“Your nervous system relaxes around people who have: Peace in their eyes, growth in their plans, kindness in their speech, compassion in their perception, emotional maturity in their decisions.” – Yung Pueblo
In December, it’s tempting to measure the past twelve months in hard metrics—profits earned, projects completed, milestones reached. But here, in the textured pages of our magazine, we understand that true growth doesn’t live on a spreadsheet. It thrives in the communities we build, the stories we tell, and the art you’ve dared to create.
This past year has been one of collective resilience. The local businesses we collaborate with refused to just survive; they thrived, fueled by creativity and an unwavering sense of purpose, they have become cornerstones in our neighborhood. Thanks to you, our audience, supporting local businesses has become a revolution in practice. By now we have a deep understanding that when we buy local, we don’t just invest in a product—we invest in people, in stories, and in the cultures that make up our communities.
Art, as always, was a mirror and a balm. Local womxn artists in particular, led this charge – gracing nine of our covers, showing us that creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s survival, legacy, and power. They reminded us to look inward while pushing boundaries outward.
This year also asked us to interrogate our values. To not just say we stand for equity, justice, and representation, but to build those ideals into the very fabric of our decisions. It was about making room and stepping back to amplify others.
As we look to the next twelve months, we’ll continue to champion the bold, the brave, and the local. We’ll continue to celebrate the stories that matter, the art that challenges, the nonprofits that make a difference and the businesses that make us believe in the power of the collective.
Here’s to another year of building bridges. Thank you for taking this journey with us.
Your neighbors,
Shaleen and Sam DeStefano