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When Derrick & I moved home, five and a half years ago, one of the things at the top of my priority list was getting connected to the creative community in the Pittsburgh area. Where we once lived (along the PA/NY state borders), there were no networking groups for creatives. A few times I had tried to organize getting a group of creatives together – and every single time it fell through.
I had followed this beginnings of a new “community” that was quickly growing – called The Rising Tide Society. It’s mission was to gather like-minded creative entrepreneurs and allow them to grow together. “A rising tide lifts all boats” was their mantra & they truly seemed to be taking the creative community by storm.
One of the core pieces of The Rising Tide Society was their once-a-month meetings called “Tuesday’s Together”. Traditionally held on the second Tuesday of the month – groups of creative entrepreneurs would gather to network, uplift, & encourage one another. It was a beautiful, mind-boggling phenomenon – especially for old-school creatives – who viewed the other creatives within their industry, within their towns, as “competition”. After all: how in the world could 10 photographers from the same area gather together & “network”?
I had watched the rise of this community from social media & knew that I desperately wanted to join this incredible “society” that was growing by leaps & bounds across the United States & the globe. When we moved home: I had my chance! There was a Tuesday’s Together group centered in Pittsburgh!
Gathering every bit of courage I had (and dragging my sister along for moral support), I went to a meeting. It, unfortunately, was not what I was expecting. The Pittsburgh group was simply too large to follow the traditional format & I felt like I was swallowed whole by this mass group of creatives – all of whom seemed to know each other & none of whom seemed interested in meeting me. I’m naturally a shy person – so joining a group that regularly pulled in 50+ creatives was way too much for me.
Dejected, I realized that the Pittsburgh Tuesday’s Together group was not what I was looking for.
But then, a bright light appeared! Not too many months later, one of my dear friends set out on her own to start a Greensburg chapter of the Rising Tide Society. I couldn’t make it out to her first meeting because Derrick & I were at Cedar Point that day, but as soon as I could, I attended a Tuesday’s Together in Greensburg.
It was a completely different experience. Since the group was so small & new – and based in a small town – the whole meeting had a completely different feel. And I loved it. I couldn’t stay away! I found myself looking forward to the second Tuesday of the month with great anticipation & found myself falling in love with the little group of creatives.
Tiffany & I have been friends for a long time (we had mutual friends all thru high school, but didn’t meet until Photoshop class at Community College!) but our friendship grew & deepened thanks to the Tuesday’s Together meetings. About a year later – Tiffany asked me to be her “official” co-leader & well, the rest is history.
Together, we run the Greensburg, PA chapter of the Rising Tide Society. We bounce ideas back & forth, we trade off leading meetings, but mostly, we just love getting together with other like-minded, amazing, creative people!
With COVID-19 hitting, we had to change things up & transition over from in-person meetings to ZOOM meetings. It’s been an interesting shake-up, to say the least. But one thing remains true – and maybe more true now than ever before: we need one another. We need each other’s advice, encouragement, and help. We need each other to cheer us on, to celebrate our wins, and be there as a support thru the hard times.
One of the things we decided that we wanted to do, was put together a little video & photo to reflect that! It was quite the undertaking, but I’m literally obsessed with how it all turned out!
If you are from the Greensburg, PA area & would like to join our Tuesday’s Together group – we would love to have you!! Drop me a comment below & I will give you all the details of our next meeting!!
Track: Tobu – Infectious [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds. Watch: https://youtu.be/ux8-EbW6DUI Free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/infectious A list of the AMAZING people who contributed their smiling faces to this video!
Tabby Cooper – Instagram: @lostauroraphotography Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lostauroraphotography/
Amanda Majorsky – Instagram: @amandamajorskydesign Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandamajorskydesign/
Stacey Good Dominici – Instagram: @staceylynboutiquephotography Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slboutiquephoto/
Courtney Masters – Instagram: @masterspieces Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masterspiecesart/
Kara Abbey- Instagram: @karabbey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karabbeyphotos/
Andria Zutich – Instagram: @andriazutichphoto Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andriazutichphotography/
Megan Johnson – Instagram: @meganne.art
Jessica Clifford – Instagram: @jessicalynportraits Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaLynPortraits/
Craig Ferry – Instagram: @craigferryphotography Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craigferryphotography/
Taylor Raine Shawley – Instagram: @taylorraineboudoir Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylorraineboudoir/
Dara Fennell Baker – Instagram: @bespoke_and_beloved Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bespokeandbeloved/
Jodi Colella – Instagram: @stationhouse7 & @weddingfleamarket Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stationhouseseven/ & https://www.facebook.com/WeddingFleaMarket/
Emily Jobe – Instagram: @fouroaksbakery Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FourOaksBakery/
Fernando De La Cruz – Instagram: @ambriek_creations Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmbriekCreations/
Cheri Cole – Instagram: @maisycakesbakes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maisycakesbakes/
Lisa Nacey – Instagram: @lisanaceyphotography Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisanaceyphotography/
Tiffany Jackson – Instagram: @jacksonsignaturephotography Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacksonSignaturePhotography/
