held is ONE!
Okay, yes—the world feels like a never-ending dumpster fire. An asteroid was headed toward Earth (but wait, it’s no longer a threat… so, yay?!). And we don’t even need to list the other reasons why.
But in the midst of it all, it’s important to hold onto the little joys—to celebrate them, to lean into them, to let them keep us afloat. With that, tomorrow is International Women’s Day, and lifting each other up feels more important than ever.
It feels fitting to commemorate held’s one-year anniversary during Women’s History Month. A passion project fueled by so much heart and whose mission is to celebrate women and community.
For our March event, we’re also celebrating the incredible women behind Belleflower Brewing, a family-owned, small-batch craft brewery known for its thoughtfully brewed, high-quality beer. Over the past year, Belleflower has generously welcomed held into their space and shared their delicious brews with us.
Next week, we’ll get to sample their special International Women’s Day beer and hear from founders Melissa Page and Katie Bonadies as they share their journeys to building Belleflower.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS
Mary Beth and Tenaya look back on one year of held and share their hopes and dreams for what’s to come!
Mary Beth - I’ve learned so much from creating held with Tenaya and of our Portland community over the last year. From wow, folding chairs are very expensive to rent and heavy to carry, to you really don’t need the Costco size container of Twizzlers or Peanut M&M’s for each event, and people really like a nice pen, and last but not least, while I knew this community was supportive, I’ve been blown away by the kind words and sharing of resources. In one of our first Substacks we discussed “flying the plane while building it” and that is still the case with held - each event topic is different, and there’s no set rinse and repeat recipe. I hope held continues to be a fun and engaging opportunity for women to meet new friends, enjoy the company of old ones, and leave our events feeling seen, heard and happy. I know not every event is going to be a homerun for each attendee, and I truly enjoy continuing to learn what works well and what we can improve upon, but I do hope everyone can feel a bit more connected to each other. Oh, and I hope we can create held merch and a directory of attendees at some point!
Tenaya - Mare and I started held because we wanted something different—something that didn’t feel as forced as a typical networking event and wasn’t just about grabbing drinks. We wanted a space where people left feeling lighter, inspired, and more mindful. And honestly? We wanted something that made Portland feel like the most supportive community.
Over the past year, we’ve hosted in spaces people had never been, collaborated with experts who generously shared their wisdom, and met incredible women brave enough to share their stories. It’s been such a meaningful journey, and I feel so lucky to be on it with Mare.
This year has taught me a lot—how to let go of rigidity, create more freely, and be more open to feedback (which, I won’t lie, has been the hardest part). I always want every experience to be unforgettable, to make people feel deeply inspired, seen, and connected. But the reality is, we’re always learning—what works, what doesn’t, and how we can do better.
Going forward, I hope held continues to be a space where women feel safe and supported. I hope we keep shining a light on local female experts and small business owners. And most of all, I hope we create the kind of support that truly makes a difference for marginalized communities.
To everyone who has been part of this—thank you. Your support means everything. And if you’re in Portland, Maine, I’d love to see you on March 13th!
What are your hopes for held? Let us know here!
UPCOMING HELD EVENTS
In April we will be partnering with Lovelab Art Studio for an evening discussing creativity and the evolution of one’s creative flow process. More details to come!
UPCOMING HELD PARTNER EVENTS
The Roux is celebrating Women's History Month with their Women Who Empower Series
Their Breaking Barriers event featuring lessons learned from 4 of the female founders that have gone through our programs; 3 of which were recognized through Northeastern's Women Who Empower awards last year.
EVENT DETAILS
Breaking Barriers: Lessons Learned from Female Founders Changing the Game
March 24th
4-6pm
The Roux Institute (100 Fore Street, Portland ME)
Panel from 4-5pm & networking from 5-6pm
RSVP here: https://rouxevents.northeastern.edu/breakingbarriersfemalefounders
CLASSIFIEDS
Lizz Decotiis is the founder of The Purple Whisk in Westbrook and has been baking professionally for nearly twenty years. After graduating from the Culinary Arts program at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, she worked her way through bakeries and restaurants in Portland ranging from American style baking to French patisserie. In 2014, while working at Omi’s West End location, she started The Purple Whisk: a wholesale bakery highlighting classic American pastries. After transitioning to full time in 2017, she began selling at farmers markets where she built connections with local farmers and fortified relationships with other Maine businesses like Maine Grains. These early experiences reinforced her passion for using seasonal ingredients and supporting the local food chain. Since then, she has expanded her pastry offerings across Southern Maine. You can find her products at Speckled Ax, Arabica, Yordprom, The Proper Cup, Second Rodeo, and Time & Tide. Most recently, she opened up her products directly to the public, offering weekly pick-ups at her in-home bakery in Westbrook, where she plans to offer more creative specials and exclusive items.
You can find her on instagram @the_purple_whisk or her website: hotplate.com/thepurplewhisk
The website is set up as a pre-order for the following week. Ordering opens Fridays at 9:00am and closes on Tuesday at 2:00pm. You select what day (Thursday - Saturday) and time to pick up your order for the following week. Please sign up to receive text notifications to never miss an order.
Are you a business owner or want to highlight an organization and its needs? Email us at hello@heldportland.com, and we’ll feature it in our next Substack!
ABOUT
Held was an idea that developed over a cup of coffee. Tenaya and Mary Beth are passionate about their community in Portland, Maine, and wanted to create something that made women feel supported and connected.
Life can feel overwhelming and isolating, and let’s be honest—building a sense of community can seem intimidating or out of reach. At held, we believe that being seen and feeling a true sense of belonging are essential to well-being. That’s why we create events that bring people together in a natural, inclusive, and inspiring way. More than just meetups, our gatherings are designed to foster personal growth, spark new friendships, strengthen existing connections, and redefine what it means to truly connect.
To receive invites, please sign up here and share with those who would be interested. We hope to see you soon!