Reflections on Community Connections

"I kept doing events after that first one. I guess that became my community. Even now saying it out loud, it is very strange. I never thought I could be someone that would be a part of like creating a community.” - Jodianne Beckford

Jodianne created Noire Girls Plant, “from a dark place of feeling numb.” At a low point, she found plants were givinging her joy. She searched on Eventbrite and asked around, trying to find a space with others to nerd out and talk about plants with.

When she couldn’t find the space she craved, she decided to create it herself. She stood up an event and designed it with all the elements she would have wanted--yoga, spoken word, meditation, a plant gift and goodie bag. 

People left that first event with more than just goodie bags and time well spent. Attendees both had fun and saw each other, as people of color, being vulnerable. They asked, “when’s the next one?” and so Noire Girls Plants began--a community of growers, in aspects of health, prosperity and nature.

We talked with Jodianne about how she created her first event to explore her interests with others and what keeps her going through hard times.

Highlights, inspiration, & key learnings:

• Origin story. How Jodianne found and gathered people around the healing power of plants.
• The first event. Designing for the event for your first member--you.
• Language. Jodianne’s use of nature as a metaphor for mental health.
• Going virtual. Hikes, Mother’s Day virtual potting events, and shared activities at a social distance.
• Dealing with adversity.  Jodianne keeps showing up to do this work for “the little me,” to show her she doesn’t listen to the “no” voices in her head.

👋🏻Say hi to Jodianne and learn more about Noire Girls Plant. She also has a podcast, The E Project which explores the ‘Epiphany’ moments that lead individuals to do what they love. 

✨Say hi to Marjorie Anderson, “Get Together” correspondent.

📄See the full transcript.

This podcast was created by the team at People & Company. 

🔥Say hi! We would love to get to know you.

We published GET TOGETHER📙, a handbook on community-building. 

And we help organizations like Nike, Porsche, Substack and Surfrider make smart bets with their community-building investments.

Hit subscribe🎙 and head over to our website to learn about the work we do with passionate, community-centered organizations.