Have you ever been excited to attend an event, but upon arrival, everyone was already in groups as if they’d known each other forever; no one spoke to you and you didn’t look like anyone else there?
Bree Iman Clarke, a mompreneur of twin boys, knows this feeling, and it inspired her to create a seat at the table for everyone, literally. Her company Lavender + Mint, co-founded with her husband, Carlos, makes sought-after farmhouse tables. But it is through her brand, The Iman Project, that Bree hosts On the Table Workshops with a Purpose. These events provide a sense of belonging for women of every socioeconomic, racial and cultural background.
Whether it’s making jewelry, painting or calligraphy, these workshops combine the fun of a decadent meal, cocktails, photo ops and freebies with the more meaningful opportunity to connect with new friends. Bree has hosted these events throughout Collin County at venues including Renaissance Legacy West Hotel, UP Inspired Kitchen, Modern Market and Taziki’s Mediterranean Café.
The success of her sold-out workshops are a testament to how things can always turn around, considering the couple had been homeless in the past. “Each of us is a survivor, but sometimes survivorship comes in seasons. Sometimes we have to grow through what we are going through to realize it’s a mindset. It took me a long time to realize this,” Bree said.
Bree’s talent for bringing people together landed her an invitation to speak at the TEDxCUNY event, where she said, “Community is not just shown through a workshop. It’s shown by what we do for others. It’s shown by how we make others feel. I wanted to give everyone the opportunity to be able to have a seat at the table.”
The Iman Project will host its most ambitious event so far on Sept. 16 at The Lumen Room in Dallas. Dubbed the “Flamingle” Summer Soiree, it will be an all-day women’s retreat teaching calligraphy, succulent and floral design, and featuring several “fireside chats” with local prominent women. Bree’s hope is that attendees will leave feeling inspired.
“I think that women empowering women is more than a hashtag, more than a trend. It’s something that we each can learn from and can grow from,” she said. “Community is so important. I relate a community to a family setting. And when you think about a family, do you not invite your family to your table to enjoy memories and moments? Well, that is what The Iman Project is all about.”
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