Articles
Essays by Cheryl Ann Barnes on building real community: third places, gatherings people remember, and staying connected in Seattle and beyond.
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The Glass Is in Woodinville. The Roots Run to Walla Walla.
My Ozark roots know every beautiful pour begins with hardworking hands and the land that feeds us.
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Kristin Swanson: Lighting the Way to Soul-Led Goals
What if the restlessness you feel is the first beat of your next chapter?
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LinkedIn Needs More Mess and Less Polish
I'm less and less interested in the corporate advice, the diplomatic way to approach a…
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Steal This Formula and Build the Room Yourself
When I moved to the Seattle area, I didn't immediately find spaces that felt welcoming.…
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Stephen Wilson Jr. Showed Us What Humanity Can Look Like
Stephen Wilson Jr. didn't just perform songs last Thursday. He showed us what humanity can…
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Why Marathon Training Made Me a Better Leader
It's 10PM. But I don't care. LinkedIn doesn't care either. And really, neither should you.…
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From the Stage She Imagined to the Sound That Found Her: How Cinsy Holds Space for Peace, Reconnection, and Empowerment
Sound didn't just find Cinsy, it gave her a new stage. Now, she creates immersive experiences that help others let go, return to themselves, and reclaim their peace, power, and possibility.
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Getting Lost While Leading: When the Captain Forgets Her Own Path
I can't remember a time where I led a team but DIDN'T get myself LOST…
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Caring Became My Biggest Business Liability
Caring became one of the biggest liabilities in my business. Note to self: You can…
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Build the Room: Stop Waiting to Be Invited
If you've moved cities, started a new job, gotten laid off, or are switching careers,…
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736 Followers and 55,845 Impressions: Why the Rules Are Wrong
736 followers. 55,845 impressions. The math says the "rules" are wrong. 115 posts later, I…
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Washington Wine Is Seattle's Front Porch
Arriving on the grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery gives the immediate impression that this…
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Southern hospitality is in my blood... And Seattle's veins are frigid.
A great friend once reminded me how important it is to actually speak to people,…
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Embracing the Non-Linear Life
I followed the millennial blueprint for success: 7 years of college, a master’s degree, moves…
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I'm Launching a Podcast!
It was only a matter of time before I gave myself a microphone, and honestly,…
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From Layoff to Leap: How Losing My Job 3 Days After Turning 30 Changed Everything
Three days after my 30th birthday, I was laid off. And now, 31 is coming…
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Mud, Mayhem, and Meaning
What Loop the 'Lupe reveals about community, connection, and why people keep coming back. A…
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The Big Joke Was Thinking the Government Was My Future. It Was Actually My Ceiling.
Seven years of school, a dream job, and one layoff later , I realized I…
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Loop the 'Lupe: When Obstacles Become Community Connections
Are obstacles just inspiration? The threat of thunderstorms didn't stop the crowd from braving the…
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Back in Nature: A Work Retreat About Expansion and Letting Go
Back in nature... WORK RETREAT STYLE! We gathered to cowork together , finalize projects, clear…
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Woodinville: A Crack in the Seattle Freeze
Driving along the backroads of Woodinville gives me a tinge of sadness, reminding me of…
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Would You Run in the Center of the Universe?
In a small mountain town in Idaho, a lighthearted race reveals something deeper about community, resilience, and the spaces that bring us back to ourselves.
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The Stillness Wine Has Been Waiting For
Happy hours are good for beer and spirits. Wine deserves more. In places like Woodinville…
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Intentional Connection Should Be Part of Your Business Plan
It often begins as something simple. A routine call to walk through updates and next…
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Nine Months After My Public Health Layoff, I Finally Understand What Went Wrong
I've been out of government work for nine months, and the distance has forced me…
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Your Problem Might Not Be Strategy. It Might Be the Room You’re In.
You can try to build a business alone, or you can build it around other…
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Our Relationships Weren't Built For Storms
We were never wired to live in front of hundreds or thousands of followers who…
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Getting Laid Off Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
I handed in my badge with no hugs, no cake, no plan and it changed…
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The Quiet Collapse of a Safe Path
When I finished my master’s degree in public health in the middle of COVID, I…
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Your Community Isn't Missing - You Are
After moving across the country, I had no idea where to start when it came…
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Life. Sold Back To Us.
Part 1... I’ve wanted more of the technology, the data points, the information to improve…
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Launch of Coworking Tuesdays with the Bothell/Kenmore Chamber of Commerce
Co-Hosted by Cheryl Ann Barnes, Community Builder and Event Strategist Belonging shapes how we show…
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The Monster We Let In
Every day, we play a dangerous game with a presence that can only be construed…
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New Role: Director of Public Relations for CEO Society Seattle/Tacoma
I’m excited to announce that I’ve stepped into a new role as Director of Public…
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Raising Food Access Awareness: Featured in the Community Action Fair
I’m thrilled to share that I was recently featured in the Lake Forest Park Town…
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Utilizing Third Places to Raise Awareness
Community Action Fair December 2026 at Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park, WA . A…
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We Are Socially Hungover...
The confusing aftermath of a good time Have you ever gone to a party or…
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Be a Catalyst!
After many inspirational conversations with amazing women recently, I realized something universal: many of us…
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Disappearing Rainbows
Rainbows have always inspired me and put a long-lasting smile on my face. They have…
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My Top 3 Favorite Hikes (Thus Far!)
In my adventures, I have experienced the thrill of many trails , but three hikes…
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The World I Never Knew: Exploring the Enchantments
Coming from the Ozark Mountains, I did not know what the definition of mountains truly…
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When You’re Captured By The West, You’re Finally Free
The COVID-19 pandemic demanded I reevaluate my life. I was stuck indoors and depressed that…
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Run the Extra Mile
Ragnar Northwest Passage 200 Mile Relay Flying over the Cascade Mountains was an exceptional way…
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Headshots of Cheryl Ann Barnes
These images may be used as headshots of Cheryl Ann Barnes for speaking and media…
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