Happy New Year, 517 Friends & Fam!
I have to be real with you. I’m a sucker for everything about New Year celebrations, resolutions, and reflections. I love a good fresh start.
My overarching goals for 517 Living in 2026 are to keep it weird, simple, grassroots, eclectic, and flexible.
Three things I’ll be working hard to grow this year are:
517 Living’s Mini Meetups for Owners & Founders
These tiny gatherings, which are capped at 4 attendees, offer an intimate and mindful networking opportunity for Greater Lansing owners and founders who have listings in our website directory.
517 Living Community Week
The first week of October (10/1–10/7)! ALL Greater Lansing businesses, organizations, and creatives are invited to participate in this annual celebration by organizing special events, activities, and offers for the entire community to enjoy. Start planning now! 🙂
517 Living’s Community Calendar
We need more events added and more people attending!
Several studies and surveys show that we’re in a social recession. People just don’t get out and connect in person as much as they used to, and it’s leading to a normalization of isolation and a dependence on digital platforms. Common sense (and endless research) says this isn’t good for us. We need to get out and experience healthy, face-to-face social friction, at least SOMETIMES. TikTok and Netflix may provide us with cheap dopamine, but at what cost? Let’s work together as a community to support live music, festivals, workshops, and other in-person community events. We can do this!
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, to those of you who’ve made it to this point in the email, thank you! 517 Living would not have continued to grow in a meaningful way without your interest and support. You have helped make this all possible. Every digital nod, website visit, and friendly connection gives me fuel, and I can’t thank you enough for being part of 517 Living’s mission to enrich the lives of Greater Lansing locals.
Happy 2026! 
