expert at belonging
let me make this clear – i would rarely call myself an expert at anything.
but a mentor once told me i was an expert at belonging.
i’ve always been someone who can see the connections between people, the gaps where someone might feel left out, and how to bring them in. being kind and inclusive has always been important to me, but i never realized it could be a superpower.
to me, being an expert at belonging means creating spaces where people feel at home—where they know they matter.
at my current job, i work in marketing for our products and events. beyond that, i look at how we put on events and find ways to make them more creative, inclusive, and intentional.
for example, when we had to replace one of our largest events for WILMA, a femme-forward magazine that highlights amazing individuals in wilmington, nc, i wanted to create something different. something that felt safe, welcoming, and real. after a lot of conversations,
elevate & celebrate was born.
at my current job, i work in marketing for our products and events. beyond that, i look at how we put on events and find ways to make them more creative, inclusive, and intentional.
for example, when we had to replace one of our largest events for WILMA, a femme-forward magazine that highlights amazing individuals in wilmington, nc, i wanted to create something different. something that felt safe, welcoming, and real. after a lot of conversations, elevate & celebrate was born.
elevate & celebrate is a free event designed for people to simply be themselves and make genuine connections. it’s non-networking—no pressure, no business cards—just real conversations. we added conversation-starter name tags and made sure each event had a bright, playful atmosphere. one thing i kept hearing from women in our community was how hard it is to make friends. i wanted to change that. because at the end of the day, people just want to be seen and heard. at elevate & celebrate, we show up for each other.
in creating this event, we’ve also expanded WILMA’s audience, reaching so many women who weren’t familiar with it before. by removing barriers like cost and the pressure of networking, we made space for something that actually felt welcoming.
now that i know belonging is my thing, i can’t wait to keep finding new ways to bring people in—everywhere, always.
