A monthly gathering in Orlando to practice authenticity that brings people closer
A monthly gathering in Orlando to practice authenticity that brings people closer
Embedded Files
Most of us are yearning for the kind of connection where we feel seen without being treated like our discomfort needs to be fixed or solved. And yet we struggle to stay deeply present without jumping in to “help” when someone else expresses discomfort.
We long for a close-knit community of people who lean on each other for support, and at the same time, we struggle to ask for help without feeling like a burden.
We want to stay collaborative through conflict. To disagree and still feel close. And yet we struggle to stay soft when things get heated, speaking from defensiveness or smoothing it over before it's resolved.
Most of us weren’t ever taught the skills that cultivate this kind of connection. We tend to blame ourselves for these patterns, but they were installed by systems that profit from our isolation and our compliance. Therapy and journaling can take us only so far on our own, because the skills we're missing are relational… we need other people to practice with. This series is a place to practice the skills that let us stay in connection, speak our truth with softness and clarity, and support each other.
I believe this is how we're going to survive what’s happening and build the world we actually want to live in. The inner work and the relational work are love-driven activism from the inside out.
Each gathering is a structured space designed to create safety in authentic vulnerability: paired shares, group reflection, and Authentic Relating activities (honest, in-the-moment connection, practiced on purpose). We draw on Nonviolent Communication, Internal Family Systems (parts work), and embodiment alongside it.
Everyone is welcome, no experience necessary. Come monthly or drop in as you like.
Schedule
Schedule
Doors open at 6:30pm. Please arrive between 6:30 and 6:55pm. There will be healthy snacks :)
Workshop runs from 7:00 to 9:00pm, with a break around halfway through.
Social hour is 9:00–10:00PM. You're invited to stay after for snacks. This is where the community-building happens!
Who this is for
Who this is for
You might recognize yourself here if you:
rush to fix things when someone is hurting, and ache to know how to just stay close
carry too much on your own and find it hard to let people help you
over-apologize, or struggle to say what you want
have done the personal growth work and know the tools, and want more opportunities to practice them with like-minded, like-hearted people
dream of being part of a community that can stay connected through inevitable rupture and repair
FAQ: Do I have to share or participate in everything?
FAQ: Do I have to share or participate in everything?
Not at all! Participation is always invitational. We'll create a space where it's perfectly okay to pass, observe, and choose your level of engagement at every step. You're welcome to choose how vulnerable you want to be, and honor your own edges throughout the experience.
Sliding Scale
Sliding Scale
The suggested donation is $15 with a minimum of $10. Donations of $35+ support the sustainability of the series!
I'm one person building this from the ground up, out of love for what authentic connection can do, and a vision of a more compassionate world. I don't yet have financial security, and every time someone contributes is a big deal to me. It lights me up to know you believe in me and the work I'm doing.
Free for volunteers. Learn about volunteer roles here!
🌀 $5 for TUA members.
TUA Membership gives members access to unlimited in-person events at The Urban Ashram at an affordable and financially equitable rate.
If cost is getting in the way, text me. I'd rather work something out than have you miss it. 239-691-4656
When
When
The next event is probably Aug 28.
If Fridays don't work well for you, you can help us schedule events on other days by sharing your availability here.
Where
Where
We gather at The Urban Ashram
310 E New Hampshire St Suite 700, Orlando, FL 32804
Want to be more involved?
Want to be more involved?
I'm looking for people who want to help build this with me, beyond coming to the events themselves. This could mean body doubling (working alongside me while I prep), being a thought partner when I'm stuck, or potentially co-creating future events together.
If any of that resonates, text me at 239-691-4656.
Your Facilitators
Your Facilitators
Tisse Mallon (they/them)
Tisse Mallon (they/them)
Bio on the way!
Amy Whicker (she/they)
Amy Whicker (she/they)
Amy has spent the past six years helping people communicate more collaboratively, set more effective boundaries, and build relationships that feel honest and alive. She co-founded Connection Collaboratory and Open Love Forum and has worked with Elar Institute and Authentic Revolution to design and facilitate transformational learning experiences.
Amy’s approach integrates Authentic Relating, Nonviolent Communication, somatics, and parts work (IFS) to support nervous-system safety, courage, consent, and connection. Her facilitation is playful, collaborative, and grounded in her own journey with perfectionism, people-pleasing, and late-realized neurodivergence.
"Creates a very safe and liberating practice environment"
"Creates a very safe and liberating practice environment"
"I truly sense Amy's genuine offering of empathy to each and all of the participants, her passion for and felt need to protect the integrity of the work, and her loving friendliness. This creates a very safe and liberating learning and practice environment."
—Gene
"Very enriching"
"Very enriching"
"Amy is an amazing facilitator! She naturally provides a very warm, supportive presence that allowed me to feel "held" in class. Her attention to detail and ability to respond to the needs of the individuals in class were invaluable for the class to run smoothly. I really appreciated her insightful wisdom when she responded to questions. Her class was very enriching for me and she is very warm, friendly, and kind."
—Bethanne
Join the Team
Join the Team
There are many opportunities to volunteer or collaborate. This series is, at its heart, a practice in mutual aid, and getting involved behind the scenes is one of the most direct ways we get to live that out together.
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