Farewell, Radius CoWork: Turns Out It Was Possible All Along

As I write this, I'm filled with a mix of nostalgia and excitement, reflecting on my nearly three years with all of you at Radius. When I left my full-time job in 2021 to chase my dreams of starting Sacred Ayla Tea Co. and pursuing my passion for singing and sharing my heart through song, I didn’t realize how profoundly this transition would shape my life.

Joining Radius as a part-time Community Organizer was a serendipitous step. I owe it all to one of my now-dearest friends, Kristen Santiago, a fellow Radius member (you know Kristen!). At the time, Kristen was my business mentor through the Paramount Pursuits "Thrive in Erie" Business Incubator program. She knew how desperately I needed to leave my job and made me aware of the Community Organizer job posting. Long story short, I applied for the part-time position, put in my notice with my previous employer, and now, here we are.

The role I took on, designed to support budding entrepreneurs, allowed me to connect with this vibrant community while navigating my own brand-new and sometimes daunting entrepreneurial path. It was an incredible opportunity to not only witness but also actively learn about and contribute to the growth of fellow entrepreneurs. Being surrounded by people who embrace a growth mindset instead of a scarcity mindset helped elevate my own thinking. First and foremost, I learned so much from working alongside Sean (Radius Dad), former Community Leader Amanda Duncan (the cool mom), and former Community Organizer Liam O’Brien (the little brother I never asked for but am definitely grateful to have)—more than any blog post could ever summarize. All I know is that I’m better for it—all of it.

Over these years, Radius has been more than just a coworking space—it’s been a place of personal evolution. I’ve learned to harness my voice, cultivate inner strength, and build the confidence needed to run a business and chase dreams that once seemed "unrealistic." The community here has been a guiding light, helping me discover that I am indeed capable of achieving my goals.

The friendships and connections I’ve made here have transformed Radius into a second family. I am endlessly grateful for the support, inspiration, love, and warmth that I’ve received during my time here. In the last few years, I’ve undergone a rapid transformation, emerging from a dark place that I truly didn’t think I’d be able to escape. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without the love of my new peers, coworkers, friends—my new family.

All that being said, this is my farewell (sort of). I am now stepping away from Radius to fully commit to the business that I’ve slowly and intentionally built—Sacred Ayla Tea Co., an intuitive herbal tea company specializing in crafting custom tea blends to support physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, based on the needs of the customer. Sacred Ayla has become an extension of my heart, my compassion, and my intuition. When I first started this business, I was still working a full-time job and only making tea blends for my friends and family. Now, I’m selling to people all over the country and even beginning to work with new clients internationally. I’ve built a business that allows me to move at my own pace, connect with my customers on a deep, emotional level, and encourages me to dive into my creativity in a way that feels like childhood joy and wonder, all while sharing the healing benefits of herbal medicine. What a gift. I didn’t know this would be possible.

If you’ve gotten to know me over the last few years, you know that my real passion lies in singing and performing. When I was a little kid, I saw my dad playing in blues bands and knew, even then, that that’s what I wanted to do. I wrote my first song and brought it to my dad at five years old, asking him to put music to my lyrics. Fast forward to now—I'm turning 31 in just over a week—and my love for singing, songwriting, and sharing my heart through music has never died; it continues to grow stronger. After nearly a decade of performing around the region, and a lifetime of singing and writing songs, it’s finally time to take this show on the road. Aside from operating Sacred Ayla full-time, you’ll soon find me (finally) releasing all of my music that I’ve written over almost 20 years, sharing more music content, and yes, going on tour. I didn’t think this would ever be possible, either, but I always hoped.

As I step into this new chapter, I carry with me the invaluable lessons and love that this community has given me. Thank you, Radius family, for seeing me through the darkness and reminding me of the light. Thank you for all the goofy times that made me laugh so hard I cried. Thank you all for inspiring me, just by being yourselves, for chasing your dreams, and for encouraging me to give my all to MY dreams.

I’m incredibly grateful for my time at Radius, and I’m looking forward to witnessing the big changes that have been in the works (trust me, there’s a LOT to look forward to). I’m not saying I won’t be around; you all know I’ll be outside on State Street yelling up at you from a megaphone (Sean wouldn’t let me have one while he employed me, for some reason…). Jokes aside, right now, I’m taking some time to sit with myself, think about the life that I want to live, and build everything around that—my daily routine, how I run my business, how and where I share my voice, how I show up in this world. Everything is new, all the time, for all of us. I’m just learning to shift with the tide and live the most intentional and meaningful life that I can.

On that note, please reach out! I’m your gal if you’re in need of tea. Come out to a gig; I’ll sing you songs. Let’s grab beers and talk about all of the things. LET ME HANG OUT WITH YOUR DOG (important). Whatever it is, I want to see you and hear from you! Don’t be a stranger. Love you all. Thanks for everything. Thanks for reminding me that it was possible all along.

To Connect with me about Sacred Ayla! | To Follow my Music Journey!

With so much love and gratitude my heart could burst,

Jess