorlds #WorldAthleticChamps @IaafDoha2019 @IaafWorldChamps @WorldAthletics #IAAF @usatf #USATF @NcaaTrackField #NcaaTrackAndField #RunnerGirl #RunningGirl #Fitspo #Running #Fitspiration #Runner #Runners #InstaRunners #TrackAndField (at Santa Clarita City Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBHwQz3nrnn/?igshid=15pwnsofmddqo

[zoe-rising]

First Virtual Zoom Guided Meditation complete!! WHEW! I'm totes a Zoom rookie and no one was able to get on except me. Lol!! 😅 Thank goodness I recorded it! This is the card, (The Pillar from The Threads of Fate Oracle deck) I pulled beforehand asking for inspiration in this new virtual endeavor and was deeply encouraged by its words so I offer them to you as well: "The Pillar signifies a need to rise to the occasion. It indicates a time where you may need to be all things: the backbone, the nurturer, the provider, the lover. The pillar asks you to step into these roles as best you can, knowing that you are being pushed outside of your comfort zone you will learn just how capable you are. It is time where we take our gifts to new heights and learn that perceived flaws are just that, perceived. If you have been resisting a new opportunity or role that has presented itself it is time to step into it and trust that you will learn as you go." Sooooo, here we go!! More virtual experiences coming soon!! #steppingoutofcomfortzones #risingtotheoccasion #creatingconnection #creatingcommunity #listenwithin #loveyourself https://www.instagram.com/p/B928KFFA8Qa/?igshid=2zt62myo0feu

[octalkradio]

AROUND THE TABLE w/South County Outreach: Lauren Ruiz, Director of Development

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-xzgys-161578e Lauren Ruiz, Director of Development for SOUTH COUNTY OUTREACH joins us to discuss RELATIONSHIPs with our clients and our community. #communityengagement #buildingcommunity #hungerrelief #foodbank #foodbanks #homelessness #homelessnessawareness #charity #nonprofit #nonprofitorganization #creatingcommunity #buildingcommunity #southcountyoutreach…

[thefoodgriot]

#GoodDay when #CuisineNoir Mag & @cha_squared stopped by #GoodWineNYC — and we had #GoodWine: @champagne_eric_taillet #rosé #champagne! 💕🍾) ...🙌🏾🙌🏾😋・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・repost @goodwinenyc : What a wonderful visit! Thanks for coming to see us on your #NYC trip @cuisinenoir! Love your publication, a true #treasuretrove! ..So glad you were able to make it also @cha_squared & CONGRATS again on your feature in the current @foodandwinemag #SpringWine issue! (SWIPE to SEE page20 /April2019 & more pics) ⭐️🙌🏾🙌🏾 🌟 ・・・ #creatingcommunity in #parkslope #celebrateeachother - with #pinkchampagne 💗🥂! ...#therealmccoy ;) #blackwomanowned #wineshop... ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・repost @cuisinenoir: ・・・ “We’re back from NYC and this trip was filled with a lot of great wine with new friends! If you are in Brooklyn, be sure to stop by @goodwinenyc to see Heather and Tonya (@thefoodgriot) as they curate wine selections for the community. They also host classes. • • Stay tuned for more on this gem as we spotlight black-owned wine shops around the world! • • We also enjoyed meeting and sipping with @cha_squared who is hosting an upcoming Communion event on 4/28 which is one of the hottest wine events in the city.” • • #wine #winetasting #winelover #winefriends #winewithfriends #brooklyn #wineinbrooklyn #brooklynwineshops #blacksinwine #blackwineshops #foodandwinepairing #blackchefs #wineclassesnyc #wineclassesbrooklyn (at Good Wine) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw6MfUsFH5v/?igshid=9y6nu3ys2b26

[57sideburns]

Thank you Champaign, IL! #sherememberseverything #creatingcommunity (at The Virginia Theatre) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp8noHQnxp_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=r4ruoue8lh5f

[communityomg]

A Modest Proposal

Jonathan Swift suggested selling children for food during a great Irish famine. He called it his modest proposal.

Here’s a proposal. Let’s stop blaming the media for the mass hysteria going viral over Covid-19. How many more posts or shares of empty store shelves, long lines at Costco and toilet paper jokes are necessary? How about a beer? You know the one. There’s also the very popular “Sh*t is getting real.” 😳 Actually, it’s been very real since early January when people in China started dying from coronavirus.

Every time I “like”, comment, create or share coronavirus content that is not from a medical expert, elected authority, vetted spokesperson/source, the Centers for Diseas Control or the World Health Organization, chances are great that I am perpetuating the problem and not the solution. I.E. part of the hysteria.

The term social media is a compound word that includes media. That means you, me, and anyone else with a cell phone, tablet, computer, and account that starts with @-something. In other words, when I point a finger and blame it on the ‘media’ there are three fingers pointing back at me. Say it—post it—own it. In the immortal words of Oprah, what I know for sure...

1. I am responsible for my actions and opinions. I am not responsible for anyone else or their choices, opinions, and decisions.

2. In one of the many communities I belong we have a Big Book that suggests I should “pause when agitated”. I offer that suggestion. It is not an order.

3. I do not bark at people to “calm down”...“breathe”...or belittle their feelings. Everyone has the right to explode, suffocate, and hate or love me and my opinions.

4. If I care enough about someone and what they have posted, I take it off line. Cell phones also have the capacity to make phone calls.

5. I am a human being. I make mistakes. I am capable of correcting my mistakes. I have a wealth of life experience and professional credentials that allow me to speak on certain topics with credability. I am not a doctor, lawyer, elected official or epidemiologist....and finally...

#WeAreBetterTogether not ripping each other apart

Sincerely,

M.G.

[iamshanwein]

My love in Photography follow my photography account @bingbatallaphotography . #inabudhabi #iamshanwein #vlogger #photographer #contentcreator #storyteller #traveler #blogger #loverofArt #creatingcommunity #mydubai #abudhabi #dubai #UAE #likeforlike #like4like #like2like #liketolike #share (at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)

[jolni1]

Talking about the importance of human connection and how diversity is an asset rather than a contradiction to connect and interact positively with others... "Let's carry this out into the world...!" @LondonReal BizzAcc Graduation Dinner in London In my opinion one of the biggest achievements of Brian Rose and the London Real course .. to bring so many different people together in such an open heartfilled way! Thank you! @londonrealtv #spontanious #talk #humanconnection #positiveimpact #bethechange #beyondsystems #consciousness #creatingcommunity