Watch

Rock Climbing: How to Form Community

Creator:
Published:
December 11, 2023
December 6, 2021
Wondering how to create a community to make friends? Watch how this rock climber did just that.|Wondering how to create a community to make friends? Watch how this rock climber did just that.

Pilar Amado was looking for a community of climbers like herself. When one didn't exist, she took it upon herself to found one of her own. Now, her fellow climbers are some of her closest friends.

Video Transcript

Pilar Amado: Technically I started climbing 11 years ago. I'm old. I didn't know many climbers of color, either. Like I knew a couple, but it was just hard.

People of color are vastly underrepresented in Pilar’s climbing community.

Pilar: Because there was Latin in the community and it can be really intimidating to get into.

Chicago. Sending in Color.

Pilar cofounded Sending in Color so others would feel welcome.

Pilar: If you guys want to join us, I can teach you maybe a thing or two, but if not, just feel free to climb.The initial idea was to maybe just have an Instagram group. I kind of wanted a little more.Pilar organizes monthly meet-ups at local gyms.

Pilar: But I finally got new shoes.

Member of Community: I love the leggings.

Pilar: Oh, thanks. I like that this is shorter, too. I like the community. I've made such good friends climbing. They're my best friends in life; my boyfriend climbs too, that's how we met. So it's just become part of my life. Having this hangout is not to just meet other climbers; it's to encourage these people who have never tried it to be like, "Oh, this is going to be like a more friendly environment and I'm not gonna be by myself, and then there's someone there who can guide me a little more through my first experience climbing."

Pilar: This is scary; I don't want to do this.

Pilar introduces several new people to climbing at each meet-up.

Pilar: There's a point where I feel safe on that last hold and then at some point, I'm like nope.What's your name? Stephanie? Ah don't worry, we're all climbers.The desire is there. I mean, people are looking for this kind of spaces to join. I was not expecting anything and then now we host monthly hangouts with regular people, new people.

Community member: Push it up. You got it Stephanie, you got it. Yeah!

Pilar: I think it's just a matter of showing up. It's like, you put in a little bit of extra work and people are very supportive. So that works.

Move Mountains. Grotto Network.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
December 11, 2023
December 6, 2021
On a related note...
My Pandemic Journal is Changing the Way I See the World

My Pandemic Journal is Changing the Way I See the World

Patrick Schmadeke

5 Lifestyle Instas that Will Inspire (Not Depress) You

5 Lifestyle Instas that Will Inspire (Not Depress) You

Gabriella Patti

Be Gentle, For We Are All Grieving

Be Gentle, For We Are All Grieving

Stephanie DePrez

How to Thoughtfully Craft a Summer Reading List (+ 4 Book Recs)

How to Thoughtfully Craft a Summer Reading List (+ 4 Book Recs)

Cate Von Dohlen

What the World Needs to Understand About Single People

What the World Needs to Understand About Single People

Maria Walley

Empowering Girls to Be Bold Through Mentorship

Empowering Girls to Be Bold Through Mentorship

Grotto

Meatless Friday Recipe: Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles

Meatless Friday Recipe: Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles

Grotto

Give the Gift of Charity This Christmas

Give the Gift of Charity This Christmas

Jessie McCartney

5 Tips for Using Trivia Night to Build Community

5 Tips for Using Trivia Night to Build Community

Dan Masterton

Gossip Isn't Harmless — Here's How to Kick the Habit

Gossip Isn't Harmless — Here's How to Kick the Habit

Maria Walley

What Postnatal Depression Taught Me About Mental Health

What Postnatal Depression Taught Me About Mental Health

Sophie Caldecott

Making Space for the Women Who Make Space

Making Space for the Women Who Make Space

Kelly Sankowski

A Commitment to Radical Kinship

A Commitment to Radical Kinship

Stephanie DePrez

How Meta-Emotions Can Escalate Conflict in Your Marriage

How Meta-Emotions Can Escalate Conflict in Your Marriage

Amelia Ruggaber

What is Ableism?

What is Ableism?

Jessica Ping-Wild

A Therapist Explains 3 Common Relationship Issues

A Therapist Explains 3 Common Relationship Issues

Paul Campbell

Why Leisure is Essential to a Healthy Lifestyle

Why Leisure is Essential to a Healthy Lifestyle

Chris Hazell

3 Ways You Can Help a Crisis Pregnancy Center

3 Ways You Can Help a Crisis Pregnancy Center

Sarah Portner, LMSW

4 Surprising Life Lessons I Learned at a Monastery

4 Surprising Life Lessons I Learned at a Monastery

Jessica Mannen Kimmet

How Service Helped Me Find a Deeper Way to Live

How Service Helped Me Find a Deeper Way to Live

Mary Grace

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.