Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Bresler.

Hi Kathy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

ALTAR Community began with a powerful vision that emerged in 2005, shortly after I completed treatment for breast cancer. At that pivotal moment, unsure of my path forward, I turned to a life coach who guided me through a vision exercise. She prompted me to envision my life a decade ahead: where I was, what I was doing, who I was with. To my surprise, I saw a vibrant community space where women of all ages gathered for conscious growth and healing—a vision that seemed out of reach as a full-time mom to a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old living in Chicago. Although it deeply resonated with me, I dismissed the vision assuming I was unqualified and would need to move to California to make such a place a reality.

Fast forward to 2012, after pursuing my own path of spiritual and psychological development, I co-founded LiFT—Living in Flow Together—with my friend, Susan Hyman. My living room became a safe space for authentic connection among women coming together for the “soul” purpose of creating more possibility in their lives.

During this time, my abandoned dream for a community center was reignited when I crossed paths with five other like-minded women with a similar yearning to create a center in Chicago. Although our initial effort disbanded, I hung on to our collective vision board which became a guiding force through several iterations, ultimately leading to the birth of ALTAR.

On January 1, 2020, armed with an MBA and recently certified as an inter-spiritual minister, I signed the lease for a 4,000 sq ft sacred clubhouse in the heart of Chicago. ALTAR aimed to build on LiFT’s success, offering a space where intergenerational women could find connection, growth, and spiritual nourishment. The launch was set to coincide with the March Equinox, marking the culmination of a decades-long dream. Yet, just as I prepared to open, the pandemic struck, forcing me to pivot.

Despite the unexpected challenges, ALTAR has prevailed. In many ways, I’m glad the space was completed and ready to go when the pandemic hit. If not, I certainly would have abandoned the idea. Instead, I marshalled the talented practitioners in the community and together we offered a steady stream of virtual self-care and self-development programs. And as we started to gather in person again, it became clear that women were craving connection, community, and soul-nourishment more than ever.

As a result, ALTAR now stands as a thriving membership community of women empowering women. In addition to serving as a one-of-a-kind third space to work, play, connect and grow, ALTAR offers a curated buffet of programs at the intersection of healing and empowerment from SoulCollage® to sound healing to sacred circles and more. ALTAR’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, community, and unwavering belief in one’s vision. For entrepreneurs and creators, let our story be a reminder that even in the face of adversity, with passion and perseverance, dreams can become reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.altarcommunity.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altarcommunity/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/altarcommunity

Image Credits

Jill Tioncgo