“Going into any event I wasn’t sure how far I’d be able to go. But having these guys around who trained with me and really understood what it took to compete, I’d find another gear I didn’t even know I had. They made me feel like I mattered, and I believed them.”

That experience grew in Mike the desire to create a space where people can master their skills and talent, reaching their potential through the power of being together. 

“We all go into something thinking, ‘What’s in it for me?’ That’s human nature. But along the journey you discover how valuable being seen and known is. I dream of, and I think we’re working toward, a different world where we actually feel seen and known, where we’re able to dive into our creative pursuits knowing, ‘I have my people, people who truly understand.’

“This is what I want for everyone. To be a part of a community that sees the best in them even when they can’t. Life is too short to not do it well.”