Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kirsten Johanson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Kirsten, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
known together has been a vision since 2018. I attended an adoptive mom retreat in Michigan by myself in January 2018 and openly wept while feeling so seen and known and understood. I listened to parts of the adoption constellation, I listened to parenting specialists, I listened to other adoptive moms.
The first moment of being in a room of those who “get it” is unmatched.
I wanted to create that experience for others.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
After realizing the impact of being in a group of adoptive moms, I decided I wanted to create that type of space in my area. After attending my first adoptive mom retreat out of state, I started inviting others and then those moms started inviting others. We eventually had a dozen moms traveling to this event. It became clear that I needed to create this in our geographic community.
We started small, partially because of COVID. Our first event was a day retreat for friends. We ate and talked and shared. The pandemic did cause us to be more creative as full weekend gatherings were not the easiest. We hosted brunches, book clubs, a candle making event, and Night Outs. This year brings our third overnight weekend retreat for adoptive moms, our first overnight weekend retreat for adoptive dads, and several additional events.
We have partnered with several adoptees and birth moms. This is what I am most proud of. It is easy to find other adoptive moms who are willing to share their stories and educate. However, the depth and breadth of knowledge, experience, and community that is built by including the entire adoption community is unmatched. Specifically, partnering with my friend, a birth mom, Ashley Mitchell, has shaped our community. She and I currently collaborate to lead our adoptive mom retreats every other year together. She is our main speaker for evening events that support and educate adoptive parents. Her energy and passion have fired up our community.
Our retreats are unique as we create an intimate setting for just 6-12 adoptive parents at a time. We provide education, opportunities for rest and relaxation, art projects, trauma informed yoga, and catered meals. Some retreats include admission to our Adoptive Parent Night Out, which includes a meal and three hours with a birth parent or adoptee. We focus on every detail of events to be sure that attendees are fully cared for from dietary needs to quiet time to connecting with other parents in similar situations. known together is able to meet needs and wants in a different way than large conferences can. Most of our events are also in Brodhead, Wisconsin. This is a small town that offers a change in scenery for most attendees.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
After adopting our child, I read Imperfect Courage by Jessica Honegger. She started hosting trunk shows from her home to sell goods to help fund their family’s adoption. She eventually founded Noonday Collection, a business that supports craftspeople across the world. I have often had a clear plan and direction for my professional life. I obtained three nursing degrees within a decade and a half and each brought me to my next goal. Once I finished my doctorate and was happily working in my family practice nurse practitioner position and raising a child, I knew that there had to be something else next. Reading Jessica’s story inspired me to look beyond degrees and stereotypical professional goals as my “next step.” The subtitle of her book is “live a life of purpose by leaving comfort and going scared.” This was very inspiring and motivational for me.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
After reading Imperfect Courage, I reflected and journaled for a while about starting what would become known together. I read my journal to my husband who listened intently. He then said “wait right here.” He had been saving a twenty dollar bill from each of his paychecks for a few years. I had once said that I wanted a “big diamond ring” someday for an anniversary. He was saving for this. After hearing about my passion and my plan, he handed me the stack of twenties and this became the nest egg that started known together. While not every business can start by the sweet aspirations of a spouse, I like that this small, consistent labor of love is what got us started.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.knowntogether.org
- Instagram: Knowntogether
- Facebook: known together
- Linkedin: Kirsten Johanson
