Mentoring for Community Creators
Start gathering with purpose.
Do you have a vision for a community dinner, a social event, or a creative gathering, but feel stuck on the how to bring it to life?
Inspired by the art of intentional gathering, I offer a 6-month mentoring group designed to help you bring your vision to life. Based on the success of Dinners with a Difference, I’m opening up my process to help you design, launch, and sustain your own version of a meaningful community event.
The Path: From Idea to "Making it Real"
We meet once a month for six months. This is a small-group incubator where we deep-dive into the foundations of a great gathering.
Start with Why
We dive into the why to find the true purpose of your event. What are you hungering for in your life and how do you turn that into a meaningful event?Invitation & Intention
Crafting the social contract. How you invite people is the first step in how they show up.Creating the Container
Learning how to hold space, set boundaries, and design a brave environment for your guests.Making it Real
Moving from theory to practice. We’ll workshop your specific event flow and rules of engagement.The Nuts & Bolts
The essentials: venues, logistics, budgeting, and volunteer coordination.Reflect & Review
A final session to debrief your progress, share learnings, and celebrate the community you are building.
“Gretel has a rare gift for building trust quickly and guiding conversations that lead to meaningful insights. Her mentoring isn’t just about checklists, it’s about the heart and skill of community connection.”
The Format
Duration: 6 Months (Commencing February 2026)
The Commitment: One 2-hour session per month, supported by monthly fieldwork to help you move your project from concept to reality between sessions.
Timing: I’m offering two options to see which one works best. Please indicate your preference in your application:
Friday Afternoons: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Tuesday Evenings: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Wollongong venue (TBC based on everyone’s location and time preference).
The Cohort: A small, intentional group of up to 8 community builders to ensure deep focus on every project.
Investment: $895 (Payment plans available).
Is this for you?
You’ve experienced the magnetism of a gathering like Dinners with a Difference and thought, "I want to create something like this," or "I have an idea, but I don't know where to start." Or maybe you have a milestone birthday or event you want to celebrate with gusto!
You have a seed of an idea but feel overwhelmed by the logistics or the concept of holding space for others.
You want to elevate your personal or professional gatherings, whether hosting a purposeful dinner for friends, planning an epic milestone birthday, or bringing your professional expertise to a group setting.
You want to move away from awkward or superficial gatherings and toward genuine human connection.
You want to find your unique facilitation style, cultivate the art of gathering, and work with a mentor who has walked the path from idea to impact.
Prefer a 1:1 approach?
If you are navigating a major transition or want personalised support for developing your own idea outside of a group setting, I offer private facilitation and coaching.
Apply for the 2026 Intake
Placement in the group is by application to ensure a diverse and committed cohort of eight.
Once you submit your expression of interest, I will be in touch within 5 business days to chat about your project and see if this journey is the right fit for your vision.