Rooted in Need: The Origins of Green House Collective

The idea for Green House Collective began with a longing—a longing for a space to be, to heal, and to connect.

For years, I sought spaces where people from different walks of life could gather without pretense or exclusion, where deep conversations and shared wisdom could flourish. My mother’s café in Memphis, Café Eclectic, embodied this kind of gathering place—a true third space where strangers became neighbors and community happened effortlessly. But spaces like that are rare.

As I studied for my certification in Spiritual Direction with Metagem, I met others who, like me, were passionate about holistic healing—therapists, spiritual companions, wellness practitioners, artists. Yet despite this shared calling, we all seemed to be operating in isolation. There was a tremendous gulf of disconnect between us, making collaboration difficult. The fields of mental health, wellness, and spiritual care felt siloed, fractured by systemic barriers that kept healing resources inaccessible and disconnected from one another.

At the same time, I was navigating my own journey through CPTSD, finding deep transformation through therapy, spiritual companioning, and creative practice. But I saw firsthand how privileged access to these resources could be. I knew too many people who were struggling without support because mental health care was too expensive, spiritual care was too obscure, and creative healing practices weren’t considered essential.

And in the midst of it all, the world outside felt more chaotic than ever. The political climate, social unrest, and mass exodus from traditional religious spaces left so many feeling untethered. In an era of division, misinformation, and online noise, people needed something real—a place to belong, to be seen, and to heal together.

The question kept pressing on me: What would happen if we brought all of these care providers together? What could we create if we built a true collective—one that nurtured not just individuals, but a movement of holistic healing?

And so, the vision of the Green House Collective took root.

From Vision to Movement

At first, this was just an idea—a dream I held close, wondering if it was too big to be possible. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I wasn’t the only one longing for it.

I started having conversations with anyone who would listen—spiritual directors, therapists, yoga instructors, artists, wellness practitioners. The more I talked about it and shared, the more I saw a collective hunger for something deeper. People were ready to reimagine what healing could look like—ready to step out of isolation and into collaboration.

I was nervous. It felt like such a big dream. But every single person I talked to said yes.

Jamie Parris, Parker Woodroof, Renae Perry, Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk— they were some of the first to catch the vision, and their enthusiasm was contagious. It became clear that this wasn’t just my dream—it was our dream.

Together, we began to imagine.

What if mental health care, soul care, and creative healing weren’t just separate disciplines, but threads of the same tapestry?What if practitioners didn’t just work alone, but had a shared space to support each other, lowering burnout and increasing impact?What if we created a model where healing could be affordable, community-driven, and accessible to all?

And as I researched, I discovered that this was already happening in cities around the world—in London, Vancouver, New York, and Australia. Yet in America, and especially in Birmingham AL, a city with deep wounds and a long history of racial and economic injustice, we were so far behind.

Our city deserves better access to healing. And we can only get there together.

The Meaning of Green House Collective

The name came naturally.

A greenhouse is a shelter—a protective space where life can grow even in harsh conditions. It’s a place where seedlings can be nurtured, cross-pollination can occur, and companion planting can strengthen the whole.

That is what we want for our collective.

We believe growth is organic—it happens at its own pace, in its own way, but it happens best in community. The practitioners in this space won’t just be serving others; they’ll be serving each other—sustaining their work, sharing their wisdom, and finding rest in a profession that often demands everything.

Healing work isn’t a career—it’s a vocation, a calling. And in a world that values productivity over presence, we are creating a different model—one that allows healers, artists, and caregivers to thrive while serving a broader community.

This isn’t just about helping individuals.This is about cultivating a movement of renewal and transformation.

Moving Forward: A Vision for the Future

We are still in the early stages. But the vision is clear:

Five years from now, the Green House Collective will be a thriving hub—a daily center for connection and renewal. It will be a place where:

• People find each other—therapists, artists, spiritual companions, movement practitioners, all collaborating under one roof.

• Holistic care is affordable and accessible, breaking down barriers that have long kept healing out of reach.

• Workshops, gatherings, and creative spaces spark transformation that extends beyond the individual, into the community.

• Those who walk through our doors feel welcomed, safe, inspired, and refreshed.

And this is just the beginning.

The dream keeps growing. We imagine youth and family programs, mobile wellness services, and scholarship funds that expand access even further.

Because we believe in propagation. When healing begins in one place, it spreads. Like seedlings planted in rich soil, what begins in the Green House Collective will not stay within its walls—it will move outward, taking root in homes, relationships, and neighborhoods.

We believe that when people are cared for holistically, they are empowered to care for others.

And in a world that often feels overwhelming, that belief—that hope—is what keeps us going.

Because what’s the alternative?Giving up on each other?

We choose to build something new.

Together, we are planting a future where healing is communal, care is accessible, and transformation is inevitable.

Together, we are the Green House Collective.