It was so special to have some of the Harmonic Harvest team come together to celebrate, reflect, and connect with so many incredible people we’ve met along the way this past year. Moments like these remind us why we do what we do—to weave meaningful connections and inspire hope in our communities.
This team works so hard to make everything we do at HH possible. Several members traveled from out of Milwaukee to join us, including Brittney, who flew back all the way from LA! Their dedication, passion, and commitment have been instrumental in getting HH to where it is today, and I couldn’t be more grateful for each and every one of them.
While not everyone could join us, we want to give a special shoutout to Jazmine @jazmine.darshae our Director of Communications, and Kai @kaomiaz, our newest member and Weaver!
Shining a Light on Maxwell: A True Silver Lining for HH
Imagine this: It’s 11 days before your big event, your gala. On a Friday afternoon, you get notified the original venue is no longer able to host due to unforeseen circumstances on their end. Suddenly, everything has to change.
I quickly pivoted to the next venue: The Journeyman Hotel. Honestly, it felt like fate. @journeymanhotel has been such a meaningful space for me—while renovating my condo, I temporarily lived there and built the foundation of Harmonic Harvest within its walls. While there, I cut each square of fabric for our Renaissance Threads 414 Day, hosted countless meetings, worked late nights, and it’s where I met Maxwell, @irmaxwellfrantz.
From the moment I met Maxwell, I knew I wanted to work with him. His professionalism and expertise as an event producer were clear, and I understood the value of having someone like him to help bring a vision to life.
But now, I was asking him to transition everything just 11 days before the event—on a Friday afternoon, right before Thanksgiving.
Within hours, Maxwell, alongside Kylie @kyliesippel, our incredible Director of Operations, had everything moved and reimagined. With the amazing team at The Journeyman, supportive vendors, partners, volunteers, and donors, we turned a stressful situation into something truly special. In the end, it felt like this was exactly how it was meant to be.
When challenges arise, you want to be surrounded by people who see solutions, take action, and keep a positive mindset. Maxwell embodied all of that. He empowered my team and ensured that, on the day of the gala, I could simply enjoy the moment without worrying about the details.
Thank you, Maxwell, for making our first gala/one year celebration a success and for helping us navigate this unexpected turn with grace and excellence. You truly made all the difference!
Behind the Scenes, We Shine Together
There’s always a lot that goes on behind the scenes to create an unforgettable experience. After the gala, I asked my team if they had a chance to try any of the food… and of course, they didn’t! We were so busy during the event that we didn’t even have time to enjoy the full outcome. But that’s okay! We had a blast and wrapped up the night with ordering McDonald’s in the hotel lobby while reflecting on it all.
A huge thank you to our team and volunteers—Michelle and Ross flew in from New York, Brittney from LA, and Montee from Denver – and to spend their time helping set up and take down the event, I couldn’t be more appreciative.
Thank you for volunteering @skparfait, @yuliya.bay, @wildkatworld, @misserikamke, and @javiontis who brought his little brother and friends who helped greet, sell light bulb dedications, register guests for silent auction, and collect donations. Thank you to every person who gave their time to make this night run smoothly!
Thank you to everyone who makes this possible! We’re just getting started. Cheers to one year of harvesting harmony and weaving silver linings with Harmonic Harvest!
We’re also growing! If you’re interested in joining the Harmonic Harvest team as a Weaver, we’d love to hear from you. Send us a DM or email us at hello@harmonicharvest.org to learn more.
