Brave Hearts Club welcomes all women

The world needs more real, deep, and meaningful connection. We’re making space for it.”

Brave Hearts Club co-founders

Audio

Brave Hearts Club welcomes all women_Margie O’Loughlin.mp3

Brave Hearts Club is a monthly gathering of women (and those who identify as women) committed to showing up for themselves and for each other.

Co-founded by Wanjiru Dalton, Kate Fischer, and Melley Richards, Brave Hearts Club (BHC) officially turned one this winter. In their shared experience as parents of young children, the co-founders understand how much change can happen in one short year.

The three friends were originally drawn to the idea of creating a club for women back in 2024. They had confided in each other, and wondered if something was missing from their lives. Could they change the way they were connecting with other women? Could they put in place the building blocks for a community of women intent on speaking their truth, while also listening deeply?

The topic for a recent meeting was, “Coping During Times of Chaos.” Those seated in the circle got to hear from each other how they were dealing with both the unique and the familiar stresses of the time. A take-away from the discussion was that when so much felt chaotic and out-of-control, they could still choose to come together.

Beginnings
All three co-founders were motivated by a desire to feel more interdependent, and being face-to-face was part of their vision. BHC was not created as a backlash against social media (at least one of the co-founders finds value in her digital networks), but they were definitely looking for ways to augment their connections with other women.

Fischer moved to St. Paul six years ago from another state. A social worker by day, she said, “I relocated in 2020, had a baby, COVID happened, and there I was trying to build a whole new life. My family doesn’t attend a church or synagogue. For me, BHC has been a nourishing container for meaningful relationship.”

Fellow St. Paul resident Richards said, “COVID brought some years of personal hardship for me, but it was also the first time I realized that close female relationships were what was going to get me through. Connection makes momentum. Momentum makes action. I really started thinking about my need to move from individual to collective thinking, and about the power that can come from being part of a group. Then I realized I probably wasn’t the only one who needed this.”

Minneapolis resident Dalton began craving more authentic relationships a few years ago too. She was simultaneously paying attention to former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who did pioneering work around what he called the Loneliness Epidemic. She said, “We’ve found that when our gatherings are intentionally structured around safety and respect, women open up in their own time. Even people who describe themselves as introverted or shy often find themselves sharing in ways they didn’t expect.”

The meetings follow a core structure that includes establishing communication ground rules, guided reflection/journaling on a shared topic, breaking into pairs/triads for small group conversation, and ending in large group discussion.

Talking circle
The co-founders encourage participants to bring their full selves and return to their innate wisdom through community. They believe that people need each other– now, more than ever – and that the pendulum has swung too far toward individualism.

All women are welcome, but Fischer pointed out that the group may not be for everyone. She said, “What we’re striving for with BHC is a level of authentic, intentional conversation that may feel uncomfortable to some.”

The age range for participants has so far been from the mid-20s to the mid-50s, but younger and older women are encouraged to join.

Richards emphasized, “We see BHC as a way to fulfill our very human need to belong.”
At this point, all BHC events are free of charge and there is no commitment or membership necessary.

Opportunities
Drop-in meetings are held monthly and are a time to explore a specific topic as a group. Cohort Circles are coming soon and will be a chance to stay with the same small group for 10 weeks. Throughout the year there are also guest speakers and workshops on specific topics.
Check out the BHC website at www.braveheartsclub.org. Their monthly Thursday evening meetings are from 7-9 p.m., but don’t occur on the same week each month. All events are hosted by the Twin Cities Friends Meeting House, located at 1725 Grand Avenue in St. Paul.