held is ONE!
Photo by Cristian Escobar on Unsplash
It feels fitting to commemorate held’s one-year anniversary during Women’s History Month. A passion project fueled by so much heart and whose mission is to celebrate women and community.
For our March event, we’re also celebrating the incredible women behind Belleflower Brewing, a family-owned, small-batch craft brewery known for its thoughtfully brewed, high-quality beer. Over the past year, Belleflower has generously welcomed held into their space and shared their delicious brews with us.
Next week, we’ll get to sample their special International Women’s Day beer and hear from founders Melissa Page and Katie Bonadies as they share their journeys to building Belleflower.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS
Mary Beth and Tenaya look back on one year of held and share their hopes and dreams for what’s to come!
Mary Beth - I’ve learned so much from creating held with Tenaya and of our Portland community over the last year. From wow, folding chairs are very expensive to rent and heavy to carry, to you really don’t need the Costco size container of Twizzlers or Peanut M&M’s for each event, and people really like a nice pen, and last but not least, while I knew this community was supportive, I’ve been blown away by the kind words and sharing of resources. In one of our first Substacks we discussed “flying the plane while building it” and that is still the case with held - each event topic is different, and there’s no set rinse and repeat recipe. I hope held continues to be a fun and engaging opportunity for women to meet new friends, enjoy the company of old ones, and leave our events feeling seen, heard and happy. I know not every event is going to be a homerun for each attendee, and I truly enjoy continuing to learn what works well and what we can improve upon, but I do hope everyone can feel a bit more connected to each other. Oh, and I hope we can create held merch and a directory of attendees at some point!
Tenaya - Mare and I started held because we wanted something different—something that didn’t feel as forced as a typical networking event and wasn’t just about grabbing drinks. We wanted a space where people left feeling lighter, inspired, and more mindful. And honestly? We wanted something that made Portland feel like the most supportive community.
Over the past year, we’ve hosted in spaces people had never been, collaborated with experts who generously shared their wisdom, and met incredible women brave enough to share their stories. It’s been such a meaningful journey, and I feel so lucky to be on it with Mare.
This year has taught me a lot—how to let go of rigidity, create more freely, and be more open to feedback (which, I won’t lie, has been the hardest part). I always want every experience to be unforgettable, to make people feel deeply inspired, seen, and connected. But the reality is, we’re always learning—what works, what doesn’t, and how we can do better.
Going forward, I hope held continues to be a space where women feel safe and supported. I hope we keep shining a light on local female experts and small business owners. And most of all, I hope we create the kind of support that truly makes a difference for marginalized communities.
To everyone who has been part of this—thank you. Your support means everything.
