When I moved to Festus, Missouri in 2018, I did not know more than five people. I was not on social media much. I longed for some sort of online platform to learn about events, or where to go, or what to do.
Since I have spent my whole life working in a small business, I wanted to learn about and support small businesses in this area. I struggled to find information about who was offering what, or even where they were located.
When talking to other “newbies,” and Festus-area natives, I found people were craving the same thing.
✨We all need connection.✨
Personally, I also needed to know more than five people within my community. I wanted to expand my itty-bitty circle. Therefore, I became intentional to meet new people to learn and connect. In fact, I spent most of 2022 talking and interviewing hundreds of residents, off the record.
In 2023, I decided to conduct more formal interviews with business owners and residents in the Festus area. For a fun, creative writing project, and to ✨shine the light✨ on courageous entrepreneurs, I decided to document and share my findings with our world, primarily on Facebook and Instagram. This created a following on those platforms; however, I received an overwhelming number of requests to start a website.
This created a new following of people who were not on social media, or for those who were taking a break from it.
After each and every story I put out, the feedback was:
✨YES! Thank you!…✨
Everyone wants to know more and be connected more.
The Festus area is seeing and feeling rapid growth. People are grasping to feel connected.
As a professional communicator, I created this dedicated online space for all those with an identity of someone who also wants to share, connect, and support those in our local community.
Now, I have made it my mission to lift others up by ✨shining the light✨ to spread positive and optimistic energy to inspire authenticity, while extending an invite for everyone to share, connect, and support what makes them shine.✨
✨Thank you for reading and sharing.✨
This awareness helps to cultivate an engaged, thriving, and supportive community where we all feel we belong.✨
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