As we step into Mr. Clause’s favorite season, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every member of the Groundfloor community. I’m Jermaine, the Co-founder of Groundfloor. Writing may not be my forte, and sometimes I wonder about my speaking skills too, but here we go! Over the past few years, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to speak with so many of you—both past and present members. Listening to your stories, understanding why you were drawn to Groundfloor, and seeing our community grow from the Mission District here in San Francisco to Oakland, San Rafael, and Los Angeles has been truly inspiring. This past year has been filled with great moments of collaboration, joy, and meaningful connections that have made Groundfloor a special place.

Reflecting on the past year, I wanted to highlight some achievements we’re proud of as a community. Together, we’ve hosted over 1,200 events, grown our membership from 1,000 to 1,500, and opened our fourth location in Southern California. On a lighter note, we’ve also upgraded our San Francisco space with a brand new coffee and water machine—shoutout to our members who showed me what medium roast beans should actually taste like after being brewed! Big thanks to Bevi and Associated Coffee for solving our longstanding and probably loathed drink machine issues after three years of faithful service.

A particularly astonishing milestone was seeing 200 of our members become part-owners of Groundfloor Club through our crowdfunding initiative. This achievement not only reflects the trust and passion of our community but also reinforces our mission of creating a place where everyone is welcome and can see a part of themselves reflected in what we’re building together. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our members take such an active role in shaping the future of Groundfloor, ensuring that our space remains inclusive, dynamic, and truly representative of our collective vision.

Each moment has strengthened our bonds and provided real opportunities for people to meet new friends. As I’ve always believed, community isn’t built in just one way—it can be fostered through many small interactions, from answering someone’s questions and simply saying good morning to letting someone borrow your Apple charger, even if they’re a rarity. Being part of a community is a fundamental human need. In the latter half of the year, we’ve really focused on empathizing with and understanding our members’ needs to increase their happiness. From ritual community breakfasts and air conditioning on the hottest days in San Francisco, to ensuring internet and power in Oakland during outages, and creating a community outdoor area in San Rafael—a special thanks to Trudy, our honorable Groundfloor team member, for her unwavering support in bringing this idea to reality—we’ve strived to make Groundfloor a more comfortable and safe space for everyone. We’ve worked hard to make Groundfloor a space you can call your own. And in LA, we’re just getting started with our incredible team comprising Christine, Deja, Dom, and Talyssa! We’re launching weekly mid-day hoopin’ and monthly wine’in’ out sessions with GF member Debbie, who can coach you from one grape to another.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about what the new year holds for us. Our commitment to fostering a kind, empathetic, and open community remains stronger than ever. We’re thinking about how we can continue to empower our members to simply switch up their surroundings, experience new things, and find their people.

Since this is a time to be thankful, I want to send a massive thank you from me and the team to our partners, our new members, and those yet to join us. Groundfloor welcomes you no matter the weather or season! We appreciate you all, and here’s to a festive holiday season and even bigger things to come in 2025!

As we launch our new posts series, we’re excited to share more stories, insights, and updates with you on a regular basis. Stay tuned for upcoming posts that dive into the musings of us here at Groundfloor.

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If you’re interested in experiencing Groundfloor, send me an email at jermaine@groundfloorclub.com . There’s nothing like seeing it in person rather than just on Instagram, and I’m sure we’ve all had one too many Zoom meetings. Come visit us—it’s better than chatting virtually!