Isn’t it amazing how one kind-hearted soul can ask you one or two powerful questions that can infuse new clarity, energy, and vision into your life during transitional times? For me this was Chris Unger, who I met roughly four years ago when I was living in Seattle. At the time, I was working at Code Fellows, an immersive software development bootcamp, but preparing myself for my next professional move through studies in Corporate Innovation at Stanford.

As I reflect, I am not quite sure where my fascination with the concept of “community” came from. Did it start with my eight-year old self who delighted, but also lamented, each time she played flashlight tag or pick-up basketball when visiting a friend? These outings served as a consistent reminder of how much I felt I missed out on growing up on a piece of property far from the maddening crowds. I vowed at that time that if I had kids, I would ensure we lived in a neighborhood with easy access to playdates and spontaneous social encounters, mud pie collaborations and ample pupils for imaginary classrooms.