My aunt Patty can knit a mean sock. Her mom Irene can weave warm things to wear out of anything. In fact that whole part of the family is kind of weaving crazy. Me, I can’t fix a sock, let alone make one out of a long piece of string, and the idea of creating whole fabric out of raw materials totally baffles me. I talk about weaving all the time, though, because what I do is a lot like it. The fabric of the world we walk through is made up of intertwining, interconnecting relationships. They define our communities’ strengths and shape our successes. I love to see those relationships come into existence. Heck, let’s be honest: I like to be the one that makes them happen. Between 2006 and 2022 I did that as an independent consultant, working closely with key stakeholders of the food movement in Thunder Bay in communications, marketing, outreach and facilitation. I also worked with various small business clients and eventually found my way to the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, where I served part-time as their Communications Cross-Pollinator for five years. I continue to maintain ties with the Chamber as their webmistress, occasional consultant and proud Chamber Member.In November 2022 I joined the management team with the Thunder Bay Public Library. Today I'm exploring a brand new loom, learning how I can best serve an organization dedicated to weaving a community together for the purpose of sharing and stewarding knowledge. I’ve been privileged, both in my time as an independent consultant and as a team-member with amazing organizations, to see first-hand the way a stronger community fabric can strengthen our people, our industry and our economy. We are all stronger together.