Hello, I'm Danielle!
Hello, I'm Danielle!
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About Me
About Me
A little over a year ago, I was feeling isolated after a series of exciting but huge life changes. I got married, bought a house in a new city, and started working 100% remotely. All blessings, but a lot of major life changes all at once! Despite everything falling into place, I found myself really sad. I was away from all my friends, stressed from all the changes happening in a short timeframe, had no social outlets so I felt like all I did was work, and I was overwhelmed by the idea of making friends in my new city.
As an introvert, the thought of networking events and random small talk with strangers didn’t appeal to me. I wanted to make sure that any time spent socializing was meaningful, beneficial, and nurturing to my soul. I tried out a few local book clubs but found I was either the only Black woman present, or the club was logistically inconvenient (ex: required a 40+ minute drive on weekday evenings).
As an introvert working from home, I found myself slowly wilting away as I became more and more socially isolated. I had a strong longing and desire to meet other smart, caring, kind, and driven Black women with similar interests.
One night after crying yet again to my mom and friends about how much I missed them, I decided to take action. I have a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling, and am also a Certified Mindset Coach so although I wanted to remain in pity party mode (so much easier sometimes right!), I knew nothing would change unless I changed.
So I decided to take a small step. I went onto a Facebook page for Black people in my area, and posted: "Any in person book clubs going on in our area? Or any women interested if I start one?"
To my surprise, I found other book lovers just like me who were looking for community! I set up a Facebook group, organized and recruited members, and we had our first book club the next month.
In order for the book club to be successful it's definitely required behind the scenes organization and coordination. But now, eight months in, that once-a-month gathering has been a joy and has truly improved my mood and well-being.
I've had an outlet for my creativity when it's my turn to host, and I've met a lot of amazing women while reigniting my childhood passion for reading (any other elementary school Accelerated Reader superstars out there?).
Just the act of joining a book club helped hold me accountable for reading regularly again. And in between meetings, I started taking more "me time" and exploring my new city during my solo monthly reading dates.
But I also noticed something else—so many women couldn’t attend in person!
But I also noticed something else—so many women couldn’t attend in person!
While the in person book club has been successful, the virtual leg of our group continuously fell flat. Without a dedicated point person and someone owning the behind the scenes work to provide structure, it simply Did. Not. Work.
That’s why I created THE Virtual Book Club for Black Women.
This space is for:
The mothers who can’t get away, but can close the door for 90 minutes.
The busy professional who doesn’t want to get dressed up and drive to a meetup, but still craves connection.
For Black women who want a space where they can just be.
Because community shouldn’t be complicated—it should be easy, joyful, and right at our fingertips.
Because community shouldn’t be complicated—it should be easy, joyful, and right at our fingertips.
You sit back and enjoy, and I'll handle all the stressful behind the scenes work to ensure the book club happens.
You sit back and enjoy, and I'll handle all the stressful behind the scenes work to ensure the book club happens.
Why I Started This Book Club
Why I Started This Book Club
As a proud alumna of Xavier University of Louisiana (#ILoveMyHBCU), I've always been passionate about Black mental health, and committed to creating spaces for Black women to pause, heal, and thrive.
In May 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a report titled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, highlighting the growing number of people in the U.S. experiencing deep disconnection. I was startled by the following statistic: "The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity."
As I read the U.S. Surgeon General's report, I couldn’t help but think about Black women. How we work so hard to achieve success in so many areas of life: earning multiple degrees, caring for others, hitting career milestones in record time, attending therapy, and encouraging those we love to make healthy life choices. We often spend so much time showing up for everyone else (especially these jobs!), that we give ourselves the leftovers in regards to time spent nurturing ourselves each day. We struggle to prioritize making time for ourselves, and even when we do it's often a struggle to find the RIGHT spaces and community where we can relax and just BE.
As I read the U.S. Surgeon General's report, I couldn’t help but think about Black women. How we work so hard to achieve success in so many areas of life: earning multiple degrees, caring for others, hitting career milestones in record time, attending therapy, and encouraging those we love to make healthy life choices. We often spend so much time showing up for everyone else (especially these jobs!), that we give ourselves the leftovers in regards to time spent nurturing ourselves each day. We struggle to prioritize making time for ourselves, and even when we do it's often a struggle to find the RIGHT spaces and community where we can relax and just BE.
As someone deeply committed to mental health advocacy, I know how much community and connection impact our well-being. I see how quickly the days seem to pass. How work and responsibilities seem to take over. How joy can feel fleeting, and how finding time to build real connections feels overwhelming. We move so fast now that I miss those slow, easy moments—lazy Sundays, sitting in a cozy nook reading for hours, friends living close by, and feeling a strong sense of community.
There are positives to our fast-paced world—technology connects us in new ways, new cities bring new opportunities—but there are also challenges. Social isolation creeps in. The exhaustion of navigating change can feel heavy. Sometimes, meeting up in person just isn’t possible. Who will watch the kids? Who has time to commute across town after a long day?
But you can close the door and block off 90 minutes in your own home. You can carve out space to connect, read, and just be—without pressure, without expectations.
That’s why I created THE Virtual Book Club for Black Women—to make it easy, to bring back the joy, and to remind us that even in a world that moves fast, we still deserve connection, ease, and sisterhood. Because mental health isn’t just about what we do alone—it’s about the spaces we create together.
Disclaimer: While this book club is meant to foster connection, joy, and well-being, it is not a substitute for professional mental health care. We encourage members to seek professional support when needed, as we do not provide medical, therapeutic, or health-related guarantees.
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