What we’re about
[GROUP RULES BELOW.] Make friends over coffee, at farmer’s markets, hikes, clothing swaps, & all kinds of get-togethers. Bare your soul in a women's circle or try yoga or meditation in a group environment. Feel strong at a women’s self-defense class with us. Find a supportive community of women who want to empower each other.
It's all here, and you can contribute too if you have wonderful ideas. (Dig around in your heart and ask yourself, "What do I need? What do I wish existed for people like me?" I bet you're not the only one who feels that way, and we can help!)
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Group RULES (read prior to joining):
#1: Show up or let us know you can’t make it. We have a 1 no-show & you’re out policy. Messaging me afterwards to tell me about your emergency is fine too, but if you don’t show up & don’t reach out, bye. (I had to remove 9 members after our first event in July; with 10 on the waitlist wishing they could go, it was terrible that 9 members who took up one of the 15 spots did not show up.)
#2: Be kind to other members. Bigotry and disrespect will not be tolerated.
#3: Please be in your 20s-40s so you’re more likely to have things in common with other members.
#4: Use the name you wish to be called by (in English) and a recent photo on your profile so we can recognize you at events (no sunglasses/group photos).
#5: Do not try to sell your products or services to other women in this group unless this happens outside of our events and specifically if they requested your product/services. Otherwise, you will immediately be removed from the group.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Charlie Chapin - Silent Film Comedy - @ The Sierra Madre PlayhouseSierra Madre Playhouse, Sierra Madre, CA
"The Immigrant" (1917) is a poignant silent film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, that gracefully explores the hopes and hardships of the immigrant experience in America. Through Chaplin's iconic blend of humor and heart, the film tells the story of a newcomer's journey to find a better life, capturing the universal themes of struggle, compassion, and the pursuit of happiness. This timeless classic not only showcases Chaplin's genius but also offers a tender reflection on the human condition, making it an essential piece of cinematic history.
Step into a world where the flicker of the silver screen brings stories to life without a single spoken word. Sierra Madre Playhouse, in partnership with Retroformat Films, is thrilled to invite you to a unique evening that harkens back to the golden age of cinema. On a special night, we celebrate the art of silent film, complemented by the emotive power of live piano accompaniment, just as it was when our doors first opened on February 2, 1924.
Tickets: $20
Please buy tickets ahead of time.
For information and to buy tickets, go here.Use the chat below to discuss carpooling or potential places to meet together beforehand.
- Work Remotely Together at CTRL Collective Coworking SpaceCTRL Collective - Pasadena, Pasadena, CA
Social in SoCal is partnering up w/ a beautiful local coworking space in Pasadena, and they are inviting our members to join their members for a women's coworking social.
Here's what coworking together will look like:
- From 9-5pm (you can show up at any point between 9-5), the CTRL Collective Coworking Space will be allowing members of our group to use their space if we bring a toy for their toy drive (gift ideas here)
- When you arrive at CTRL, ring the buzzer for Gia, the community manager at the front desk, to open for you. Please drop off the unwrapped toy in the box by the door + sign in with Gia on the list for Social In SoCal visitors. You'll be shown our table, where I will already be working.
- Open up your laptop & join everyone at our table in focused work w/ social 15 min breaks every 40 mins
- If you have meetings, you can take them in private in one of the soundproof pods (you must reserve it at the front desk)
- At noon, join Gia, the community manager, at the front desk for a tour of the space (optional)
- YES, the place is dog-friendly, & you may pet my little dog (or Gia's big one!) for a little dopamine boost!
BONUS:
- If you get hungry, you can either eat in the shared kitchen area or at our group's shared work table; there are vending machines w/ snacks, or you can hop out and buy lunch nearby, or bring your own & use the communal fridge to store it (use a label)
- Unlimited coffee & tea = perks of using the space. Enjoy!
Additional Info:
- You will be responsible for your parking fee for the day whether that's at Diamond, Unified, or Paseo.
- Female members of CTRL might join us at our table if they'd like (even if you don't see them in our attendee list here)
- If you need to come earlier than 9am for a punctual start of your work day or would like to leave a little later than 5pm, please message me on here & I can arrange something for you.
- The Casual "Drop-in-if-You've-Read-the-Book" Club (Travel Read)CTRL Collective - Pasadena, Pasadena, CA$4.00
1) Bring your book + a pen + a journal + your chatty self.
2) We should all be finished with the book by the time we meet. So buy the book & get reading!
3) The $4 is just to hold your spot & keep you accountable. It's an incentive for you to commit to your RSVPs and show up (otherwise, you lose $4). Plus, you’ll have access to UNLIMITED FREE COFFEE & TEA! 🫖☕️🍵
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Selected Book:
The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears in Paris at the World's Most Famous Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn (Amazon Link to the book here).
If you'd like to support a local, independent woman-owned bookstore, I chatted with Octavia's Bookshelf in Pasadena, and while this is not typically a book they'd carry on their shelves, they will order it for you if you call in and request it--but keep in mind, it can take up 2 weeks for them to get it for you."I can never get enough of true stories about people who stop in the middle of life's journey to ask, 'What do I really want?' and then have the guts to actually go get it. Kathleen Flinn's tale of chasing her ultimate dream makes for a really lovely book—engaging, intelligent, and surprisingly suspenseful." —Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
__Additional Info:
- When you arrive at CTRL, ring the buzzer for Gia, the community manager at the front desk, to open for you. She will direct you to our table.
- You will be responsible for your parking fee for the day whether that's at Diamond, Unified, or Paseo.
Excited to meet my fellow travel-writing lovers in January 2025!
- Women’s Circle & Trauma Healing Book Club & Support GroupArcadia, Arcadia, CA$8.00
*** PLEASE COME ON TIME *** We meet once a month to grow together. For the duration of time we spend on "The Body Keeps the Score," we will keep the circle small and intimate, with a supportive community of women who feel safe with each other as we learn healthy coping mechanisms for making progress in our healing journeys (and unlearn the unhealthy ones).
IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE PREVIOUS SESSIONS, see the bottom of the event details for catch-up info. IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED ANY SESSIONS BEFORE, please text me, as this group is not open to new members except by special request.
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Reclaim Your Life!
WHAT: Learn how to stop letting your trauma responses/triggers take control and wreak havoc in your life. The trauma happened. You can’t undo it. It damaged parts of you. And healing is hard. And yes, the people who caused it are responsible for the damage done to you. But YOU are responsible for healing it (a task you never asked for, but unfortunately, it’s yours).WHO: Anyone with trauma. Whether you have a PTSD diagnosis or not, if you feel you have acquired some unhealthy coping mechanisms in response to trauma, this is for you.
HOW: We will read The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk. Please obtain your own copy and read Chapters 1-8 before the next group meeting. I recommend purchasing it so you can take notes/underline. We will also be working on exercises to help you process what you read + apply it to your life. Plus, we'll discuss various other books (by authors such as Brene Brown), watch TED Talks, participate in guided meditations, and journal on thought-provoking prompts together. The group is hosted by me, Elina, and I will have a plan for each session, but ultimately it will be led by all of us into whatever direction we need to go on that particular day. Feel free to bring your own insights, stories, book recommendations, etc.
WHY: I have c-PTSD, and this book probably saved my life. It jumpstarted my healing journey in a way that years of talk therapy/trauma counseling hadn’t. It requires me to sit back with what I learned and compartmentalize it before moving forward. And I want to share it/discuss its contents with others. This is not an easy, speed-read sort of book. It is life-changing. Your goal, in reading it, should be to completely upheave everything you think you know about yourself and your triggers in response to trauma. The intended result is to learn how to shatter obstacles in your healing journey and make measurable progress every year of your life, for the rest of your life. And this journey is not one you have to undergo on your own. We’re going to do this together—you, me, and the rest of the women in this group who are ready to reclaim our lives after trauma.
ABOUT: "A bold new paradigm for healing. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; 1 in 5 Americans has been molested; 1 in 4 grew up with alcoholics; 1 in 3 couples have engaged in physical violence. Such experiences inevitably leave traces on minds, emotions, & even on biology. Sadly, trauma sufferers frequently pass on their stress to their partners and children. In this book, author/trauma expert Bessel transforms our understanding of traumatic stress, revealing how it literally rearranges the brain’s wiring—specifically areas dedicated to pleasure, engagement, control, and trust. He shows how these areas can be reactivated through innovative treatments. He offers a way to reclaim lives."
WHERE: My home. See image above for how to get the exact address (it is not on MeetUp for safety reasons).
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Important Note: This is for people who are committed to their healing journey. This is also for people who commit to show up for each other. We want to keep this group intimate and safe, full of friendly faces you've grown alongside. This means showing up regularly. If you can't come to a future session, please let me know.
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IF YOU MISSED A SESSION, CATCH UP ON THE CHAPTERS/DISCUSSION BY ACCESSING THIS DOC.
