The U is Silent; We Aren’t – S2;E3
It Takes a Valley: The Art of Ecosystem Building
What if the secret to a thriving community isn’t competition but collaboration? In this episode, Samantha sits down with Anika Horn—ecosystem builder, global traveler, and co-founder of CreativeMornings Shenandoah Valley—to explore how connection and intention can transform a place. From growing up in a small East German village to living in 14 countries, Anika shares how the places that stay with us are the ones where we find our people. Now rooted in Staunton, she’s bringing that philosophy to life, connecting theater companies, indie bookstores, and creatives across the region to build something bigger than any one organization could do alone. Because sometimes, it doesn’t just take a village. It takes a valley.
About This Podcast
The U may be silent, but Staunton has a lot to say. Join Visit Staunton as we sit down with inspiring individuals at the top of their craft. We’re chatting about what drives their passion, the actions behind the impact, and a little about the place where they’re making it all happen.
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TRANSCRIPT
0:09
[music] Welcome back everybody to the US is silent we aren’t right here in Staunton Virginia. I’m Samantha and I am so
0:16
excited for this conversation today and for our guest today and for you guys also to listen in and and hear what we cook up. So please welcome to the
0:24
podcast Anika Horn everybody. She is an ecosystem builder, co-founder of the Shenandoah Valley um creative mornings
0:33
chapter here, also a massive champion of indie bookstores, a writer, upcoming author, and just so many things. So,
0:42
with that, welcome to the show. We’re so happy to have you.
0:45
Thank you so much for having me. I love talking about our little town in the Shenandoah Valley. You are such a champion for our area,
0:53
for our community. Um, and and I’m just so excited for our conversation today.
0:57
But as we jump in, I would love for just a moment for you to introduce yourself.
1:01
Anything you’d like to share and then we’ll just we’ll dive right in because there’s a lot to dissect and talk about.
1:07
I actually think champion of the Shenandoah Valley in Stand in particular. Pretty much sums it up.
1:12
That’s what I’ve been all about since I moved here in July 2022.
1:17
It always shocks me every time I hear that it’s it’s only been since 2022. And and as we talk, I think our listeners
1:25
will be like, “Oh, yeah, okay, that makes sense why you’re being like it just it always surprises me um how how
1:33
ingrained you’ve become in this community, how much of a champion you’ve been and just head first.” But um I I know you’ve been building community
1:40
forever basically. And something that’s so fascinating to me about you is you have lived and maneuvered through what 14 countries since the age of 19. Yeah,
1:51
sounds about right. Tell me about that. Like what what one,
1:55
why why be such an explorer? What what drove you to just travel so much and explore the world the way you have? And
2:03
um I’d also just love to hear lessons that you’ve learned along the way.
2:06
There’s just so much um coming from a a tourism based podcast that travel teaches us. So I’d love to hear about your journey.
2:13
Yeah. So I grew up in a very small village in the East German countryside.
2:19
Um the I had to take a bus to the next town to go to school and that town is not dissimilar from Staunton. So it’s been really interesting that after
2:27
all of this international travel I basically end up back home in an environment that I’m really familiar with. Exactly. It’s amazing.
2:34
So yeah, I um grew up in a small village. I mean we’re talking cobblestone roads uh horse and cart
2:42
still. Um it’s very small. The bakery is open like three hours on a Saturday. We don’t have a butcher anymore. The doctor
2:51
comes through twice a week. So, it is a little remote. It is very small. Um, and growing up there,
2:59
I had the best childhood anyone could ask for. I mean, I basically I walked to school with my friends. I was able to walk home from school with my friends.
3:08
We would have lunch. We would do homework. And then we just change into our uh like you can get dirty play clothes and then just play all
3:15
afternoon. And then when the church bell struck at 6 p.m. it was time for all the kids to run home for dinner.
3:21
And there was a classic sitcom life growing up.
3:25
Right. Can you imagine that today there um I don’t want to say there was no supervision but we really were roaming free and just got to explore and
3:33
be ourselves which I think builds a lot of confidence in kids. It’s a big difference between how we as Germans raise our children versus how they’re
3:40
raised here. So after 19 years of that, um I was ready to go see the world. And again, um big credit to my parents. They raised my
3:49
sister and me to be very independent, to stand on our own two feet, to be responsible for ourselves,
3:55
uh financially, but also just as people own our choices and follow through.
4:01
Um, I don’t think they had in mind that I would like pack up [laughter] two days after high school graduation. Level of independence.
4:09
I don’t think they wanted us to take it that far. But I um spent the summer working at Disneyland Paris and then got on a plane and flew to Thailand and
4:18
taught English in a in a public school in Northern Thailand.
4:22
Taught some monks and traveled and then spent a year in Australia traveling around. And once you start traveling and seeing everything that is out there,
4:31
it can become pretty addictive.
4:33
And I had traveling alone I thought was fine. You always make friends, but you just see so much and experience not just
4:41
other countries, but other sides of yourself that I think otherwise you never really get to try on and they may not be with you forever, but it’s
4:49
something you can try. So I spent a lot of my 20s um traveling, studying abroad.
4:55
Um I was very fortunate since I’m German that most of my higher education was basically free and as part of that um I got to study in
5:04
Bordeaux France and then later on in Brisbane Australia.
5:08
So just got to see a lot of the world in my 20s which was the time to do it. Yeah.
5:14
Um, and what that has taught me in looking back is with all the places I’ve lived and
5:21
called home, the ones that I still think of very fondly, the ones that kept a piece of my heart were the ones where I found my people,
5:30
where I felt like there are people who see me for who I am, who appreciate me for for what I do and how I show up for
5:36
them. And now I have the language to say these are the places where I built community.
5:42
Yeah. where I really when I left I felt like I’m leaving a part of me here.
5:46
And then there were places where I never really found my groove. I never really found my people. And hey, if I never go back there, that is totally fine.
5:54
You experienced it, realized maybe it’s not for you and Exactly. and can move forward.
5:58
Yeah. That’s amazing. So, fast forwarding to now, I know you’ve shared with me um before really interesting because I I love this conversation with
6:07
you that I’ve had before of like how how’d you end up here, you know, like how does that bring you to Virginia? And um you shared once that that this is the
6:15
the first time in quite a while that you you felt like fully rooted and knowing it just feeling like home.
6:22
I guess what is it and and maybe a mixture of time of your life place all the experiences combined together but
6:29
what is it about here in Staunton that that feels like home now I guess for you?
6:34
Yeah I think in part it was a lot of things coming together at the right time. Another part of it was really being intentional about wanting to be here and wanting to build community. So,
6:45
um, at this stage of my life as a working parent, I so appreciate the quality of life, the ability to want my
6:53
daughter from school and back, the ability to bike downtown.
6:57
Everything I need is so accessible and so easy. Whereas in my 20s and early 30s, I needed everything to be faster
7:04
and louder and more intense that now I’m on the other end of the spectrum. So, I really enjoy Staunton for that reason.
7:12
Um, secondly, I’ve also just always had a love relationship with Virginia. Um,
7:18
it was the state that I moved to when I immigrated from Germany. So, we first lived in Richmond and I love Virginia for
7:26
the mountains, the parks, the beach, the food, the access to bigger cities, like everything around here. And besides, I think the people are just good people.
7:35
Good. Just like honestly good. Yeah.
7:38
And I had the opportunity to return to Virginia in 2022 for a job.
7:46
So, we uh bought a house up here. I moved the family up here. And when I got here, and remember like at this point, we’re coming out of the pandemic.
7:55
I had been a parent without a support network for several years. So when I came here, Staunton didn’t really have a choice.
8:04
[laughter]
8:04
No, I am here. I am here. We’re going to be friends,
8:08
like it or not. But I I need I was so craving a place where I could bring my
8:15
my highest work, where I could bring my gifts to bear, where I could become invested in a community that would, you know, welcome me and and invest back
8:23
into me. And I really found that in Staunton.
8:26
But I think it’s easy to take for granted when we’re younger that you just meet people and we make
8:34
friends and suddenly we hang out all the time because we don’t have kids yet. We don’t have full-time jobs yet. we have all the time in the world. And as you become older, especially if you don’t
8:42
have a job, I think you have to be very intentional about where you spend your time, how you engage with people,
8:48
and um how to embed yourself and and find your place in a community. Yeah.
8:54
Something I’d love to go back on because I think what you grew in personally along with place um all combines very
9:02
much so to to lead you into the person you are now. Um, so talking about learning about yourself throughout your travels and now, you know, finding your
9:10
roots here. Um, something I love about the work that you do is creating personal manifestos and I I love creative mornings. Every time creative
9:19
morning starts, we we read off the the um the group’s manifesto. Um, but for you, can you just take a moment to kind
9:27
of identify what what that is, what that means, and the importance of it, and like how somebody goes about setting um
9:35
setting their intentions with a personal manifesto.
9:38
Yeah. Um, for me, it really emerged out of a need to just be very clear for myself
9:47
what matters to me, what my values and priorities are, and what doesn’t. Um, I put it up on my website for the very simple reason that I wanted people to
9:56
see immediately, oh, she’s my kind of person or she’s so not my kind of person. [laughter] Like, that is that is okay, too.
10:04
Yeah. But um to me I think words are powerful and if you can pour your own values such as supporting local business
10:13
um showing up for your community not expecting anything in return and just just give first trusting that something will come back
10:22
to you when the time is right. Um it is a helpful reminder for me every time I have to make a decision be it personal
10:29
or professional. It also guides me in how I show up in the community. Um, and I think it gives people something to
10:37
grasp onto and say, “Oh, that’s what she’s about.”
10:39
Yeah. Yeah. Do you feel like it’s helped guide you in even just like you said, it’s especially the older that we get,
10:47
the more intentional we should probably be about who we surround ourselves with and how we connect with them. Do you feel like that’s really kind of been a good guiding post for you?
10:56
Absolutely. Yeah. Ecosystem builder. Yes.
10:59
I don’t think I’d really ever heard this term until I met you, actually. And as soon as I saw it, I’m like, [gasps]
11:04
that is amazing. I love it so much and I was so excited to talk to you about it.
11:08
Um, ecosystem builder, what does that mean for you? What what does that mean for general public? And how do you how do you work through that?
11:17
Um, so I would say the basic premise of ecosystem building is the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats. And an
11:27
example I like to use to illustrate the work is something that we’ve been doing here in Staunton with the theater companies. Um, as you know, Staunton has
11:36
an amazing amount of very different theater companies. It’s we are so rich in culture.
11:42
And I would say on first site you could say um,
11:45
oh there’s like a lot of theater companies, but you know, how do you choose and how do you know which one does what and which one is for me? At
11:53
Second Side, however, you will see that they’re actually very different in what they do. Yes. Um I’m always tempted to say very
12:01
professional theater. I I think they’re all professional, but they do they put on very different plays. Some of them are very classic. Some of them are more
12:08
community focused. Some of them work with students a lot. Some of them do a lot of training and education and using theater. Uh I think Silver Line says, um
12:17
using theater to make good humans or to create good humans. And that’s something that really resonated with me. So, um,
12:24
earlier this year at Stant Books and Tea, we brought four of the theater companies together to a share what everyone is about and
12:33
what they’re offering. Um, but also to start dreaming about what is something that all the theater companies could do together that none of them can do on
12:42
their own. So if you put yourself in the position of a theater director, they’re all spending a lot of time, effort, and
12:49
already short funds on trying to promote their shows, their company, um trying to attract visitors
12:56
and tourists and let them know what that is. So for each of these companies,
13:00
13 minutes
that’s a lot of work and effort. And my question to them was, can we do something together that doesn’t just
13:07
promote each of you, but puts Staunton on the map as a mecca for theatergoers. Sure. And that means if we all come together,
13:16
we all continue to doing excellent work and what we’re already doing, but we’re also thinking about how can we all collaborate to um maybe start an arts
13:25
council. Maybe we could start thinking about a citywide theater festival. Can we think about a culture pass where you
13:33
buy one pass and you get access to all of the different holidays shows in the month of December? So thinking about things that none of them can do on their own but they could do by collaborating.
13:44
That to me is ecosystem building. And then the idea is not just um creating that but theater companies kind of lowering their barriers a little bit and
13:52
starting to collaborate. Hey, we have a big show that weekend. Great. In that case, the next theater company is not going to have their big show that same weekend, but maybe a weekend after,
14:01
right?
14:02
So, there’s a lot of coordination going on. There’s a lot of just trying to let information flow so that everybody kind of knows what’s going on.
14:10
And so, before you know it, they start um trading costumes. They can start referring actors to one another. They
14:18
can apply to grants together and apply for much bigger grants. So,
14:22
this is where I come in. This is the work that I think I was put on this earth to do is just bringing communities together to think about, hey, what kind
14:30
of future do we want to create for ourselves? How do we get there? Through collaboration and working together,
14:37
talking about things that that connect us and bring us together and the initiatives that you’re helping sp spearhead. Um, Indie Bookstore Day is coming up in April and along with that,
14:47
I know you have amazing plans in store for that, but not just for any bookstore day, but really a connective trail and
14:54
we are so incredibly fortunate and blessed to have such a collective of um, like you mentioned, theaters, galleries,
15:03
but also bookstores as well in this area, Staunton certainly, but even beyond throughout the valley. So, can you share
15:11
what you’re kind of well twofold what you’re cooking up and I think equally important is the why of why you guys are are working on this specific trail and special day.
15:20
Yeah, absolutely. As you know, Staunton has I want to say six independent bookshops, which again at first sight
15:28
you might you might wonder how does a small town of 26,000 people support six independent bookshops? 2026 physical.
15:35
We’re talking brick and mortar. get a book off the shelf in 2026.
15:39
Yeah, it’s pretty remarkable. Um, but on closer inspection, they’re actually all pretty different and that’s beautiful because there’s something for everyone.
15:46
There’s something for poetry lovers,
15:49
non-fiction readers, um, people who are really into kind of uh, nature or esoteric stuff, into kids books. I mean,
15:58
you name it, we probably have a bookshop for it.
16:01
Um, so as you know, this is this is quality of life. I remember you told me when you were deciding on whether or not
16:08
to move here, you would walk from one end of Beverly Street to the other and just be so taken with how many independent bookshops there are. And that’s just
16:16
bookshops. That’s, you know, on top of that, we have all these small localowned businesses, which is really wonderful for Main Street. Um, so yeah, I think I
16:24
was equally stunned when I moved here to see how many independent bookshops there are. Um, come to find out, most of
16:31
the owners are absolutely fabulous human beings and you can chat with them and they will tell you what to read, what they’re excited about and whatnot. So,
16:39
in 2023, um, there’s a pretty famous book, New York New York Times bestseller, Evan Fris, a bookshop, the history of the American bookstore,
16:49
and his wife owns a bookshop in Harrisonburg. So, when I was up there, I chatted with her about the book and said, “Hey, do you think Evan would ever be interested in launching his book in
16:57
Staunton?” So we invited him down for a book launch event with independent book sellers from our area.
17:03
So great you were there. Yes.
17:06
Yes. Fantastic panel discussion and Exactly. um like you said an ecosystem of of multiple different I I love the
17:14
and I I want to come back to it but um the different vantage points of different bookstores owners and what they’re experiencing how they’re
17:22
pivoting how they’re collaborating and then also the perspective of the author and and distributing the book and kind of how that that relationship works. It
17:31
was and and the fact that um it was at Staunton Books and Tea and the space was full on I think it was probably a Thursday evening or afternoon and it was
17:40
just such a lovely experience. But I digress.
17:43
Well, so you were actually there when the idea for the indie bookshop crawl was born. Oh, fabulous. Because I was in that room that night. Yeah.
17:50
And I think I had a similar sense as you of there is something here. We have book sellers from Crosse and Wesboro and
17:57
Staunton and they’re like they could be competing with each other but now they’re here to talk about why the valley is a great place, why bookshops
18:06
matter in rural America and what we can do together that none of us can do on our own. So with that energy in the room and just seeing that willingness to to share and to collaborate and to help each other out,
18:16
I wanted to pull on that thread a little bit more. And um there are indie bookshop crawls in in big cities, DC, even Richmond, they do it. And I mean,
18:25
if you’re a book lover,
18:27
I can’t think of anything better to do it. Um and I was hesitant about doing it in the Shenandoah Valley because it is so decentralized.
18:34
Um from Buuna Vista all the way up to Winchester along I 81, it’s 143 miles.
18:39
It’s a sub. You got to be committed to reading. Sure. To do that kind of thing.
18:43
But um it was the book sellers that approached me and said, “Hey, have you you know, have you ever heard of a book crawl? is that something we could do?
18:49
And I was like, [laughter] you’ve come to the right person. I was just waiting for the door to open.
18:54
Exactly. So, um, April 10 through April 25, which is National Liny Bookshop Day,
19:00
19 minutes
we are running a two week indie bookshop crawl through the Shenandoah Valley,
19:05
including Crosse. So, anyone who comes in from I64 can start in Cros and then just kind of make their way through the valley. Um, they’re going to get a
19:13
passport. So every shop they visit, they get stamped and then they can enter a drawing into individual prizes at each
19:20
bookshop as well as one grand prize from all the bookshops together. And not only
19:27
is it, I think, wonderful to to put all the bookshops on a map and show how much diversity there is. Um, but just seeing these book sellers come together.
19:37
Yes. and work together when they would be they would have every right to be competitive to not want to play nice but no they’re actually all coming together
19:45
and they’re sharing ideas about what events are they going to do and how are they going to promote it and who wants to take over the printing da da da da so
19:52
we really built it’s it almost feels like a cohort of people who care greatly about their communities about literacy
20:00
20 minutes
and reading in their communities and about creating something for all of us to benefit from I am so excited one just says as a book
20:08
lover, but also I feel like bookstores especially are um
20:15
almost like an inside peak at the soul of a community. It’s like you said, you can come in and always talk to a a bookstore owner or worker and and say,
20:24
“Hey, what are you reading these days?”
20:25
And whether they’re sharing what they’re reading or suggestions for you or, “Hey,
20:29
what do you like?” and um just such a great way to have conversation which I think is just so beautiful about the valley in particular is that um you know
20:38
sometimes you travel places and you feel like you’re just a witness to it versus actually in it and and the valley
20:46
in pretty much every corner says no come on in you’re here with us for a while if you’re here for a day or if you’re here for a week or longer and um you get to
20:53
be with us on this journey and um yeah you mentioned when when we were looking to move here it was just something that struck me so much that this is a value
21:02
to our community, education and creativity and exploration and just the welcomeness. And so I’m so excited for
21:10
locals to explore this and and to enjoy it, but also visitors to to go in and out of our communities and see um to see
21:18
the inside of us a little bit more and and how we view creativity and and the stories that matter to us. And everybody’s so different and that’s why
21:27
I’m so excited for and how it all connects together. So, remind us of the dates again. April 10th through April 25.
21:32
And Shenandoah Valley Indie Bookstore crawl. How can people stay up with it? I think um Google it, [laughter]
21:39
look it up on Instagram. Um and the URL is going to be valleyshops.com. Beautiful.
21:45
So that’s where all the information is and we’ll be talking about it a lot over the next six weeks and then probably thereafter as well.
21:53
I love it. So I’m so excited for that. And on the side of books,
21:57
you have some very exciting book news coming up yourself. Yes. You, my friend,
22:04
are an author already an author in many ways. You have such beautiful writings.
22:07
You’ve done um just the most beautiful guest blog post for us on the Visit Staunton site, but you have a book coming out. I suppose we can we can discuss
22:16
this and announce it because I would sure love to. I think the cat is out of the bag. Yes.
22:20
Yes. Um, so this whole ecosystem building that we’ve been talking about,
22:25
I am hosting my own podcast. So I’ve produced seven seasons. Um, it’s amazing. Season 8 is in the works. Woohoo.
22:32
All about ecosystem building. Um, just to, it sounds abstract, but on my show I have practitioners who do this work
22:40
every day of the week in their communities throughout the US and beyond. Um, and I felt like I was hearing not only so many great stories,
22:49
but learning a lot about this practice of building community and building ecosystems that I had the desire to put
22:57
that in a format that is a little bit more lasting than a podcast. And I have gathered all of these lessons into book
23:04
form. It will launch in the second half of this year. Um there’s some really to me very meaningful stories about the
23:12
Shenandoah Valley and about Staunton, but also um international perspectives on how to do this work. So yeah, stay tuned.
23:19
Oh, I’m so excited and congratulations.
23:21
That is such a big deal and we can’t wait to follow along and to have the book and hopefully have wonderful discussions even here in town too
23:29
because I know you’ve curated so many great discussions. So I’m excited to see that from your side as well. So, on the topics of books, I do want to ask
23:38
because I know you’re um a lover of reader and I love when we sit down often, we we end up discussing what books we’re reading at the moment. Um
23:46
are there any books and I and I know you brought some with you. I would love to to ask you and have have time for you to share books that have impacted your life.
23:56
Which ones would you say they were and why? Absolutely. So, one of them, well, actually two of them, well, all of them.
24:02
[laughter] George RR Martin said something like um a reader leads a thousand lives. A person who never reads a book only leads
24:11
one and that has always stuck with me. So I agree with that. Um one book that has really impacted me is by Jacqueline Novogratz. It’s called Manifesto for a
24:19
moral revolution. Uh Jacqueline Novograds is actually a UVA grad who then went on to start an I would say
24:27
patient capital investment fund where they fund entrepreneurs in developing countries to build meaningful solutions
24:34
to real problems. And we already talked about the manifesto but this is a really beautiful book about how each of us can
24:42
take responsibility and show up for our communities and make a difference in the world. So that one really left a mark with me. Um, she was so kind. I once emailed her and it took her four months,
24:53
but she emailed me back and said she was just so happy that this book had made a difference in my work and in my life.
25:01
The second book is Peter Block, Community, The Structure of Belonging.
25:06
I will admit it’s a bit of a tough read at times, but it has taught me a lot about
25:14
again how we have the power to create the kind of community we want to live in. We don’t need to wait for government
25:21
leaders or nonprofits or or really anyone who we perceive to be higher up to do the things for our community that
25:30
we want to see. We can all become active and and play that role. So, I go back to this book quite a lot to talk about or to remind myself of how to do this.
25:39
Um, and then one these are both non-fiction. I I read more than non-fiction everybody. I did bring this book, Theo of Golden by Ellen Levi.
25:49
Um because when life is hard, I feel like you need to have this in your emergency kit.
25:55
It is a uh fiction book. It feels like a warm hug from a good friend and it kind of takes me away from the
26:04
madness. And what’s really interesting is um Ellen Levi is I want to say in his 70s. This is his first novel. He was a
26:11
judge. He was a songwriter. um wrote this book, self-published it. Wow.
26:17
Sold 170,000 copies as a self-published author. For for those of you who don’t know, that’s that’s a big deal.
26:25
That’s a really big deal. And actually,
26:26
one of our book sellers at Words Meadow Terra Cox um just called him one day and said, “Hey, I can’t keep your book on my shelves. Can you send me some more?”
26:35
And so, they’ve been in exchange, which just really warms my heart to know that these are the caliber of book sellers that we have. Yeah.
26:41
And she has been selling this book like hotcakes for good reason because it’s just a wonderful small town story
26:48
that really resonated with me. So those are three books that have really left a mark with me. That’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
26:55
Something you you mentioned about the um book community. Um you mentioned the the capability of of building the kind of community one want to live in. One of
27:02
the most impactful things ever shared with me is um some of my good friends John and Gene Rosenberg. They’re incredible. Um, John is a a Holocaust
27:12
survivor. He and his wife both now at this point um are are both featured in the Smithsonian for their civil rights
27:20
work in different fields um for him for his civil rights work for her in her um prison reform work and and women’s
27:28
rights that she’s worked with. and they’re just so amazing and and they end up um throughout time ended up going into to Eastern Kentucky and and working
27:36
with with coal miners and different people in poverty and just did such incredible work every everywhere they went. And I was talking to them one day
27:44
and you know they’re they’re in their 80s and 90s now and and I’m just like how do you guys like how did you do all
27:53
this with with kids and tow and with this level of impact and work and um you know he just looked at me over some
28:00
28 minutes
coffee goes I guess we were just always trying to live or we were always trying to build the kind of world we wanted to live in
28:06
and I was like yes that’s it of of not necessarily needing statute or a title or a name or the right time or you know
28:15
it’s just seeing a need finding your people and creating the action in a way that you have the gifts to do and um I think
28:23
that’s something you do very intentionally and and I have gotten to experience it personally with creative mornings. It was uh one of the first
28:30
like full community gatherings I got to attend when I moved here and and started in my role. And I I say even still, I know it’s technically a meeting, but
28:38
it’s really just a gathering of great creative minds. And I remember when I first the first one I went to, it was like a breath of I am in the right
28:47
place. I’m in the the right community with the right people. And it was that um like yes. Yes. Um just just
28:57
that that feeling. Um but I would love to talk about creative mornings because kind of bold you helped launch and
29:04
facilitate what only like the second rural creative. They’re normally in major metropolitan areas, right? Um so it’s a an initiative around the world
29:12
but very rarely in rural areas. And you I think had only been here what two three months of that time and you’re like you know what we could sustain.
29:20
[laughter]
29:22
Tell us about creative mornings. Yeah,
29:24
absolutely. So, first off, I am just so thrilled to hear that when you were new in town, we were able to create
29:32
something that made you feel like you belonged here.
29:36
That’s what it’s all about and that’s what we set out when we created this chapter was to create that kind of experience. I’m really really thrilled to hear that.
29:43
Um, Creative Mornings is the world’s largest face-to-face creative community.
29:48
They are active in over 70 countries at this point, 250 chapters.
29:53
And each month we have a one-word theme across the world where that month’s talk is going to be about that theme, which is really cool.
30:03
It connects us really globally. It allows us to tap into that global network and we’re doing something right because the Shenandoah Valley chapter
30:12
gets written up in every second or third global newsletter.
30:15
Amazing. There’s a mention to our community just recently. Um, they used a quote from Danielle Unique Mchuan who was on the show before. It’s really cool
30:25
to tap into that. And you mentioned I only just moved here when I started it.
30:30
So Megan Burroughs, who at the time owned a shop downtown, came up to me and said, “Hey, I’m Megan.
30:36
Have you ever heard of Creative Mornings?” And I was like, “Hey, I’m Anika. Nice to meet you.” Yes, I have.
30:42
Um, I happened to be the second speaker in the Richmond chapter about 11 or 12 years ago now. So, I was familiar with the concept and I’ve always loved it.
30:50
Um, and I think the next thing she said to me, he’s like, “Hey, yeah, so I’ve been thinking about starting it. Is that, you know, do you want to come on board?” I was like, “Yeah, sure. I’m
30:59
sorry. What’s your last name?” So, we had not really known each other and just jumped into this together. Um, we actually started with a community
31:07
meeting to see is this something that we’re just excited about or is this something that is actually meeting a need in the community.
31:15
We had maybe I remember it vividly. It was a day in November was cold and gray and we met in the upstairs little room
31:23
of Megan’s shop at the time and I think we had about 20 or 30 people show up and it reminded me, wow, yeah,
31:29
we have so many creatives. I mean your typical creatives um painters, sculpture art, um
31:37
photography, videography, but also hair stylists and mural painters and everything in between, chefs,
31:45
um because and and that was the essence to us is we believe everyone is creative.
31:50
Um even I talked to Evan Fris yesterday and he said, “I’m not really creative.”
31:54
And I was like, “Yeah, you’re writing your fourth book right now. You’re certainly not creative.” So, [gasps] I think we’ve built up this idea of what it means to be creative when in reality
32:03
everybody is creative. And so, we wanted a space for everyone, whether they’re professional or they’re just doodling to
32:10
come and meet and spend time in community. We are in our third year now.
32:15
Um, we I think one of the big upsides and that’s how we pitched it to to being in a more decentralized rural area is we pop up all throughout the valley. Yeah.
32:25
So, each month we’re in a different location. Um there’s a lot happening in the central valley, but we are starting uh to host one in Woodstock. We’re trying to get down to Buuna Vista,
32:34
Lexington.
32:35
We have never been in the same location twice,
32:38
but we have been uh on a flower farm when like everybody brought picnic blankets and you could see
32:45
the clouds over the mountains that slowly lifted. During the talk, we were in a recording studio which is a log
32:52
cabin in Mount Solen. We are in art galleries, but we also we love being on rooftops. We love being in venues that
33:01
you normally wouldn’t go to and hear stories from people that otherwise you would never hear.
33:07
And that has been building a lot of community. It also allows us to directly reinvest into the creative community. So all coffee, catering, photography,
33:17
videography at each event, um we pay our vendors.
33:22
We always use local vendors. We always use small local businesses that are independently owned to help us put on these events so that every dollar
33:29
donated to this nonprofit activity goes straight back into the local community. And so we get to,
33:37
you know, on good days I tell myself we help rewrite what it means to be a creative in rural America.
33:44
I love it. And I one of my well a couple few of my favorite things actually. One is the coffee because it’s always a
33:51
locally sourced coffee. I’m a big coffee lover. So, it’s one of my favorite things is like, oh, can’t wait to try what we have today. Yeah. Um, but the
33:58
other side that I love is is hearing how everyone identifies themsel as a creative, if it’s if it’s an expression
34:05
that they have or just um how they express their ideas and thoughts. And then I also I always love at the end um
34:13
when people can can do a shout out for what they’re working on or what they may need help with or trying to connect. Um just just hearing the connection of if
34:21
it’s somebody that’s like, “Hey, our organization is trying to do a 5K for the first time as a fundraiser, any insight, please help us out. We’d love
34:28
to hear it.” Or, “Hey, I’m I really want to get out there more. I’m looking to volunteer more.” Others like, “Hey, I need volunteers.” Yeah,
34:35
it is so beautiful to then watch the faces and the eyes connect and then that conversation that happens when everything’s, you know, quote unquote
34:42
closed is the connections that continue on is just um really beautiful to to to see and witness and um everybody’s
34:50
welcome. It’s what I love. It’s and you know donations are always encouraged.
34:54
You can at any time please do to keep this running but there’s no cost to to come out to it. And so, um, you know,
35:00
35 minutes
it’s it’s easy to see 25 to 50 people gathering at 9:00 a.m. in the morning over over coffee and some pastries. And,
35:08
um, so I highly encourage everybody if you’re in this area or if you’re passing through and want to check one out, um,
35:14
you can check out the Creative Mornings website, the Shenandoah Valley chapter.
35:18
It’s it’s it’s incredible. I I just can’t encourage it enough to again get to know the community in in a deeper way and and to build your own community. Um,
35:27
and on that side, I am curious through your experience for anybody listening, whether they’re in
35:35
our community or even in a community elsewhere. Um, for anybody that’s feeling whether it be creatively or
35:43
communitywise, isolated, like maybe they’ve just not found their people yet or they’re searching for it. What advice
35:50
would you give to people of of either I guess just getting connected with a community or finding their footing in in a way?
35:58
Absolutely. I um had a chance to give a keynote about this at a women’s symposium a few months ago. So I’ve been thinking about
36:05
hm how do people connect because I think this is not a unique issue right
36:12
I think if anyone listening to this or watching this feels isolated you are not alone. I think the majority of people in
36:20
today’s world feel pretty isolated and alone and don’t know where to turn. Um,
36:25
I have a a three-word formula uh formula. Connect, engage, belong. I think um whether you’re new in a
36:32
community or you’re starting to find new people in a community you’ve lived in for 15 years, connect with people with whom you have something in common.
36:40
Whether that’s crochet or paintball or video games or whatever it is like that passion that you want to
36:47
explore a little bit more. Find people who do the same thing and engage with them. You can’t just show up and expect them to include you and make you feel welcome. I mean,
36:57
ideally they do and in in Staunton, I would say that’s pretty much the case. But find a way to become involved. Um, do something together, offer to help,
37:06
find a way to give a little bit of you towards that thing.
37:10
And before you know it, if you do that consistently and you keep showing up and you keep doing what you said you were going to do,
37:16
before you know it, you will feel like you belong somewhere. And maybe it’s not the crochet community, but maybe it’s the pickle ball community, or maybe it’s
37:23
the co-working community anywhere in Staunton, Wesboro, Harrisonburg.
37:27
I think if you do that genuinely and you do it consistently, you will find your place where you belong.
37:33
Yeah. You said something um once and I I know it’s kind of become the slogan of of creative mornings. I was talking to you one day about community building and
37:42
we all know the saying it it takes a village and you said it takes a valley and I was like [laughter]
37:47
that’s the most brilliant thing and and it it’s so true because you know I think um the more we advance in technology of
37:56
course it in many ways connects us but um the conversation is a lot more of like it’s it’s harder to have our villages of um the way that we trust the
38:05
way that we engage the way that we you know separate our time out Um, but there’s something so powerful and I feel
38:12
personally in this area too of how connective our community is, but also opportunities throughout the entire valley, whether it be an indie book shop
38:20
crawl, whether it be connecting our our theaters, whether it just be different programs that that people can have and and
38:28
cohorts and um there’s just this unifying ability here, I find. But but you are right. We have to show up to it
38:36
and and and come to the table and know that we’re worth and valuable to come to the table. So yeah, thank you for sharing that. I I think about it
38:43
constantly. I’m like Texas Valley. I was so hoping it would catch on because I think it’s it’s catchy and it’s very true.
38:50
Be it, you know, everything you just mentioned to create a thriving theater community, farming,
38:58
entrepreneurship, bookshops, you name it. It really takes a valley for everyone to come bring their gifts and
39:05
their highest values and work to make that thing happen. And I think even though I’ve only been here not even four years, I’m starting to see the
39:13
fruits of that labor. I’m starting to see that collaboration creating really beautiful things in our community and that makes me really happy.
39:20
Yeah. Final question. Ideal day in Staunton, what would you do? [laughter]
39:26
Okay. I actually do this every time someone comes to town. Mh. I’m like, “Oh my god, you’re coming to stand.” Okay,
39:32
let me tell I’m I’m just going to draft a little uh schedule for you and make sure you hit all the things. Um,
39:39
okay. So, let’s assume I hope they come on a Friday and I hope they’re early birds so that they can attend creative mornings on the fourth Friday of the month.
39:47
Um, and I really, [snorts] you know, I thought of this earlier when we talked about bookshops. if you just drop in somewhere even though you’re just a tourist,
39:55
um it gives you such a closeup intimate feel of what the community is about and I think Creative Mornings is great for that. Plus,
40:03
yes,
40:04
we feed you free breakfast, great coffee. People in this town are very serious about their coffee. So,
40:11
you’re going to get coffee in the right place.
40:13
Exactly. Any event you go to with Creative Mornings will have great coffee. Um you’ll hear from a local about their journey and their story,
40:20
which is great. and you connect with other people in the community, hear about what they’re working on, what they’re excited about. It’s a really great way to plug in.
40:28
Um, after Creative Mornings, I’m probably going to send you down to Reunion, my dealer of choice when it comes to pastries. [laughter]
40:36
So good.
40:37
I am I am a bit of a snob. I used to I lived in France on two occasions. So, um, I value a good quiss.
40:44
So, I go down to reunion. Um maybe get a second coffee. Yes.
40:49
Get some pastries. Um and just sit in that secret little garden behind which is my daughter’s favorite spot on a Saturday. She’s like, “Can we go to the secret garden?”
40:58
I do because I also call it I call it my secret hiding place. I will give it a shout out. Um right behind the RRSmith Center, which is an incredible the historical society’s there, but
41:07
incredible rotating gallery spaces. And right behind it is just it feels like a secret garden. It is so beautiful back
41:15
there just right right down the alleyway um or right just right behind um reunion area right at the street behind the R
41:23
Smith Center. So shout out when Noelia was on the the podcast last season she brought a beautiful painting in. I told her I’m like I’m almost hesitant to show
41:31
it because of of the garden space. I’m like this is my secret space. It’s not so secret anymore. It’s not, but I know it’s it’s so special because I’ve heard
41:39
how many others feel that same connection to that space also. So, yes, we may run into each other on ideal day. Great.
41:46
So, you get the pastries, you go to the garden.
41:49
Yep. Um, from there, I would probably send anyone up to either Montgomery Hall or Gypsy Hill Park.
41:56
Walk off some of those pastries. Fair. Feed the ducks if you’re in the mood.
42:00
42 minutes
Um, if you have a kid with you, let them run a muck on one of the many playgrounds.
42:05
um just get some air and and see a different part of town. From there,
42:10
my preferred lunch spots are actually up near the park. So, I love downtown.
42:15
We’ll come back to downtown, but lunch is either Glorious Papuseria,
42:19
um Chico Boy, Pizza Luca, one of those spots that you can still walk to from downtown, which is crazy if you think about it. There’s so much in walking
42:28
distance. Um, and with full bellies as a local, I love going to my CrossFit gym on a Friday afternoon, just get a little workout. And that was one of the reasons
42:36
for me to choose Staunton over other locations.
42:39
We have a fantastic CrossFit gym with great people and such a good community that I love that if you’re not into CrossFit or you’re just visiting, go for a hike, go for a walk, hit the trails,
42:51
like whatever it is, I feel like there’s so much to do outdoors. Um, and then in the afternoon I would probably come back downtown,
42:59
Beverly Street. Yes, obviously all the bookshops, but also any of the local businesses. Um, and if you’re here between, I think,
43:08
April and October,
43:10
Beverly Street shuts down, becomes a walking mall. Yes.
43:13
You can let your kids run, you can walk your dogs in the street. It has such a European feel.
43:18
Yes. like all the restaurants and other shops that move tables and chairs into the street. You can sit on the sidewalk on the street.
43:25
Uh my daughter loves doing sidewalk chalk in the street or playing a giant connect for there is something there for everyone and I feel like you can just browse,
43:34
stop, browse some more, uh read your book or do some shopping, have an adult beverage of your choice and just enjoy yourself. I would probably
43:43
grab dinner downtown if you can sit outside.
43:47
Yes. And I really I can’t emphasize this enough. Um you had Ian Bowden on the show and I’m I’m in in such awe of what he has created with Mod and the Bear,
43:56
but I feel like for every budget, we have a great restaurant. Yes.
44:01
You can get great steak international food. You can have Appalachian cuisine. Like there is something for everyone.
44:07
You can get a really good burger on Main Street and they have kids meals which I’m still a big fan of. So I would eat downtown and then probably catch a show.
44:16
I mean, again, most of our theaters are almost walking distance. Whether you go to American Shakespeare Center or a Civil Line Theater, um, there’s often
44:23
live music in one of the places downtown or you just go into our movie theater and catch a catch a movie there. And
44:31
then don’t go home until you’ve had a night cap of your choice. And that could be, I think, a cocktail somewhere, a beer down at the
44:38
brewery, or maybe this is a family favorite. You just stop by Split Banana. Oh, it’s so good.
44:44
And get some. It’s so good. Our local ice cream shop. So good, boy.
44:48
And I don’t know if you know this, but they use very clean ingredients. They do.
44:52
Um I think it’s the ice cream is made from grass-fed milk. They have really good gelato. They do.
44:58
And it’s the best treat on a Friday night.
44:59
It is. Also, shout out to them. So my son has a a dairy allergy and and they have wonderful sorbet like you mentioned. Their their dairy is locally sourced as well. So it’s a place that
45:08
our entire family can go and enjoy and and have a sweet treat. So ah yes,
45:13
one of the many gems and that’s how I would conclude my perfect day in stand for anyone visiting. I’m ready. Let’s go. I think we all [laughter] are.
45:21
That is such a wonderful day. Well, Anika, thank you so much for your time,
45:26
for your insight, for your passions. Um I just adore talking to you every time.
45:30
And I know I’ve shared this before, but I also believe in in publicly sharing these feelings as well. Um you are a walking
45:39
representation. and we have the most beautiful mural downtown. If you’re listening and you haven’t seen this mural, look us up. Um there’s a
45:46
beautiful mural along Beverly Street that says you belong here. And it’s kind of become synonymous with with our town,
45:52
right? Yeah. And I’ve had so many people um stop me and just share their story of how they were exploring either visiting for a little bit or eventually ended up
45:59
moving here. They they ended up in front of this mural and and they saw it and they it said, you know, you belong here and they’re like, actually, this is one of the first places I’ve felt like I
46:07
belong here. And it’s just such beautiful stories and I feel like you are a human form of that
46:15
mural of of you are intentional in in bringing people together, but you’re
46:22
also um active in those initiatives and and you see potential and opportunity to
46:29
come together because of the the minds and the hearts that are around us. Um,
46:33
so anyway, I just want to share I think I think you’re doing such amazing work in our community and I’m so glad you’re here at the same time I am as well. How
46:40
fortunate I I feel with that. So, thank you for all you’re doing. Stay tuned everybody. We’ve got a lot coming up. We have Indie Bookstore Crawl, Indie
46:48
Bookstore Day. We also have book coming out soon. And you have your own website,
46:53
of course, that people can um follow along. Anikahhorn.com. Yep. Is that right? All right. Follow along, guys.
46:59
Thank you so much for hanging out with us today. We’ll be back soon. Such a great episode and so much more to come this season for the US [music] Silent.
47:06
We aren’t. We’ll see you soon, guys. Bye.
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