09/03/2026
Session three of the CU Creators Collective at Farrenās at the Inman reminded me exactly why I started. I looked up at 7 PM, when we were supposed to be wrapping, and almost every group was still deep in conversation, working through our guided questions, connecting.
I will never take for granted the people who keep showing up for this community, nor will I stop being amazed by the new faces who walk in every single time, willing to try something unfamiliar & put themselves out there to make a real connection.
I know how hard that is. Walking into a room full of strangers is scary. Making that feel a little less scary is the entire point of what weāre building.
To everyone who came out: thank you. So many of you left telling us how glad you are that a space like this finally exists here & I hold onto that. š„¹š«¶
And a huge thank you to Farren's at the Inman for being the most gracious hosts and welcoming us into their beautiful new space in downtown Champaign, right in the heart of the community we love so much!
Weāll see you at the next one.
Love, Olivia š¤