Since the dawn of time, many life forms have been built around its communities. And at the heart of most, are the females.
Females that nurture.
Females that lead.
Females that connect.
From prides of lionesses and queen bees, to matriarchal indigenous tribes and bands of voices for women’s rights, to the lifelong bonds of female friendships - to know, and to be cared for by women is something fierce.
Something that is built around bonds. Bonds that teach and care for our young, and bonds that support and uplift our elders, and every stage in between.
We’ve all heard these phrases time, and time again:
“It takes a village.”
“Find your tribe.”
“Women supporting women.”
But for many modern women who feel they’re in the trenches alone, they know it’s easier said than done.
Has our fast-paced, digital age disconnected our women from one another?
A village takes connections. A tribe takes commitment. Support takes networking. And now, in post-pandemic times, the emphasis and importance on coming together, especially in person, shoulder to shoulder, is vital in so many ways.
So, women in Katy have taken it upon themselves to step up and step in to fill that void in new ways.
Women like Natalie Thomas, who founded Katy Moms Network in 2018.
“Motherhood is hard, it can be very isolating, it can be scary, confusing, all the things no matter what stage of motherhood you’re in,” she says.
So, she created a place where mothers can not only connect for resources and camaraderie, but for in-person events that lead to meaningful relationships. To not only guide their young through childhood, but to help guide each other through motherhood.
A space where women can share stories of sleepless nights over cold coffee and crumbly goldfish.
A space where women can brave social events alone for the chance of walking out with a new friend.
A space where women can juggle careers and families while looking forward to a night out to herself.
Women, like Natalie, who were searching for something they couldn’t quite put a finger on, but ultimately ended up finding a place where they felt seen, felt supported, and felt the female bonds we’ve been designed to share.
“I leaned on what I felt my gifts were, sharing information with moms, connecting with moms and letting mothers know, you’re not alone,” Natalie says.
But female community is not just for motherhood. It’s for all stages of life.
Life is full of twists, full of turns, and while partners hold a significant place in our journey and hearts, so do the women we surround ourselves with.
Because, why do it alone, when we can do it together?
Olivia Martin knows this importance all too well. A College Station transplant, she knew no one, and knew little about opening her own business here in 2018.
Determined to earn the support and trust of a brand new community, she set out to illustrate just what her company was capable of. And learning as she went, she realized so many others were in the same boat.
“I say I started KTX Window Cleaning with a google search bar, and (that just proves) you can do anything that you put your mind to,” she admits on local podcast ChatKTX.
But facing business challenges is better with friends. Better with women to collaborate with. Better with women who’ve felt your struggles, and cheer your triumphs.
And with the success Olivia and her husband felt after sharing their talents with the community, she wanted others to feel that support as well. With her friend and fellow business leader, Stacy Jacobs, they founded the development group, Women of Katy. Both a program that hosts quarterly events with inspirational speakers and topics, and a scholarship-based foundation that mentors women into becoming strong leaders, knowledgeable business owners, and hopeful stewards to usher in the next era.
Olivia says, “Katy is special. And I thank my husband everyday for bringing me here. Because for the first time in forever, we’re able to grow into our own.”
Growing into our own, supported by our village, should be a fundamental stage in every woman's life, not just a privilege.
And, groups like Katy Moms Network and the Women of Katy aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
Natalie introduced her community to her newest avenue, ChatKTX, a local podcast with friend and host Brooke Gonzalez.
Brooke, a veteran teacher and entrepreneur herself, with her gym CrossFit GonzStrong, also felt the itch to connect with her neighbors here in Katy.
She felt she could provide a platform to share more about the great things and amazing stories happening right in our own backyard.
Especially proud of her years in the classroom, Brooke says, “The teachers and the coaches are what makes this district amazing. The leaders in our school. Let’s shine a light on them. That’s community. That’s how we thrive here in Katy TX.”
That’s the power of this community. Taking pride in helping raise strong students into strong leaders, supporting strong women into strong entrepreneurs, and nurturing strong mothers into strong matriarchs.
With a community this large, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or disconnected, but these women are connecting women one business, one event, one social post, at a time.
As this women-led web continues to grow, it continues to build stronger. Continues to withstand real challenges. Continues to foster real community. Together.
Special thanks to Brooke and Natalie of ChatKTX for podcast permissions, you can find full episodes at @ChatKTX on YouTube. You can also follow along with Katy Moms Network, the Women of Katy and KTX Window Cleaning on their Instagram pages.
side bar
Ways to Connect
motherhood
Katy Moms Network
New Mom School Katy
We Rock the Spectrum play gym
Special Moms Meet Up at Humble Grounds
business building
Women of Katy
The Biz Brunch Club
She Means Business
community
book events at Mockingbird Books
Katy Social Women’s Network
mahjong events with Hey Let’s Mahj
area Ladies’ Clubs & Junior Leagues
Women ultimately ended up finding a place where they felt seen, felt supported, and felt the female bonds we’ve been designed to share.
But facing challenges is better with friends. Better with women to collaborate with. Better with women who’ve felt your struggles, and cheer your triumphs.