Ask The Readers: I want to build community with the women in my neighborhood. Where do I start?

Dear Readers,

I moved to Florida in a pre-established community that added another phase of 100 homes. I want to organize a group for all the new ladies in our phase to have a sisterhood for us. Can you give me advice on what I can do?

– Retired and Ready for Friends in Florida

Dear Retired and Ready,

Ask The Readers is your regular chance to grab the mic and give advice to other readers in our community. Each piece of advice we share comes from a different thoughtful reader. Keep an eye out for more juicy questions and answers!

I am so excited for you! It sounds like you have the time, energy, and spunk to create a real impact on your community. Like most big goals, the best way to tackle this is one step at a time. Fortunately, our readers have lots of experience creating sisterhoods, ladies’ groups, and community-building events. I got over 2,000 responses on how you can tackle this project! You are not alone in wanting to create community and connection. Here is some advice from our readers:

Get the word out!

For starters, you need to introduce yourself to everyone in the neighborhood and let them know you are starting a women’s group. Think of this phase as gathering contact info and welcoming everyone to the sisterhood you are creating!

• “I would start by just hosting a party! A BBQ, dinner, potluck, baked goods for the neighborhood. Food helps bring out a lot of different people. Get the word out at a community fair, workshop, or rally. Or post on a local bulletin, website, or even a newsletter to help you gather or draw in like-minded individuals and inform the community about the gathering.”
• “You can post online on websites like Nextdoor or MeetUp that you’re starting a neighborhood women’s group and will be putting together a welcome gathering. Or you could do flyers! Or a handwritten note with a piece of chocolate on each neighbor’s porch or in their mailbox. Once everyone is introduced you can decide as a group where to take it next.”
• “Start by creating a contact list. A simple flyer or social media post in community groups can help you gather contact info. Once you have a list of people who are interested, host a meet and greet for everyone! It could be a casual coffee morning, wine night, or brunch at a clubhouse, park, or someone’s home to introduce everyone. There are lots of great platforms you can use to contact everyone. You could create a Facebook group, a WhatsApp chat, or an email list where everyone can stay connected, share ideas, and plan activities.”
• “A great way to organize a group is by using the Facebook page from your neighborhood. Post why you want to start the group and see who wants to help organize it. We have several ladies’ groups in our neighborhood. As an example: one goes to lunch once a month, one is a Bible study group and one group plays Bunko. Great way to contact a lot of ladies at one time. Good luck!”

Find your rhythm as a group.

After you have gotten the word out and had your first gathering, you’ll be able to decide as a group how often you’d like to gather, what activities you’d like to do together, and what the goal of the women’s group will be.

• “Include different interests to appeal to different ladies in the area. Consider various activities like walking groups, volunteer projects, or hobby meetups so everyone finds something they enjoy.”
• “I recommend you gather the women for a monthly book club. I started one with some ladies from work. We get together once a month to talk about a book we picked out the month before. We have snacks and just enjoy each other’s company.”
• “Talk with each other about the gathering’s goal. Is it for networking, personal development, relaxation, or spiritual growth? Understanding this will guide every decision. You could create a meaningful theme that resonates with everyone, like “Empowered Women, Empowered Lives” “Healing & Growth Circle” or “Bloom Where You’re Planted.” Once you have the goal and the theme, you could plan monthly meetups: Coffee mornings, potlucks, or game nights. Or you could make the activities interest-based, like a walking club, book club, or crafting club.”
• “What a great idea! If you have a common area or a clubhouse in your community, plan a monthly high tea there. You could serve cookies, cupcakes, and those little cucumber or ham sandwiches. You could have a bunch of different teas, coffees, little bottles of water, the list goes on. You could play some games similar to a bridal shower or a baby shower. Or you can make up your own games! The sky is the limit and maybe some of the local businesses or community leaders might even want to get involved. Good luck and happy trails!”

Make sure all women feel welcome.

Although it may feel scary to reach out to people who have different politics or beliefs, we actually all have so much more in common than we do that separates us. Make sure to create an environment that is inclusive so everyone (as long as they are respectful!) can participate in the joy of sisterhood.

• Encourage inclusivity to keep the group going. Introduce yourself to new people in the neighborhood. Make sure everyone feels welcome by inviting new members personally and keeping events lighthearted.”
• “Get some help! One person can’t do all of it alone. Once it really gets going, rotate hosts so everyone feels included. Get feedback on event ideas. Keep it fun, relaxed, and welcoming for all personalities.”
• “Be patient and persistent! Building a close-knit community takes time and effort. Celebrate small milestones and recognize individual contributions to maintain motivation.”
• “Good for you! With everything going on and all the division, we need a place where women can come together and just BE. Make sure everyone feels welcome, no matter their history or background. I think there are way more lonely people out there than we realize, who just need an invitation. Ladies, we need to stick together!”

I’m so excited for you, Retired and Ready, to build this beautiful community. Retirement is such an exciting time to build new relationships and explore your interests. With a little elbow grease, I’m sure you’ll have your ladies’ group up and running in no time!

Love,

Grace and the Readers