COMMUNITY is a feeling of fellowship with others whether virtual or in real life. It feels good to be in community. This is especially true for creatives who often work alone in highly competitive fields.
My guest for this episode of Camera Ready & Abel, TV host, actress and entrepreneur Shay Holland, talks to me about how she built one of my favorites Facebook communities, Hosts in LA, from 50 members to an inclusive global group of 4000, because she knew she could create more opportunity and support together than alone. That includes fighting for equal pay, systemic racism in casting and welcoming diverse voices in the group.
The biggest takeaway? Community is a two-way street. You've got to show up with a generous spirit and participate.
A self-described recovering TV newscaster, Shay is the Co-Host/Interior Designer on a new HGTV show debuting October 23rd —a job she credits to her father’s insistence that she learn her way around power tools from the time she was a little girl. With a never-ending curiosity about the world, Shay is a consummate storyteller who views her new show as an extension of that passion—telling stories through the language of design. As an anchor and investigative reporter, she's covered breaking news stories that have aired on NBC affiliates, CNN and the “Today” show.
If you are an on-camera personality looking for ways to grow your opportunities and connections among colleagues in the entertainment industry, check out the Hosts in LA Facebook group.
You can follow Shay Holland on instagram at @shayhollandofficial and be sure to check out her new show on HGTV, premiering on October 23rd.