At Side by Side, some of the most meaningful moments start with a member saying, “I have an idea.” Last Friday, Denell hosted her third annual Valentine’s Tea Party at the Clubhouse.

A tradition that began as a personal goal to return to something she loved before her brain injury. “Prior to my brain injury I was able to throw a tea party for my friends and loved ones at my home, and I hoped that might be able to happen here at Side by Side. Outside of these clubhouse walls, you get a lot of tug of war of ‘do this’ or ‘don’t do that’ because you’re injured or disabled. You get to hone your independence here. You get the confidence to try things because you know it’s a safe environment if you make a mistake or forget to do something.” - Denell Her background in planning and marketing is still her passion. Each year, the tea party compounds, growing from tea and cookies to decorations and the history of tea time, to this year’s addition of Clubhouse-made small sandwiches and fresh flower arrangements. After every event, she does a post-event debrief to make the next one even better! The tea party wasn’t just a lovely gathering. It was an opportunity to express creativity, strengthen confidence, and prove to herself that she can still do what she sets her mind to. Side by Side is a place where it feels safe to try and keep trying.