My guest this week is Stephanie Flies, who is passionate about building local communities. She is the Founder & Director of City Mom Collective, growing the network after founding its original site, Scottsdale Moms Blog, in 2009. 

Now living in the greater Minneapolis area, she oversees the national network by spearheading growth strategies, sales initiatives, and shepherding and encouraging an ever-increasing number of moms managing individual local parenting websites. 

She is married to Alan and is the mom to three girls, Nora, Elsie, and Audrey. 

4:02 – Stephanie 101

• Stephanie has a passion for gathering people.
• Even in middle school, she wanted to help people get together.
• Her girls are 13, 11 and 9.

11:42 – A social introvert

• A few years ago, Stephanie was feeling down and not herself. She realized she wasn’t seeing her close circle of friends very often and wasn’t serving others with her gifts. 
• Service of community, while we’re serving other people, it refills us back. 
• Stephanie calls herself a social introvert. 

19:35 – Connecting during the pandemic

• When the pandemic began, they were still connecting people online. 
• Local events changed a lot, and they followed local rules for gathering.

23:35 – Deep roots of happiness

• People often think they will be happier when they get (fill in the blank). But you need deep roots and family. 
• Social media fuels wanderlust.
• Stephanie’s business uses social media for good.
• The only people you don’t have a lot of choice about is your neighbors and your birth family. Those are usually the most intentional people God put into your life to love.

33:09 – Get to know your neighbors

• Take the first step and put yourself out there.
• People will feel loved if you take the one step to make them feel welcome.
• Find out what energizes you and use that to serve and connect with your neighbors.

43:29 – Get to know you

• Something memorable that happened in past year? Her daughter turned 13, and they let her pick and plan a trip.
• Something we’d never guess about her? That she’s introverted.

FEATURED QUOTES

I read somewhere that the only people you don’t have a lot of choice about is your neighbors and your birth family. Those are usually the most intentional people God put into your life to love.

I’ve always had a passion for gathering people. 

Service of community, while we’re serving other people, it refills us back.

Everyone needs community to some extent. 

CONNECT:

https://www.momcollective.com/

Thank you to our partners of the show!

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