I'm Not Doing This Alone

Hello, friends.

I know most everyone is blissfully away from their inboxes this week, but for those of you who aren't (or who will be catching up soon), I wanted to share an exciting update and a final invitation.

I'm so thrilled to share that Libby Smith has agreed to join Buffalo Collective as the facilitator for our inaugural Herds!

This feels amazing to me for two reasons:

First, because Libby is legit (check out her bio below), and I feel deeply gratified that with all her training and experience, she thinks Buffalo Collective is a worthwhile partner for her work in helping others to lead more connected, integrated, and fulfilling lives.

The second reason I'm so excited to work with her is personal: Having Libby on board means that I can participate in a herd as a member, not a leader or a facilitator. We're always told to build the thing we want, and I know I'll need a herd to support me as I launch, build, and grow Buffalo Collective.

So meta, right?

Without further ado, meet Libby:

Libby Smith is a Circle Keeper, practice guide, and facilitator committed to guiding individuals and organizations on a journey of rediscovering their humanity. Through her nearly 30-year career in evaluation, management, and organizational development she has witnessed the wide-ranging effects of disconnection, as well as the profound impact of soulful, deep connection - to self & others.

Stepping away from institutionalized academia and embracing her place as a facilitator and Circle keeper, she helps people remember and reclaim interdependent relationships as both a way of life and a tool of divestment from racialized capitalism. Through the transformative power of breathwork, somatic practice, and group facilitation, Libby seeks to cultivate a fully embodied sense of presence, compassion, and choice, opening herself and others toward a broader scope of what is possible in our personal lives, inside our organizations and beyond. Her work is deeply informed by Emergent Strategy (adrienne maree brown), politicized/cultural somatics (via generative somatics and Staci K. Haines), and a Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

To learn more about her, you can visit her website, workwithlibby.com, follow her on Instagram, or connect on LinkedIn.

In Libby's own words...

I’m excited to join Lindsay in the Buffalo Collective as a Circle Keeper and facilitator for the first Herd because our visions for how community transforms us and moves us towards liberation feel so aligned. My (politicized somatics) commitment to organizing bodies & relationships toward care and interdependence mirrors this intention, and I am excited to help build an inclusive space where we can face life’s challenges with the shared confidence of the herd.

At the heart of my participation is a belief in the wisdom of Grace Lee Boggs: to change the world, we must first change ourselves – and I believe we do that best together in collaborative practice. I have always loved holding space for small groups, and I find immense value in having a dedicated "herd" to practice with myself. As a Practice Guide, I look forward to teaching the nuances of Circle practice, weaving in somatic practice, and creating an environment where we can transform together and learn how to show up for one another with authentic presence.

Ultimately, I am inspired by Lindsay’s long-term vision for how this work can grow to hold and support many people over time. I believe that true, lasting change requires accountability grounded in relationship rather than isolation, and the Buffalo Collective Herds provide an ideal container for that connection. By fostering a community where we prioritize both individual growth and collective resilience, I am confident we can create a lasting impact that honors the unique strength of every member.

If you're still on the fence about joining a herd, now is the time to act.

Herd activities and support tools will activate on January 5, but if there is space, we'll accept new members until the first Gathering on January 21. After that, there will be no new herds until March when the price goes up to $450/month.

If you haven't seen them yet, check out the Buffalo Collective Community Guidelines. How do they feel? Good scary? Aspirational? Too challenging?

Your gut will tell you if this community is right for you right now.

If you're still unsure and want to talk it through, schedule a meeting.