by Kate Glaser
By November 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Laura Kane-Punyon was experiencing a full-blown burnout. She’d spent eight months in isolation managing a chronic illness, homeschooling her children, and working remotely full-time as a practice manager for her family’s CPA firm. Knowing something had to give, Laura put her career on pause to focus on her health and family.
During this time, Laura connected with other women who had also been spending so much time caring for others that it left little room to care for themselves. In sharing her struggles with these women, Laura realized she wasn’t alone. Feeling inspired by these shared conversations, she created Our Table in 2022, an organization through which local women of all ages share meaningful and intentional experiences through in-person gatherings at ongoing events.
“We prioritize comfort, so it’s critical that gatherings are carefully planned at local eateries and women-owned businesses,” explains Laura. “Each event features a three-course meal, during which attendees talk about their own lived experiences.”
Our Table’s mission is to gather with intention to make each event a rediscovery of each woman’s vulnerability, compassion, and resilience. The unforgettable experiences Our Table provides leave women feeling refreshed, energized, and renewed through meaningful connection with one another and with themselves.
Gather around Our Table at an upcoming event scheduled for September 22 at 6:30 pm at Her Sanctuary, 1438 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216. Check out October and November events, and register at www.our-table.com. Learn more and connect with Our Table on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @gatheraroundourtable.
Kate Glaser is President and Founder of Hope Rises, Inc. and Hope Rises Network.
