Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1315477
60 ASCP Skin Deep January/February 2021 HOW TO CREATE COMMUNITY Get to Know Your Neighbors Reach out to a select number—say half a dozen— of spas and salons in your area. Contact the owners, managers, and your fellow estheticians. Explain what you're doing and why. Meet safely once a month to start. Take advantage of technology to meet safely: Zoom calls, private Facebook groups, etc. Share something you're proud of, and see what comes back. Organize a Day of Service Get some of your fellow esties together and pick a nonprofit group in your area that is giving back to underserved communities. Be a part of something bigger than yourself by building community. You'll feel better and likely reap the rewards. Volunteer at Grammar, Middle, or High Schools Share your knowledge and self-care skills with younger generations—and make a difference in a child's life. Instilling good grooming habits can be a life changer for kids, and it educates others about your profession. You'll help boost self-esteem—and not just in the kids. You'll be reminded of the transformative power of your own work. Get a group of kids together and host a how-to Zoom party. Make your own masks, essential-oil bath soaks, etc. If you feel comfortable and parents agree, create a pathway for kids to reach out to you privately for questions they won't ask in front of their peers. Consider Mentoring This is one of the most rewarding ways to give back and stay connected. Check in with local and regional beauty schools and colleges. Mentor a student, give guidance, share knowledge . . . you will most likely end up creating a network of other mentors who share your passions. What better way to combat isolation, loneliness, and the fear of the Great Unknown than to contribute to something, become part of a like-minded group, and enact change?