Dan introduced our speaker for the day, Heather Kinal, Coordinator of Join CHQ and the ChqConnection Collective.
Originally from Clymer, Heather attended local schools and SUNY Fredonia and then moved away for several years. After returning to the area, she found herself looking for ways to get more involved. The CHQConnectionCollective, Weaving Creativity and Community, is totally on Instagram and helps people understand why it matters that they should meet other people and the healing power of the human connection. She spoke to Frank Bessey and then to Tory Irgang and struck upon the idea to promote the recent JOIN CHQ event held at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts.
The film Join or Die was shown on the big screen and also a short local video that accompanied it and featured leaders of local organizations. Over 50 local organizations and clubs participated, and the event was deemed a huge success in getting new people off the couch and involved and learning about all that the area has to offer.
Heather has also founded the Rooted Women’s Mountain Bike Festival that is on a mission to empower women in nature through education and encouragement, while supporting our local outdoor resources and recreational spaces. It will take place on July 24, 2025, and you can get more info on their Facebook page.
When asked what inspires Heather, she replied -without a doubt…relationship and community building!
Great to welcome an excited, energetic young person full of ideas to get people involved!
