TALKING BUSINESS. Among other things, of course! Vivid is a women-focused series that offers space for women in business to hang out, network, and grow the community. (Photo by SRG Photo & Video)

Hosted by Eau Claire’s CoLab (131 S. Barstow St., Suite 202), a group specifically for women in business, Vivid, is settling in and expanding. The female-focused, supportive community event is hosted quarterly, and with a couple of events under their belt – including the inaugural Vivid Dinner – Vivid is ready to reach forward into the future.

“We knew that there are people out there … who need a space to convene,” said Lorance Uwinaza, CoLab membership and marketing coordinator and co-creator of Vivid. “We got together and thought, well what can we do?” With a plan first forming late last March, Vivid’s first event was held in May and was quickly followed by another in July.

“WE WANTED A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE COME AS THEY ARE, AND IT WOULD BE OK.” –LORANCE UWINAZA, VIVID SERIES CO-CREATOR

Every meeting begins with an introduction to the space, the creators, and the individuals who join. Meetings are open to the public and no event has drawn the same members so far, so each event has been a wholly unique experience. The most recent event, the inaugural Vivid Dinner on Sept. 21, was an opportunity for participants to communicate and connect with each other in a relaxed environment. The meal was prepared by local eatery The Good Wives with dessert served by The Nostalgic Bean.

“We wanted a space where people come as they are, and it would be OK,” Uwinaza said. The most important thing for Vivid is that the participants are able to find support in their community in an area where it may have been lacking before. “Everyone who has shown up after that first group has brought more and more people,” Uwinaza said.

Finding women-centric events can be tricky, and there’s a noticeable gap in the networking community. When it comes to supporting women in business, these interactions are normally reserved for more private settings. Vivid seeks to open the conversation with its events, creating an environment where women can feel free to share in the presence of alike peers.

Often, the fear is that these events will be one and done. “We don’t plan to go anywhere,” Uwinaza said. “You are more than welcome, and now that there’s more information out there and more people know who we are, that’s a lot less intimidating.”

Vivid’s next event will be Thursday, Oct. 26, 11:30am-1pm, at CoLab.

Learn more about Vivid online.