We, as an entirety, are a community of like-minded souls who are
seeking. Seeking to be connected and to grow. Seeking
to give and to get. Seeking and hoping.
This is our present. We have a
history and we have a vision.
Please know that we, as a staff, have learned a tremendous amount
about how to face adversity with love and an open heart, how to
remain committed both to each other and to the vision with love
and an open heart, how to face "face piles of trials with smiles."
And to be conscious, compassionate and to aim for graciousness with
ourselves and each other when we are not open and loving.
A Brief History
Conscious Singles began a few years ago in Atlanta, Georgia,
when psychologist Joel Rachelson began looking for a better way
to connect with singles like himself.
Surveying the many ways he knew for singles to meet, and
investigating the many services that already existed, he perceived
a need for something new: a singles organization dedicated to networking
likeminded singles who shared a common devotion to personal and
spiritual growth, a love of life, and a need for a way to find others
with similar interests and values.
Discerning a need for such an organization, and cognizant
of the vast untapped potential of the emerging technology of the
internet, he founded Professional Connections in 1998. In his own
words, "this network grew out of a need to connect us kindred
single spirits."
He soon learned that his initial intuition was correct:
the response to the network was immediate, and included folks from
all around the country, not just the immediate Southeastern region
he had initially supposed. And so as Professional Connections continued
to grow and evolve, it began to serve two primary purposes: to assist
members in meeting others of like mind-- "the network is designed
to assist you in meeting that someone special-- whether your interest
is in friendship, dating, or a more serious relationship--"
and to provide "a network of support for those interested in
personal or spiritual growth, environmental and social issues, and
recovery."
Which brings us to today.
As you may have perhaps experienced, Professional Connections--
now Conscious Singles-- has experienced rapid growth as more and
more members have come into the fold. And like many web ventures,
the process has involved some "growing pains." Faced with
increasing system errors, and the realization that the existing
system had been taxed to its limit, Joel and the rest of the CS
staff made a conscious choice to see the trials and tribulations
of the moment as an opportunity for growth-- a chance to go deep,
a chance to really get it right. Even as we have been scrambling
and struggling to iron out the problems with the system and upgrade
it to something that will "scale up," avoiding further
growing pains, we've been engaging in a process of self-examination
and clarification, getting right down to the root of what we do
and why we do it.
We've had a few key realizations along the way.
First and foremost is the recognition that what Conscious
Singles is all about is community. Before there was a way to network
with other professional singles, the primary need was for a network.
Now that we have a network, it's time to focus on our community.
And so we have asked ourselves, how can we best foster the kinds
of qualities we would like to have for ourselves and others in this
online community of special people?
We've taken the time to clarify for ourselves and each other
what our personal values are, what we expect in ourselves and others,
and distilled them into a set of Core Values that we at Conscious
Singles mutually share and can rally around.
In addition to the Core Values statement, you can read our
Vision, our Mission, and our Commitment to what we believe in and
stand for. We hope you will find them illuminating, and we'd love
feedback and support with this process.
One of my favorite moments at Conscious Singles-- and it
happens every day-- is reading over an email from a member, or viewing
a profile, and feeling a little thrill of excitement at realizing
just how many GOOD PEOPLE there are in this world, how many fantastically
talented and openhearted people there are walking on the earth at
this time. Our greatest wealth is our members, and it brings me
great joy to be helping folks like you to connect.
There is a great magic in community, in the coming together
of conscious individuals for sharing and caring and mutual support.
And this is such an important time for the planet-- so many challenges,
so much beauty, so much injustice, and so much light. Every one
of us counts. And together, we are so much more. So that's what
we're here for. Our mission is to provide you, our members, with
the very best tools we can provide in order for you all to connect
and be in community with one another. Let us know what you're needing,
how the system can serve your needs better, or what special talents
you might be able to contribute yourself. And by all means let us
know when you find someone special through the Conscious Singles
community.
Because that makes us feel very, very good.
--joel rachelson
atlanta
