The Thousand Solutions Blog

Building My Community through Soulcial Suite's first retreat

Jan 16, 2025

If there's a thing I've learned through managing Soulcial Suite, it's that creatives flourish best within a group that truly understands their. The highs, the lows, the niche
 Inside jokes and the "Why does Instagram being so cruel to us? !" vent sessions--it all comes to a head
 differently when you're in the group of individuals who truly know.

The feeling of belonging to a community was what fueled this retreat. Soulcial Suite retreat, and it turned out to
 The experience was one that strengthened the bonds of our community in ways that I hadn't even anticipated.
 The story of our first retreat helped us get closer, created lifelong connections and
 reignited our purpose.

Skip ahead:

Why a retreat? Because creators need real-life connection

Soulcial Suite was built on the idea of connection and knowledge sharing, however
 You only have so much you can do by using screens. I was amazed at how challenging everybody was
 being employed, how much they gave, and honestly, how much they were burning
  out. A retreat felt like an ideal way to get off from screens, and to actually
 Enjoy quality time with one other. I wanted it to be an area where we could
 brainstorm, recharge and learn.

My intention was to create an environment in which everyone felt valued and
 supported, where they could discover new methods as well as where they could feel a sense of collaboration
  natural. It was my intention to create something that would remind them (and me) the reason we are
 The journey began in the first place.

Planning the retreat: The creation of an intentionally designed experience

As I started planning the workshop, I realized that it couldn't just be a few workshops tossed
  together. We must spend our time (and since we're being honest and honest, our energy) in this, it
 required to be meaningful. I planned for weeks every session, each event, to
 Make sure that it served a purpose. The process of selecting the place to pick a location is a bright,
 contemporary Airbnb in my home city of Charlotte in North Carolina. agenda
 Every element was picked to trigger the "a-ha!" moments and create a the spirit of
  connection.
 The weekend began by taking an art class led by SkillPop, which was such an experience.
 A beautiful method to break through the ice and explore the core of why we do what we
  do. From there, each session builds on the previous, covering everything that Human

Design for Business and Unique Value Propositions for exercises that focus on
 creating B-Roll content and the creation of brand-new photographs.

Moments which brought us closer

If you are part of a community such as ours, collaboration and shared experiences are the most important thing.
 So, I incorporated sessions in which members were able to openly be able to discuss their issues
 and brainstorm solutions together. They weren't simply "networking" and brainstorming solutions; they
 were about allowing each other to show up as real, imperfect people. The
 discussions we had--about finding our voices and dealing with setbacks celebrations
 wins--were exactly the kind of discussions I'd hoped for Soulcial Suite
 This would help.

Some of our most memorable parts was the small moment when we were just getting to become
  friends. Following dinner on evening of the retreat on Saturday the group gathered in our "Suite
 "Retreat" hoodies, which I donated to them along with our pajamas as well as s'mores.
  fire. Here, members were free to connect, chat and simply let their own. And allow them to be themselves.
 me tell you, watching people laugh was all the inspiration I needed
 keep pushing for this community.

The real-life effects: how the retreat transformed the members of our group.

The magic of in-person connection has a devastating effect on us all. Many creators have told me that they'd
 found people they could finally connect with, who understood them.
  struggles. One of our testimonials the attendee stated:

"I ended up making lifelong acquaintances, as well as learning more about myself on my journey."

Talk about tear-jerking

These connections continued well beyond the retreat itself. The members have been
 collaborating on projects, helping one another through difficult times as well as lifting one another up
 other up on their journeys. There's a new energy, a renewed feeling of purpose
 the community, and all due to the level of connectivity we have found in
  retreat.

How the retreat fueled Soulcial Suite's growth

Beyond personal development and the new friendships that were made, this retreat will be a memorable experience
 The foundation was strengthened that was the foundation Soulcial Suite as a community. Members were able to join in
 Back more active and more committed to supporting each other and being more engaged
 in their own journeys. The ripple effect was real--our after-retreat discussions have become more rich, our community feels stronger as well as, honestly the experience is simply better
 The best spot to be.

The retreat inspired new ideas about the possibilities of what Soulcial Suite could become. We've
 Already arranged our next retreat in June 2025. We are now considering ways we can
 keep building on this momentum. More workshops, more opportunities to network,
 And, yes, there will be and yes, definitely.

Lessons learned and what's next for Soulcial Suite

There's no doubt that there's the possibility of improvement. I gained so much knowledge through hosting
 this first retreat--things I'll keep in mind for my next retreat (like making sure you have
 Plenty of nutritious food choices in lieu of slumber-party meals ).

In the coming years, my goal is to keep investing in these in-person experiences.
 Nothing strengthens a community quite like spending time together in real life.
 And now that I've seen what's possible, I'm now more determined than ever to create
 More of these memorable moments for Soulcial Suite.

Last thoughts: the value of face-to–face interaction

Hosting this retreat reminded me of something vital: real-life connection is
 The catalyst to a flourishing community. If creators are given a place to work from, they can be
 to share their experiences to grow when it's magic. Anyone who wants to get
 to build a community. and I cannot recommend events in person enough. They're well worth the effort.
 all the effort and investment. Soulcial Suite is stronger than any time due to
 that, and could be more grateful for our journey with each other.