What if we started treating meaningful social connection as an essential part of living well, rather than something we make time for only after everything else is done?
Our blog came to life beyond the screen in the fall of 2013, when our founder craved connection with the very women who were liking, commenting on, and sharing her blog.
At our very first meetup, more than 30 women showed up. I remember asking them one question: “What do you want to see more of?”
Their answer was simple. More events just like this.
We no longer had to travel to Boston or New York to find opportunities to connect with women we could relate to. We could create those experiences right here in our own community.
What started as a focus on natural hair blossomed into a more expansive digital space exploring beauty and wellness. Our gatherings grew from that first natural hair meetup to brunches, expos, and other shared experiences, while our online community continued to expand.
Over the years, I've heard from countless women who became close friends with someone they met at a Brown Skin Women gathering. Women who now travel together, spend time together, and do life together.
Following the pandemic, we attempted to relaunch our events. The desire was there, but the timing wasn't right. Unable to focus on growing an events company while developing our natural hair studio and educational resources, our team made the difficult decision to pause gatherings.
Recently, a client introduced me to the concept of a third space, somewhere outside of home and work where people can gather, connect, and build genuine relationships.
I immediately thought about Brown Skin Women.
Looking back, that's what our gatherings had been creating all along. A welcoming environment where women could meet new people and form friendships naturally.
Sometimes all it takes is being in the same room, enjoying a shared experience, and having the opportunity to connect.
In a world where everything is at our fingertips, from the latest trends to current events, there's something especially meaningful about slowing down, sitting face-to-face, and enjoying good company. Sometimes, a relaxed conversation and genuine human connection are exactly what the soul needs.