Meet Caira Cole | Event Planner & Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caira Cole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caira, how does your business help the community?
I recently adapted the expression “Define: TRIBE” for my events because it just fit too perfectly. My business Loc’d In Meet Up, helps the community by providing a safe space and resource for all. It has been such a beautiful cultivation to watch unfold over the years. I have witnessed people making authentic and genuine connections, which is so important as adults. People have been able to network, take time to relax, and have fun. With each event, our family just gets bigger and bigger. The events are welcome to all, whether you are apart of the loc community or not. All we ask is that you bring good vibes!

I also have started using my platforms to highlight businesses and members of our communities in different ways. For example, in honor of Women’s History Month back in March, I made an engaging Instagram post inquiring about our women business owners. This had instructions on how to be featured, which then I sent out questionnaires and had them send in photos. I personally went in and made story and page posts with details about them and their business. I like to throw in some fun, relatable questions as well so they ranged from how long they’ve been in business, to what their favorite food or color is!

I have big goals for in person events to showcase their talents, business, or skills (ex, panels, cooking series, etc.). I am hoping to get more of these things going soon here in 2024!

The goal of Loc’d In Meet Up is to spread love, knowledge, resources, and have a good time. Find like minded individuals, define tribe.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
– I am the most proud about the community I am building. It has grown rapidly, which means people see the value in us. Being able to bring people together whether it’s through personal, business, or even just sharing space has been the most rewarding thing for me.

– I believe I got to where I am today by being authentic. It took me growing into what’s becoming the best version of myself first though. I really feel like being me, being relatable, and always showing love is what has attracted such support. Everything fell into place from there.

As far as how the business scaled up, I feel the content after always speaks for itself for the people who did not attend or may be new. If I was seeing the content and wasn’t there, I would want to be there that’s for sure lol! The reach just gets wider and wider because people see an experience they want to be apart of.

With that being said, this has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life. Event planning is one of those jobs that seems like the to do list almost never gets shorter, things just get crossed off. Then on top of that I am the host, promoter, and solely running the social media. So it has been a challenge to say the least, but it’s a beautiful headache to have sometimes!

I have had to learn that I cannot do everything on my own, that’s the best way to burnout. So I am trying my best this year to open up to a team, it is more than needed. It will also be beneficial as it is a great way to showcase the skills the team is providing because everybody deserves their shine in their respective field. I’ve also had to learn quite a bit about legal things, which should never be looked over! One day I’ll be able to leave all this to the professionals!

– I want people to know that Loc’d In Meet Up is a place the celebrates our natural hair style through everything. But we are also a platform, resource, and bridge for the people, loc’d or not. We are all about authentic and genuine connections.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting I would take them to:

– The Park (no specific one, just a good one to relax and lay at)
– Atlanta Botanical Garden
– Slutty Vegan
– Planta
– Starlight Drive In Movie Theater
– Backstage
– The Tesserae
– Tassili’s Raw Reality Café
– E Ramen
– Kin No Tori Ramen
– High Noon Brunchery

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Coming from an introvert… trust me, I owe it ALL to my community. As a woman, I have never in my life felt as much love, encouragement and support from a group, until I became apart of the loc community. It was all virtual for a very long time though.

My social media presence really began around 2019. Over the years some of my followers became friends, or like sisters that I never had. It was deeper than surface level, the support was always so genuine. I moved to Atlanta, GA in 2021 and didn’t make a super strong attempt at making friends. So September 2022 rolls around and I decided I didn’t want to be alone for my birthday, so I decided to make a post about a birthday dinner and drinks. It was a group of about 10 of us, only 1 I knew already in person. I just felt comfortable enough and loved enough in my community that I could trust them to show me a good time… and they did JUST THAT!

Loc’d In Meet Up started from a small dinner, then to a bigger picnic, then to just a step up and a step up. This was all so unexpected, but the response has been heartwarming to say the least. I truly love my community and anyone who chooses to take part in our safe space.

I feel like I owe it all to my people for supporting me the way they do! I want to do everything I can to provide for them, whether it’s through an experience, or by giving them a platform.

Website: www.locdinmeetup.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/locdinmeetup/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4x0psVf6yB88oXJoN6GGVw

Other: My personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caira.colee/

Image Credits
Joval Spence | Instagram: @jadornphoto