Helping Hands THRIVE Society

Belong. Discover. Grow. Achieve.

THRIVE Society is an optional part of THRIVE for people who want to take their involvement a little further.

Maybe you want to try new things. Maybe you want to become more involved in your community. Maybe you'd like to help plan an activity, share something you've created, volunteer, take on a leadership role, work toward something that matters to you, or simply have your accomplishments recognized along the way.

Or maybe you're reading this thinking, “I don't know yet.”

That's okay too.

THRIVE Society isn't about how much you can do. It's about discovering what is possible for you.

First Things First — You Do NOT Have to Join

This matters enough that we want to say it clearly.

THRIVE Society is completely optional.

You do not have to become a Society member to belong at THRIVE.

THRIVE activities, workshops, peer connections, community events, creative programs, volunteer opportunities, and other opportunities are not being created only for Society members.

You can come to THRIVE. You can participate. You can make friends. You can create things. You can volunteer. You can share ideas. You can help. You can learn. You can lead.

You already belong.

THRIVE Society is simply another opportunity available for people who decide they want it.

So Why Join?

Because sometimes getting involved opens doors we didn't even know were there.

THRIVE Society is being developed as a way for members to explore their interests, recognize their accomplishments, become more involved, discover new opportunities, and have a stronger voice in helping shape THRIVE.

Depending on individual interests and future opportunities, Society members may have opportunities to help plan activities or events, participate in committees, explore leadership roles, showcase something they've created, contribute to community projects, volunteer, learn practical or creative skills, help with THRIVE projects, or take an idea of their own and see where it can go.

Not everyone will want the same opportunities.

That's kind of the point.

Someone's THRIVE journey might involve writing their first story.

Someone else's might involve helping organize a dance.

Another person might want to volunteer in the community, learn photography, help welcome new members, sell something they've created at an event, learn how part of a project or small business works, speak up about something that matters to them, or finally try something they've been afraid to try.

There isn't one path through THRIVE Society.

Your interests, choices, strengths, and goals help create your path.

Achievement & Discovery — Celebrate What Matters to YOU

We also want to recognize something that can easily get overlooked:

Accomplishment looks different for everyone.

That's why THRIVE Society includes our voluntary Achievement & Discovery component.

As participants explore THRIVE, they may have opportunities to earn badges, patches, certificates, or other forms of recognition for experiences and accomplishments that are meaningful to them.

That could mean discovering a new interest. Learning something new. Completing a creative project. Contributing to the community. Taking on a responsibility. Trying something outside your comfort zone. Sharing a talent. Reaching a personal goal. Helping someone else. Participating in a project. Or accomplishing something that matters to you personally.

This isn't about comparing one person's accomplishments with someone else's.

It isn't a competition.

And recognition is never something someone has to participate in.

Achievement & Discovery is about noticing growth, celebrating effort, recognizing contribution, and giving people the chance to feel proud of what they've done.

And if someone decides to join THRIVE Society later, qualifying things they've already accomplished through THRIVE still count. Nobody should have to repeat something meaningful just because they weren't a Society member when they did it.

Getting Involved Can Lead Somewhere

This is one of the pieces of THRIVE Society that I'm most excited about.

Sometimes one opportunity leads to another.

You come to an activity and discover you love photography.

Photography turns into SNAP.

SNAP turns into helping photograph a THRIVE event.

That experience might lead to learning photo editing, creating a calendar, displaying your work, helping with social media or marketing, or discovering something you'd like to pursue outside of THRIVE.

Or maybe you attend Kitchen Creations and discover you love baking.

Maybe Creative Voices helps you realize you have stories you want to tell.

Maybe helping with an event makes you realize you're actually really good at organizing people.

Maybe volunteering helps you discover a cause you care about.

Maybe participating in a committee helps you realize that people listen when you speak up.

We don't always know where one opportunity might lead.

And we don't want to decide the ending before someone has even had the chance to begin.

Leadership Doesn't Have Just One Look

Leadership isn't only standing in front of a room or having a title.

It can be welcoming somebody who's nervous.

Sharing an idea.

Teaching someone something you know.

Helping set up an event.

Serving on a committee.

Speaking up about something that could be better.

Taking responsibility for part of a project.

Helping make decisions.

Representing THRIVE in the community.

Or simply being willing to say, “I think we should try this.”

THRIVE Society hopes to create different ways for people to contribute and lead based on their interests, comfort level, communication style, strengths, and choices.

Nobody needs to become a leader.

But nobody should automatically be denied the opportunity because someone else decided what they are capable of.

You Can Try THRIVE Before Deciding

You don't need to look at this page today and decide whether THRIVE Society is for you.

Come explore THRIVE.

Attend something.

Meet people.

Try an activity.

Join a peer connection group.

Create something.

Tell us what interests you.

See how it feels.

And if someday you decide you want to become more involved through THRIVE Society, we'll be here.

There is no pressure to join. There is simply an invitation to discover what's possible.

We're Still Building This Too

THRIVE Society is still being developed. Membership details, Achievement & Discovery recognition, opportunities, guidelines, and other parts of the Society will continue to take shape as THRIVE grows and as participants and community partners help us build it.

We don't have every possibility figured out yet.

Actually, we hope we never completely do.

Because if THRIVE Society is truly shaped by the people participating in it, new people should always bring new possibilities.

THRIVE Society is an optional component of THRIVE. Participation in THRIVE Society or Achievement & Discovery is not required to participate in THRIVE programs, activities, events, peer connections, volunteering, leadership, or community opportunities.