Finding & Fostering Community

I find myself referencing the COVID pandemic often in conversation. It’s hard for me to gauge how typical that is. Some people I mention it to readily understand why it could so easily come up in a brief, casual conversation. Others, though, often have an unspoken energy that says “why are you talking about that?” I was speaking with someone recently and the answer to that question came out quite matter-of-factly: “the pandemic changed the world and I don’t want to go back to the way it was.” I feel that I receive messages from so many directions everyday that want me, and us, to forget. I say it aloud to remind myself and to also try and foster a connection of shared remembering.?

This isn’t a post about the pandemic per se, but it is still something that I think about nearly everyday. It profoundly changed my life. Without it, I don’t think I would be living in Pittsburgh nor would I necessarily be a co-founder of Ringlet . It also brought me one of the most personally painful years of my life. This contrast---new possibilities and opportunities borne out of pain and suffering---is something I also think about often. I look at many of the things happening in the world and I could easily see catastrophe and crisis everywhere. Because that is surrounding us. And I could also see possibility and opportunity for something beautiful and better. Because that surrounds us too.?

OK, so if this post isn’t about the pandemic, what is it about? I woke up this morning and wanted to write about community. That is also something I think about everyday. The pandemic and community are deeply intertwined in my mind. It was one of the things I think most of us so sorely missed on a daily basis at the height of the pandemic. When considering what lessons I wanted to take away from the pandemic, the vitality and priority of community was one of the most important to me. Though the idea for Ringlet was born from my co-founder Emily Bogue 's beautiful brain prior to the pandemic in 2019, the pandemic made us more resolute that community and connection is where we want to focus our energy. That conviction led us to found Ringlet with the belief that it can be a significant force for good in fostering community.?

Where do I begin with my thinking on community? That will be one of the core topics of this newsletter: why it’s so important, the obstacles we all face in forming and maintaining communities, and ideas on how to overcome those challenges. This newsletter is also about my life as a founder here in Pittsburgh. So let me begin with two reasons I think Pittsburgh is such a special place for community. And how I think living in Pittsburgh can inspire others, no matter where they live.

The first reason is values. The collective values of many Pittsburghers are great benefits to strong and thriving communities. There’s a kindness and care people display regularly towards their both neighbors and strangers they encounter in everyday life. There’s a reason Mr. Fred Rogers made his show in Pittsburgh. It’s a city where people say hello on the street. There’s a feeling of collectivism here. The sense of shared experience, both the good and the bad. The feeling that we’re in it together and that we’ll support each other. These are the values I want in my communities and ones I think many people also do.?

The second reason Pittsburgh is a great place for community may be a surprising one, but maybe not: economics. It’s one of the reasons Pittsburgh is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the country. You get an amazing bang for your buck. A big city with culture, economic opportunity, and Taylor Swift concert venues (that also hosts sports games sometimes). It’s also just the basics of cost of living. Rent for a one bedroom in Pittsburgh on average is around $1,300. That’s much higher than it used to be here, but still compared to other major urban areas in the country, it’s a steal.?

How does that relate to community? Participating, forming, leading, finding community all take time and energy. The more difficult the simple everyday things of life are — paying your bills, buying groceries, getting around — the more difficult it becomes to participate in and foster community. It should NOT be this way, but in America in 2023, it is. Community should be a foundational element of everyone’s lives, but many societal forces — tech very much included — are working in opposition to community. And that leaves it up to individuals to figure out community themselves.?

It shouldn’t be this way and I want to help change that. That’s one of the main inspirations behind Ringlet : creating a digital tool that can empower anyone to foster community in their own lives. How will we do that? Well, great question and that answer is coming to you soon ;)?