New York City has been especially lively this summer.

The city has found plenty of reasons to celebrate, from the Knicks’ championship win, to the Puerto Rican Day Parade, to Juneteenth, to the World Cup, Jay-Z Weekend —not to mention the many block parties and stoop sessions—and so much more. Folks on social media are basking in the beauty that has been a real NYC summer thus far.

In addition to collective gatherings like concerts and parades, parks are fuller, calendars are busier, and every weekend seems to come with another event, pop-up, or reservation worth making. There’s a super contagious energy in the air, and after a few years of recovering from a devastating pandemic, it feels good to witness people embracing joy together.

But somewhere between all the plans and the pressure to be “outside,” leisure can begin to feel like another thing to optimize. Another restaurant to try. Another rooftop to visit. Another event you don’t want to miss.

Last Saturday alone, I wanted to go to three block parties, two birthday cookouts, and a rooftop. Every invitation sounded like the place to be.

And that’s the funny thing about a New York summer—there’s almost never a shortage of things to do. The real challenge is deciding what not to do.

Lately, instead of asking myself, How can I fit everything in before summer ends? I’ve started asking a different question:

Will this leave me feeling more connected, more present, or more myself?

If the answer is yes, I go. If it’s not, I give myself permission to miss it.

Because a busy summer doesn’t automatically mean a memorable one.

At Ise, we like to say we’re practicing being selectively outside.

Not because we don’t love everything this city has to offer, but because we do. Slow living in New York doesn’t mean staying home or saying no to everything. It means being a little more intentional with our yeses — saying yes to the things that leave you feeling full instead of just busy.

That’s actually why we decided to host a Summer Sunday Picnic.

We usually take a break from programming during the summer so our small-but-mighty team can enjoy everything the city has to offer, too. But after many weeks without an Ise gathering, we realized something: we genuinely love creating spaces for people to connect and we missed seeing this community come together.

At the same time, we knew we didn’t want to create a big, highly curated production like Hike n’ Chill in the middle of summer. (But don’t worry, Hike n’ Chill is coming back October 24th.) So instead we’re keeping it simple and a little more spontaneous with a picnic.

Good food. Good music. Lawn games. Easy conversations. And hopefully, your beautiful faces.

If you’re looking for a low pressure afternoon with good people, we’d love to see you there.

Join Ise Collective on Sunday, August 2, for a Summer Sunday!

What’s Not a Party?

If you’re looking to embrace a slower pace in August, here's our line up of events for things to do outside the NYC party culture.

Salomon Market—Learn more here.

The Record Club, Session 063—Learn more here.

The Line Dance Cookout—Learn more here.

Club House: A Solecial Hour with crafts, board games, cartoons, and post-work linkups—Learn more here.

Bklyn Jazz Festival—Learn more here.

The Nameplate Workshop—Learn more here.

Uptown Fridays—Learn more here.

Mixer Mondays at Poise—Learn more here.

The Vagabond Archives—Learn more here.

‘We’re Outside’ Group Art Exhibition—Learn more here.

Our hope isn’t to fill every free moment on your calendar, but to inspire moments that feel truly meaningful. Let these affirmations be your reminder to move through August with more thought and intention.

August Affirmations

1. I don’t have to do everything to have a meaningful summer.

2. My free time doesn’t need to be impressive.

3. I choose connection over keeping up.

4. It’s okay to miss what’s happening elsewhere while fully enjoying where I am.

5. I honor my own rhythm, even when the world moves faster.

To everyone joining us for the first time—welcome. And to the familiar faces who’ve been with us along the way, we’ve missed you. If this newsletter resonated with you, send it to someone who’s trying to navigate enjoying this very busy NYC Summer.

Whether we see you at Summer Sunday or somewhere down the road, we hope you give yourself permission to experience New York at your own pace.

Until next time,

Live Slow. Live Ise.

Maya Boddie
Ise Lead Writer

Voiceover by Nnenna E.

In Nigeria, there are over 350 tribes, but the major three are Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo. My family is from the Igbo tribe and in our culture “Ada” isn’t just a prefix, it’s a title. It literally means first daughter. And with that title comes unspoken responsibility, care, and expectation. Because to be an Ada, in many households, is to become the quiet backbone of the family, a caregiver, mediator, host, leader, etc…usually without any authority or benefits. While this experience is deeply cultural, it’s not unique.

First daughters across cultures, especially within immigrant families understand this dynamic. And when you zoom out even further, many women do. The expectations placed on women have simply evolved over time.

Across American society, this expectation shows up in a more familiar way: what we call emotional labor. And more often than not, it’s work that falls on all women. Not necessarily because we choose it, but because many of us were conditioned into it.

Emotional labor is the invisible work of managing feelings, both your own and others, to make spaces feel welcoming, relationships feel stable, and communities feel connected.

And for many women, especially Black women, emotional labor doesn’t stop at caring for others. It also includes the nearly impossible act of communicating in ways that ensure your emotions aren’t misread as aggression, attitude, or hostility. It’s the added layer of making your feelings palatable, especially in spaces where you are already being read more critically. And that, too, is labor.

From childhood messages like “let boys be boys” to cultural norms that teach girls to anticipate needs and nurture others, these patterns become internalized long before we know what emotional labor even is.

Before writing this, I revisited a few data points:

• Globally, women perform approximately twice the amount of unpaid domestic labor men perform, including planning, organizing, and emotional management.

• In heterosexual households, women take on the majority of planning, organizing, and emotional management

• Almost 3/4 of licensed therapists in the U.S. are women, a profession rooted in emotional labor and care.

• Men report higher rates of social isolation and are significantly less likely to maintain close friendships

These aren’t abstract trends. They’re deeply connected. In fact, on my personal TikTok (@adaobi.nyc) a few weeks ago, I shared a list of social clubs for Black women in New York City. One of the questions I received was: “What about clubs for men?”

I had to pause and think on it, I struggled to name spaces created for men that center connection, outside of sports or fitness. And it raised a larger question:

Why are women so often the ones building and sustaining spaces for connection, while also being asked to expand those spaces to include everyone else?

At Ise Collective, we intentionally create spaces that are open to everyone.

And still, our audience skews heavily female.

• ~80% of our Instagram audience is women

• ~75% of our newsletter community is women

• Even though we opened volunteer roles to everyone, our team is majority women

Yet, our events are closer to a 60/40 split. And it’s not by accident. I personally go out of my way to invite men. I want to make it clear that Ise Collective welcomes all.

The reason why so many social clubs, wellness spaces, and community-driven experiences are led by women is because culturally and socially, we’ve been conditioned to do this work.

But there’s also a contradiction worth naming: When this labor is unpaid or invisible, it’s expected of women. But when it becomes monetized or viewed as prestigious,
it often becomes male-dominated. (Think: home cooking vs. professional chefs.)

And now, we’re entering a shift.

• In 2029, the global wellness industry is projected to reach 9.8 trillion dollars

• Membership-based social and wellness clubs are on the rise

• AI and automation are reducing human interaction in everyday life

At the same time, loneliness is increasing, while community is declining.

But as society moves toward digital connection and convenience, in-person, relational spaces become even more valuable — yet someone still has to do the work to foster them.

This isn’t about exclusion or blame, it’s about acknowledgment. Women have long been the architects of connection. The curators of space. The ones who make things feel thoughtful, intentional, and whole.

But as we continue to name emotional labor, it’s worth asking:

Who is carrying it?
Who benefits from it?
And who is being asked to do more?

Because building community shouldn’t fall on the shoulders of women alone.

In the meantime, I want to give flowers to the women who are already doing this work and often without recognition. Here are 10 women-led social clubs across the tri-state area creating space, fostering connection, and redefining what community-led clubs look like.

1. A Safe Place Mentor (NYC)

   Founder: Teya Knapp

   Community Served/ Audience: BIPOC, All Genders

   Through free retreats, therapy initiatives, group hikes, and monthly wellness events, this nonprofit collective for all makes self-care and collective healing accessible, turning community into a catalyst for growth and restoration.

2. Networking While Black (NYC)

   Founder: Nyasia Rudolph

   Community Served/ Audience: Black Women

   Where networking doesn’t feel like work: a community for Black women offering curated events, intimate conversations, and spaces where genuine relationships flourish and opportunities come naturally.

3. Let’s Play NYC

   Founder: Sahara Moné

   Community Served/ Audience: Open to All

   Started as an idea to bring friends together for “play dates“ has grown into an outlet for adults in NYC to get outside, try new activities, and meet new people along the way.

4. Sad Girls Club (NYC)

   Founder: Elyse Fox

   Community Served/ Audience: BIPOC, Women

   A nonprofit mental health-centered community for women of color, blending events, conversations, and healing spaces.

5. GirlTrek (NYC + Philadelphia chapters)

   Founders: Morgan Dixon & Vanessa Garrison

   Community Served/ Audience: Black Women

   This nonprofit provides coordinated walking groups and public health movement events rooted in Black women’s collective care.

6. Your Best Friend (NYC)

   Founders: Lu & Simone

   Community Served/ Audience: Open to All

   Curated pop-up events, from craft nights to intimate gatherings, designed to help you meet new people, deepen friendships, and build community in a way that feels effortless and fun.

7. Girl Code NYC

   Community Served/ Audience: BIPOC, Women

   Focused on connection and friendship, especially for women of color, hosting events like Galentine’s experiences, coffee meetups, social outings, volunteer/care‑package drives, and other connection‑focused activities.

8. Girls That Gather (NYC)

   Community Served/ Audience: Women

   Born from a viral TikTok about how to make friends and grown into a real‑life meetup hub, this group is focused on on creating safe, welcoming spaces for women to socialize, share experiences, and build lasting relationships.

9. H.E.L.D (NYC)

   Founder: Yasmine Njie

   Community Served/ Audience: Black Women

   Through co‑working meetups, creative accountability gatherings, puzzle nights, wellness meetups, and reflective social events around the city, HELD turns shared experiences into supportive spaces for Black women to build friendships, pursue passion projects, and grow together.

10. Make Space (NYC)

    Founder: Urechi Oguguo

    Community Served/ Audience: Open to All

    Make Space is a creative community for people who want to make things with their hands, with other people, without the pressure to be good at it. They host monthly gathering in NY where the only requirement is showing up.

As someone who has been building Ise Collective from a place of care, intention, and community, I’m also actively asking myself: where do we go from here?

Not just as a brand, but as a culture.

Because emotional labor shouldn’t be ours to bear alone, and when it’s shared more equitably, we all benefit from the beauty it creates.

Thank you for reading. And thank you to Maya, our lead writer, for editing this piece.

Until next time, enjoy this playlist from our friends at TWB Music, perfect for manifesting a life that pours back into you:

With care,

Adaobi

Founder, Ise Collective

Are you one of those people who believes the official start of the year is spring?

Here at Ise, March feels like a shift. Something like a steady return from hibernation. Especially so because our first event of spring is here!

Join us for our 4th Hike n’ Chill on Saturday, April 11, an experience centered around nature, movement, and mindfulness. Early Bird tickets are limited, so don’t wait, register here. Use code ISEINSIDER for a discount!

RSVP to Hike n' Chill

See more events across the city this month at the end of the newsletter.

For me, Maya, I was extremely intentional this year about resting in the wintertime, and I’m grateful that I could. Considering this winter has been colder, more frigid, and seemingly darker, I felt like I had permission to just lay down.

Research indicates that at least a third of Americans tend to sleep more in the winter, so it’s okay to be in the house more and even shut off your mind when needed.

With that, I got quite a bit of rest. And I’m going to carry that throughout the year. I’m going to be okay with resting more freely because although the world does not stop, that’s the good news. The world does not stop. It will keep turning. It will keep requiring more and more of you. And it will be there when you get back up.

So March feels like the official start of my year. Not in a “new year, new me” way, but in a “more rest, more life” kind of way.

I completed my master’s degree in journalism in December, which gave me extra permission to rest this winter.

But even if I hadn’t, I still would have deserved to lay down.

To stay aligned with the mission of Ise, I’m choosing to transition from winter to spring with ease. For me, that means giving myself grace if I stay in bed a little longer than planned, but rising a little earlier the next day. It means slowly taking on new, fun writing projects, like being Ise Collective’s new lead writer. Sometimes, it means staying in to watch Love Jones for the 100th time on a Friday night, even when the semi-warmer weather suggests I should be outside enjoying my beloved neighborhood, Harlem.

Thank you for sharing this moment with me! I’m excited to ease into this new season together.

Here’s to newsletter #10, our first up on Substack, which would not be possible without the collective. So shoutout to you!

Recs by Ise

In the spirit of moving slowly and supporting thoughtfully, and in honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting Black women-owned businesses in NYC that double as third spaces for programming and events.

• Apartment Ra’el (Brooklyn): I recently met a fellow substacker there, and we’ve been in touch since. A great place to slow down and connect with others. Owned by Rachelle Kirindongo.

• Les Blooms Floral (Brooklyn): This romantic, thoughtful floral boutique that offers floral design, and even writing workshops. Owned by Rasheedah Leslie.

• Oma Shop (Harlem) This cafe, wine bar, and everyday goods store is rooted in culture and care, and also houses a hair salon/barbershop! Owned by Lizzy Okpo.

• Lo-fi Cafe (Brooklyn): This Haitian cafe prides itself on “exceptional coffee, delicious bites, and a relaxed atmosphere.” In February, Lo-fi hosted a latte art workshop that looked like so much fun! Owned by Farrah Cine.

What the Ise team is listening to

We’re still not over this playlist our friends over at TWB Music curated for our last event, Sip Social. It’s been a favorite among our team, and we hope you like it too!

If there’s something you’ve been loving; a favorite café, playlist, a good read, etc—send it our way. We’d love to feature community picks in the next newsletter. Just reply to this email or DM us @isecollective.

Some affirmations for the new season 🌸

1. I move at a pace that honors my capacity.

2. Rest prepares me for what’s next.

3. I don’t have to sprint into a new season.

4. Slowness is a deliberate choice, not a distraction.

5. I don’t lose momentum when I pause.

Recite and/or share these affirmations as needed throughout this season.

What’s Not a Party

The NYC Black Woman-Owned Bookstore Crawl—Learn more here.

Nurturing Connections: Thai Yoga Massage with Lexis Hill—Learn more here.

A Tini Bit Wiser—Learn more here.

Since You Asked: A Brooklyn Debate Night—Learn more here.

Puzzle & Prosecco—Learn more here.

Listening is Fundamental: 3 Year Anniversary—Learn more here.

Meditations on Peace & Prosperity—Learn more here.

Whether you attend an event, forward this to a friend, or simply choose to slow down for five minutes today, thank you for being a part of Ise Collective.

We look forward to seeing you at Hike n’ Chill on April 11th, or in the next newsletter!

Always remember, Live Slow Live Ise

—Maya Boddie

Ise Lead Writer

We’re so excited to be moving our community newsletter over to Substack! 🎉

For those who are new here, you can expect a monthly drop of curated recommendations, community highlights, and thoughtful notes from our team. Sometimes twice a month if we have more to say. As we grow, you’ll hear from a few different voices across the collective:

• Adaobi — Ise Collective Founder, and the voice behind previous letters.

• Maya — Head Writer, shaping our storytelling and editor’s notes.

• Branda — Head of Partnerships, offering insight into the collaborations that bring our experiences to life.

Ise Collective (pronounced e-say) is a cultural hub for those seeking slow living in NYC, and to explore what that looks like in real-time, together.

We create welcoming, low-pressure spaces for busy New Yorkers, both in-person and online. For those craving something softer, in world that seems to move faster by the day.

Through thoughtful content, aligned collaborations, and curated experiences like our upcoming event, Hike n’ Chill, on April 11, we offer tools and experiences that inspire a slower, connected way of living.

Ise Substack subscribers will receive early access + a special discount before tickets open to the public. Expect more details in our first official Substack issue, dropping next week. 👀

Take a look at some photos from last year’s Hike n’ Chill below:

For now, we just wanted to check in, say hello, and put one of our favorite events on your radar! It’s our 4th time hosting this signature outdoor gathering, and we’re looking forward to indulging in nature, movement, and intentional connection with you.

In the meantime, and ICYMI, check out the recap of our last event Sip Social here.

Thank you for being part of this space. We’re excited to grow here with you.

We’ll see you soon!

With love,

The Ise Collective Team

Curated pours, light bites, and a beautiful charcuterie board by Amandla Collective created plenty of opportunities to meet someone new over a glass of wine. St. James Libations is a new wine bar nestled in the heart of Bushwick, owned by two Black women who recently opened shop this past summer.

During this guided wine tasting mixer, we wanted to emphasize the importance of slowing down by sharing in an activity that encouraged dialogue while introducing guests to new wines they may not have heard of before.

We continued the night with The After Sip, a late-night wine mixer playing R&B, House, Afro beats, and more for those looking for a more upbeat experience after the tasting earlier in the evening.

We kept the event elevated yet casual, making sure it felt welcoming and easy to step into. The focus of the night was the wine, charcuterie, and food pop-up available throughout the evening, paired with a photo backdrop, interactive moments, and raffles for attendees.

While the event was marketed as a wine mixer, we knew everyone wouldn’t be drinking, so we made sure to offer non-drinking ticket options as well. Wine tasters were provided with a personal charcuterie board to pair with their tastings, alongside the larger charcuterie display available for all guests to enjoy.

Our goal is to host Sip Social quarterly, with plans to expand beyond alcoholic beverage partners in future editions. The menu for the night, alongside the charcuterie board, included a Caribbean-inspired assortment of empanadas, shrimp ceviche, jalapeño cheddar cornbread, and Trini doubles.

The pop-up was curated by Chef Imani, founder and creator of Amandla Collective, whose work centers on food experiences and food injustice.

Shout Out to The Wine Makers

The night would not have been possible without the Black winemakers who made the experience what it was. Featured for the event were Aamira Garba of LoveLee Wines, Maba Ba of Flying Whale Wine, and Chenoa Ashton-Lewis of Ashanta Wines.

With less than 1% of winemakers in the U.S. being Black, we knew we wanted to use this event to intentionally highlight Black winemakers during Black History Month.

A heartfelt thank you to Lola and Akila, owners of Saint James Libations, for their on-the-day support and for helping lead the tastings. Your presence and partnership truly anchored the experience.

To everyone who couldn’t make it, we hope to see you at our next event in April!!

Save the date and follow for more new updates ✨

- Branda Ayo

Brand Partnership Lead, Ise Collective

P.S Check out more photos from the event.