Building Community in a New Place: My St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Journey
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How I Built Community from Scratch After Moving to the Caribbean
How to establish your professional presence and build meaningful connections when starting over
In 2016, I made a life-changing decision: I left Detroit, Michigan, the city where I was born and raised, where I had built a reputation organizing 1,000-person domestic violence awareness events through my nonprofit SAFE, and moved to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Starting over professionally in a new place? It is one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do.
But nobody talks about the real strategies that work when you are building community from scratch, establishing your credibility, and creating meaningful professional relationships in an entirely new environment.
If you are considering a major relocation, starting over professionally, or trying to build community in a new place, this is for you.
Leaving Behind Everything I Had Built
Let me be honest about what I was leaving behind in Detroit. This was not just a casual move. It was walking away from years of established professional relationships, community connections, and a reputation that had taken decades to build.
- A well-established nonprofit organization where I was known and respected
- Professional networks in domestic violence advocacy and community organizing
- Media relationships, including features in Essence, Glamour, and other publications
- Deep community connections from years of service
- My church home since 2004, over a decade of worship, fellowship, and spiritual community
- The comfort of being "known" for my work and impact
- Family, friends, and personal support systems
Moving to St. Thomas meant starting from zero professionally AND spiritually. No one knew who I was, what I had accomplished, or what value I could bring to the community. I had to rebuild everything.
The Reality of Starting Over in Paradise
People often romanticize moving to the Caribbean, but the professional reality is complex. St. Thomas is a small island community where relationships matter deeply, trust is earned over time, and proving yourself professionally takes patience and consistency.
- No professional references or connections in the domestic violence field
- Different cultural dynamics and community structures than Detroit
- Limited job market requiring creative networking approaches
- Need to prove my expertise and credibility all over again
- Finding a new church home and spiritual community after leaving my Detroit church family of over a decade
- Building personal relationships and friendships alongside professional ones
- Understanding local needs and how my skills could serve the community
But I also discovered unexpected opportunities. The smaller community meant that your reputation, good or bad, travels fast, which incentivizes authenticity and excellence. There is also something powerful about the tight-knit nature of island life, where people look out for each other in ways that remind you that community support comes in many forms.
Strategies That Worked for Building Community
Through trial and error, I discovered strategies that actually work for building professional and personal community in a new place. These are not just networking tips. They are relationship-building approaches that create lasting connections.
Show Up Consistently Before You Need Anything
I started attending community events, professional meetups, and local gatherings not to promote myself or ask for favors, but simply to be present and learn about the community.
Consistency builds familiarity, and familiarity builds trust.
Lead with Service and Create Your Own Community
Instead of immediately trying to establish my credentials, I looked for ways to serve. I volunteered with the women's ministry at my church, but I also took initiative to create community myself.
I started hosting monthly luncheons for women at my house, completely free of charge. I would cook and create themed gatherings where strangers could connect. The first one was a vision board party.
I was so committed to building community that I would meet women anywhere. I even met a woman at the beauty salon and immediately invited her over. She now lives in New Orleans and we still stay in touch. Many of those strangers became some of my dearest friends.
Sometimes building community means creating the spaces you wish existed and opening your heart and home to people you have just met.
Learn the Local Culture and Dynamics
Every community has its own rhythm, values, and ways of doing things. I spent time listening, observing, and understanding how St. Thomas operates before trying to make my mark.
Build Authentic Relationships, Not Just Professional Contacts
In a small island community, your professional and personal relationships often overlap. I focused on building genuine friendships with people who shared my values, not just collecting business cards.
Be Patient with the Process
Building trust and reputation takes time, especially when you are an outsider. I had to resist the urge to rush the process and instead focus on consistent, authentic relationship building.
Weathering the Storms, Literally and Figuratively
My commitment to St. Thomas was tested in ways I never expected. In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the Virgin Islands, and I faced a choice: leave for somewhere easier, or stay and rebuild alongside my new community.
I chose to stay.
Surviving and rebuilding after the hurricanes deepened my connection to St. Thomas in ways I could not have anticipated. Going through that crisis with my neighbors and colleagues created bonds that might have taken years to develop otherwise.
Years later, when I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer and faced surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, both my Detroit friends and my St. Thomas community rallied around me. Having built authentic relationships in both places meant I had support systems that carried me through one of the most challenging seasons of my life.
- Shared challenges create deep connections
- How you show up in crisis defines your character
- Community support is bidirectional, you give and receive
- Resilience is built through relationships
- Commitment is proven through staying power
- Authentic relationships transcend distance and time
Launching My Entrepreneurial Journey
By March 2025, nine years after moving to St. Thomas, I felt ready to officially launch my entrepreneurial journey on my birthday. I started online, building my website and social media presence, and began selling my Dreams and Visions Workbook on Amazon and through my own site.
The timing was not coincidental. I had spent nearly a decade building relationships, establishing my reputation, and understanding my new community. When I was ready to take my business into the physical world, the St. Thomas community welcomed me with open arms.
- Island Fashionista Boutique hosted my first book signing and still carries my book
- The Reading Room bookstore stocks my book and hosted my Mid-Year Reset workshop
- Expansion to St. Croix through the Undercover Bookstore
- Community members who knew and trusted me from years of relationship building
- Professional credibility from my domestic violence work
- Personal connections from monthly luncheons and women's ministry
- Network of supporters who wanted to see me succeed
Practical Tips for Building Community in a New Place
Professional Strategies
- Find work that aligns with your values, it is easier to build community when you are doing work that matters to you
- Join professional organizations, even if they are different from what you knew before
- Volunteer your expertise to local nonprofits or community initiatives
- Attend networking events consistently, show up regularly even when you do not feel like it
- Be genuinely curious about local challenges and how your skills can serve
Personal and Spiritual Strategies
- Visit different churches to find your spiritual home, do not rush this decision
- Say yes to social invitations, even when you are tired or would rather stay home
- Explore local culture and traditions, show genuine interest in your new home
- Be patient with yourself, building community takes longer than you think it should
- Stay open to unexpected friendships, your community might look different than you expected
- Commit to staying through challenges, do not run at the first sign of difficulty
Mindset Strategies
- Release your old identity gradually, you are not just who you were in your old place
- Embrace being a beginner, there is freedom in starting fresh
- Focus on contribution over recognition, what can you give before what you can get
- Trust the process, community building happens in seasons, not days
Key Takeaways
- Community building takes time, be patient with the process
- Consistency matters more than perfection
- Serve before you sell
- Authentic relationships surpass transactional networking
- Your commitment will be tested, plan to stay through challenges
- Small communities offer unique opportunities if you invest in them
- Supporting local businesses creates mutual opportunities for growth
Building community in a new place is not just about networking. It is about becoming part of the fabric of where you live.
Looking back on nearly a decade in St. Thomas, I can see that every relationship I built, every event I attended, every way I showed up for my community was an investment in my future, both personal and professional.
If you are considering a major move, starting over professionally, or trying to build community in a new place, remember that it is a marathon, not a sprint. The relationships you build, the trust you earn, and the community you create will support not just your business dreams, but your entire life.
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The Dreams and Visions Workbook
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Every meaningful relationship starts with showing up authentically and consistently. The community you build will support not just your business dreams, but your entire life.
It is about showing up not just when you need something, but when your community needs you.
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