the last 5 years

It’s been 5 years since my first official Written in Brooklyn class. Before that, people just referred to it as “my friend teaches a storytelling class” and that was enough. I remember that slow, sunny day I walked through Prospect Park and decided I didn’t want to chase my future anymore, I wanted to create it. So I did, prompt after prompt, class after class, show after show. I have challenged myself as a writer, leader, and entrepreneur in the most painful and unsexy ways. But I also met the coolest people, opened my eyes to other perspectives on the world, and created the kind of space I use to long to be invited to. I didn’t know in the beginning that I wasn’t just teaching a class, I was building a community full of people who crave celebrating our messy, wild, beautiful, hilarious lives.

I’m still here, still creating on my own terms. I still have big dreams of showing everyone in the world the power of their own voice, of their own story, of humanity, of empathy, of humor, of a life well lived. I want to do this forever.

After a year of toying around with what the name of my operation should be, I bought a bag of coffee beans and read the back as I waited for a friend. Right there were the words “roasted in Brooklyn.” I never looked back. I never will.

Thanks for making these 5 years so special 🥂

xo

Carly