I’ve spent the majority of my life focused on building relationships + community —
it’s honestly probably a trauma response, but you know what, that’s okay.

And now, a third-person biography and lovely headshot, because sure.

Samantha lives on the South Side of Chicago with her husband and young daughter. She grew up in Sleepy Hollow, IL, before attending college in Wisconsin and enjoying living in Boston for a few years. She was the little girl complimenting a stranger’s sweater on the street; the high schooler who helped with prom-posals. She’s still the one friends come to for advice about how to support the ones they love, which is how Enthusiastic Neighbor came to be. She is excited to be supporting people to turn their good intentions into impactful actions when connecting with, and caring for, each other. She loves headbands, cardigans and graphic tee-shirts about as much as she loves banana pudding, local food and quirky tv procedurals.

“Nothing that we do that is worthwhile
is done alone.”

- Mariame Kaba

I have learned absolutely nothing on my own. I have spent the last 30 years (no joke; I was reading Boxcar Kid books in Kindergarten) reading and processing and talking with people and finding touchstones (thanks for another great word, Mariame Kaba!). One of the most important things to me is about giving people credit where it is due and I try very hard to cite my sources when I can, or to at least say “I can’t remember where I learned it, but I read/heard ‘xxx’ recently.” Especially as a White woman, it is INCREDIBLY important to recognize that none of my ideas are new - it’s just that our dominant culture in the United States makes it feel that way.

A very non-comprehensive - and often growing - list of people I must mention that have been generally critical to my anti-opression journey + my business, many of whom are unaware of my existence, in alphabetical order:
Allie Mason, AAK, Brittainy C. Cherry, The Early Neighbors, EM-B, Dr. Eve L. Ewing, Feminista Jones, Garrett Bucks, Ijeoma Olou, KRR, K, Lauren Amos, LHC, Mariame Kaba, MTP, MR, PB, Ria Pretekin, RGJ, Dr. Roxane Gay, SD, Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom, THC, Trudi LeBron, Wendy Kim and my therapist who is simply incredible.

Please note that I have used initials for dear friends who are private people who I still couldn’t possibly leave off this list.