OUR STORY

I’ve moved to more new cities than I can count. Each time for work and each time starting fresh with no built-in circle of friends. It can be very lonely and isolating when you have no one to text for a walk after work or to grab dinner with on a Friday. I’ve maintained my old friendships with people who now live all over the country, including my best friend from when I was two years old. But, there’s something uniquely powerful about having community where you actually live.

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That’s what I was longing for when I arrived in Portland, Maine. I had lived here for over a year, coming out of the pandemic, and didn't have a single friend my age. That's when my therapist said what I already knew deep down: it’s time to find friends. How do you do that? After finding it very difficult to create new connections every time I moved to a new city in the past, I had no clue where to start, yet again. So I went on Facebook and the Portland Women's Social Circle popped up. I said to myself, "What the heck, I'll go to this event they're having and see what happens!" That's when it all changed and I actually created local connections.

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One of those connections, was Kristine Sherman who created this group when she moved here in 2021 seeking the exact same kinds of friendships. When Kristine moved out of Portland, I felt called to step in and not only keep the group alive, but to grow it with intention, warmth, and care. Kristine and I are still friends today, proof that this circle works!

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Portland Women's Social Circle has become more than I ever imagined: a space where women of all ages and backgrounds can find connection, friendship, and belonging. Whether someone just moved here or has lived in Portland their whole life, this is a place to find your unique community. 

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This group has changed my life. I know that sounds cheesy, but it has helped me grow, soften, and realize the value of a community of likeminded women. Now I get to witness that transformation in others. It’s not about finding a best friend on day one, but about creating the space where friendship can happen, naturally and meaningfully.

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And that’s the heart of what we do here.

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-Rachel Kopczyk
Owner, Portland Women’s Social Circle