Steady Hands Behind the Scenes
Some friendships grow out loud - full of rehearsals, childcare, or meetups that spill over with energy. Others grow quietly, steadily, in the spaces where resilience and reliability matter most.
My friendship with Kara is one of those.
Kara Lewis, MT-BC, joined Harmony Garden in 2018 - her very first job after becoming board-certified and moving from Rochester, NY. She jumped in with heart and talent, bringing music therapy to clients, Harmony Garden Sprouts early childhood classes and our Tuesday Creative Connections program for adults with disabilities. Over time, she’s become so much more than a clinician. She’s been the steady hands behind our business integrator role, social media, and program planning - the details that keep everything moving forward.
When COVID hit and the world shut down, Kara was the one who stayed.
While so many hard decisions had to be made, she remained full-time - pivoting with me as we turned our entire practice into something new almost overnight. Kara and I were the two who pushed through that season together. And because of her, Harmony Garden found its way forward again.
Since then, Kara has continued to be a constant and steady presence. She’s become a first-time mom while working with us and is now preparing to grow her family again this winter. She may be quieter, more introverted, and living in Kalamazoo these days - but don’t let that fool you. Kara is woven into the very fabric of this Village. You may not always see her in person at our events, but you’ll feel her fingerprints everywhere - in the behind-the-scenes details, in the online community building, and in the thoughtful planning that makes The Village Collective possible.
Outside of her music therapy work, Kara is a passionate reader who runs book clubs and loves sharing stories. She’s crafty, creative, and a friend who shows up in ways that matter most - steady, thoughtful, and true.
The Village Collective is built on women like Kara.
Women who don’t need the spotlight but who carry so much of the weight behind the scenes. Women who remind us that being part of a community doesn’t always look like being center stage - it can also look like showing up, quietly and faithfully, to keep things going.
I’m deeply grateful for Kara - for her work, her friendship, her persistence, and her heart.
She is proof that even the most introverted among us can be cornerstones of community. And that’s exactly the kind of Village we want to keep building.
