Flower Girls Meet

Growth & Poetry Recap

Last Saturday was perfect! We had beautiful weather and amazing hospitality at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center. It was an amazing experience getting our hands in the dirt, planting herbs, talking about food, and unpacking the process through spoken word. You had to be there to feel the energy and wholesome vibes. 

So thankful to everyone who came out to mingle and enjoy the fun! Special love to our sponsor Herby Pop, the other Chicago popcorn you should know about! Shout out to Chicago Grows Food for showing us how to plant herbs in a grow kit and making us laugh while doing it, Tanae B for making us feel softer and more hopeful with her words, and finally Nancy Zitlin for sharing her wisdom about approaching food holistically with more play and less rigidity.

Read the rest of the recap in our latest newsletter here.

Stay tuned for details about our next event!

Resources for your mental health & well-being

Working on our mental health takes time, patience, and the right resources. Check out these recommendations:

Free Mental Health Hotlines

Doctors who will see & hear you (Chicago)

Holistic Folks

We’ll be updating this list routinely, so please keep checking for more resources! If you’d like us to add someone in particular, please email us at flowergirlsmeet@gmail.com! Thank you.

July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month

This month sheds light on the distinct struggles underrepresented groups face with mental illness in the United States. Statistics show that Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color experience significant differences in the accessibility of quality mental health care. Check out these resources + links here.

Flower Girls Meet is always here if you need community in Chicago and online.

May Wellness Daytreat May 2023, Captured by Rena
2045 N Lincoln Park W, Chicago, IL 60614

Growth & Poetry 7/29 1P-3P

Getting our hands in the dirt relieves stress, minimizes depression, lowers our blood pressure, and makes us happier! This is why we’re so excited to team up with Elizabeth Berkeley at Chicago Grows Food, a collaborative project devoted to expanding and unifying the food-growing community in Chicagoland, who will teach us how to grow herbs! She’ll provide grow kits including a variety of herbs and teach us how to grow them inside or outside our homes! 

We’ll also be listening to moving poetry about the healing process with the lovely Tanae B, a spoken word artist, singer, and community organizer. The purpose of this event is to help you create a more sustainable and healthy relationship with food. Everyone in attendance will walk away feeling more informed and empowered when it comes to gardening and wellness.

Herby Pop, a Black-owned and woman-owned business will be our sponsor providing delicious flavored popcorn! Melina Morales will capture us beautifully! You don’t want to miss this event! Come alone or bring a friend. RSVP here.

Tix will cover grow kits (you’ll get to bring them home), snacks, drinks, venue, and photography.

Got questions? Please email us at flowergirlsmeet@gmail.com

How to Build Connections

There’s power in connecting with people in our personal and professional lives. See why below. Insights are based on an event we had back in 2019:

Photo via Unsplash
  1. First of all, we are wired as humans to connect with one another, and doing so helps our mental and physical health.
  2. So how do we connect with people? By finding commonalities, being vulnerable and honest about who we are, sharing what we know, and remaining professional at all times.
  3. If you’ve just uprooted yourself to a new city or country, for example, where do you begin? Some tips here and here.
  4. Building connections also allow us to extend our reach. This is helpful when we’re looking for a new job or needing help with something we don’t have expertise in. Using social media to find people can be very effective in connecting with people who work at companies you’re interested in. If you’re looking for a career change, check out this career coach recommended by Side Hustle Guru Jessica L Williams.
  5. While you’re working to build connections professionally, make sure you have your elevator speech down and that your resume looks good. Here’s an example of a resume that is guaranteed to wow potential employers. Thanks for sharing, Gloria! More tips from Deena McKay’s Black Tech Unplugged: Ep. 022: Deena + Friends Unplugged.
  6. Check out these must-reads/ resources on building meaningful connections. Remember, it all starts with you: