The Freedom to Be: Finding Sanctuary in Shared Spaces
Since my first article release on February 20, 2025, my cup has been overflowing—not with the weight of keeping up, but with the freedom of pouring out. I’ve found an unshakable liberation in sharing the context of my art and my life as it unfolds. This blog, in many ways, has become more than a platform; it is a living archive of my voice, woven into the fabric of history through a new medium.
Today's reflection comes from a moment steeped in warmth—tea, sake, and conversation with Anita, Lex, AJ, and Bri (Hey ya’ll, if you’re reading this). Over the past few months, they have become more than familiar faces; they have become a part of my sanctuary. We gathered at our local refuge, Anita Cafe & Bar, fresh from witnessing Lex speak on a panel—Black in Beauty, curated by Stacey Pugh and Carta. The energy of the event lingered in our post-panel discussion, where we dissected its impact and dreamed of what’s next. The conversation naturally led to a question: How do we continue to create spaces where expertise and aspiration meet—where people don’t just observe from a distance but feel seen, heard, and aligned as peers?
And that, I realize, is what spaces like Anita’s make possible. They are more than venues; they are incubators of expression, where ideas are not just critiqued but refined, where honesty isn’t met with defensiveness but with understanding. There is something deeply sacred about being able to share your heart without feeling the need to guard it—where your words aren’t misconstrued but are held with care, challenged with empathy, and met with the intention of growth.
I think about the times in my life when I’ve been in rooms where I didn’t feel that freedom—where I second-guessed whether my presence was welcomed or my voice belonged. There was a time when I would walk into creative spaces and feel like an outsider, like I had to prove I deserved to be in the room. I carried the weight of expectation, the unspoken pressure to perform, to showcase my worth before even being asked to take a seat. But spaces like Anita’s, and nights like this, remind me that community isn’t about proving—it’s about being. It’s about knowing that your voice has value before you even speak.
When I first stepped into Anita’s in the late summer of 2024, it felt like walking into a warm embrace from strangers. And since then, it has been a place of expansion. I’ve supported a stranger who, in turn, has supported me. I’ve been welcomed into conversations that sharpened my understanding, introduced to people who have since poured into my dreams, and exposed to flavors and rituals that have become a part of my palette. More importantly, I’ve learned that support doesn’t always look like a grand gesture. Sometimes, it’s the quiet assurance that you don’t have to navigate your dreams alone.
So, what am I getting at? Whether it’s a table of five or an arena of thousands, be intentional with your tribe. Create spaces where you can be fully yourself, where your conversations are unshackled, where your thoughts can stretch beyond what you once believed possible. Growth is inevitable with time, but the quality of that growth depends on where you plant yourself. If it’s not Anita Cafe & Bar, find your sanctuary—find the place where your world expands, where your ideas take root, and where your voice doesn’t just echo but is truly heard.
To Anita—thank you for dreaming, for building, for holding space. Because of what you’ve created, I stand a little taller, think a little deeper, and move through the world forever elevated. Check out Anita Cafe & Bar located at 2700 Locust St, St. Louis, MO 63103 and you just might meet a tribe that changes your forever.
You can follow the ladies mentioned in this tribe on instagram to see what they’re up to in their day to day and the brands that they’re building
Anita: @anitacafeandbar Founder of Anita Cafe & Bar
Lex: @goddlexx Founder of More Life Society
AJ: @ashvjenks Founder of SAYF(safe) App
Bri: @bri.of.all.trades Founder of (be)REAL Wellness
