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As the head of Membership and Communications at Soho House in Toronto, Patricia is building a creative community.
Looped in by Meghan Yuri Young
I’m Patricia and I’m the head of Membership and Communications at Soho House in Toronto.
I would definitely say it’s a creative role. I have the autonomy to really build a community. I’ve been able to bring new creatives into the house, and create new experiences, whether that’s music, art, installation arts and all of that. I feel it goes within the realm of a cultural curator which is something I’ve always done.
When I was in highschool I was kind of a bad apple, they would say. I ended up getting in trouble a lot. In grade 11, my Africa Studies teacher started answering my questions instead of sending me to the office. She gave me books to read and I learned a lot. I started working with the African Student Alliance, and then I got voted as president of the club. That’s where I started curating a lot of different experiences for people.
When I finished high school I went on to study social work, focusing on international social work. For my 3rd year I did my practicum in Ghana doing HIV Aids research, testing and counseling. That led to an internship at the Ghana AIDS commission. I was doing this hardcore job, but at the same time I was balancing the fact that I liked fashion, marketing and communications. The balance of those two things made me realize what I wanted to be doing.
When I came back from Ghana I worked at The Collections where I did styling, production, building showrooms, I was backstage at fashion shows, everything. That gave me the confidence I needed, because I didn’t go to school for that. It was from experience.
From there I went to Launchpad, a creative hub that provides creatives with a workspace, studios and equipment. I led marketing and content creation there, and I built that out, giving creatives a chance to tell their story.
I then went to HXouse where I curated different conferences, talks and programming. That experience put me in a space where I’m not second guessing decisions I’m making. It really instilled in me that your work ethic and the things that you’re saying and doing are important.
Now at Soho House, I run a department that does everything to do with member experience, from connecting members to our other houses, to curating the culture and community of the house for Toronto.
Quiet. Connector. Optimistic. Caregiver. Funny.
I’m most passionate about my community. Connecting them, supporting them, and just being present and being honest about what they need, and not shying away from those types of conversations.
Mama Akua’s started when the pandemic first started. I was in a very bad headspace and I was going through a lot of mental trauma.
I felt like a lot of people were feeling the same and I wanted to do something. I had always wanted to do a food pop-up. My mom loves to cook, so I called my mom and she was like, let’s do it! We had hundreds of people come that first day and it was amazing to see. We raised money for Black Legal Action Centre and Black Creators Fund. My mom’s actually doing a cooking class at Soho House next week! We’ve had different opportunities to do pop-ups that way, and teach the community and people about our Ghanaian culture and food which has been really amazing.
Why people can’t just be nice! My mom raised us in a way that no matter who the person is, just support them; your elders, your friends, whoever’s around. Just be nice. It’s not even about what karma’s out there, just be a good person! We don’t know what’s happening in someone else’s life.
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That I have a hard exterior but a soft interior. I have emotions, things hurt.
My dream creative partnership would be to be able to create something for Ghana, like a cultural curator that’s able to organize and connect creatives to these big publications or big spaces. I think Ghana’s getting so much attention and people are going there writing articles, but besides you writing about us, what are you giving back. I want to be the person that helps with that conversation.
Right now I think, one that pops up is no one’s gonna give you what you need, besides yourself. That’s something that I come back to a lot. I’m an introvert and sometimes I step out of that and let people in but then it’s like you’re expecting a certain amount of support from other people, but literally nobody’s gonna give you that feeling, besides yourself.
My twin nieces...my family brings me pure joy.
An amazing thinker, Beverley has experience in tech and is a model. She has been running our mentorship program at Soho House and is doing an amazing job as our U27 Membership Manager.
An amazing thinker, Beverley has experience in tech and is a model. She has been running our mentorship program at Soho House and is doing an amazing job as our U27 Membership Manager.
Owner of Rose Aura, Ev is an amazing human and my best friend. She's been a great support for me and my family. She created a safe space for so many people through Rose Aura and I am so proud of how she continues to build Rose Aura as a brand and small business.
Owner of Rose Aura, Ev is an amazing human and my best friend. She's been a great support for me and my family. She created a safe space for so many people through Rose Aura and I am so proud of how she continues to build Rose Aura as a brand and small business.
Co-Founder of Kɔ Fie Co, PR and Experiential Marketing, Janaan is also my little sister. She's a force and has an amazing work ethic. I admire her will to explore and thirst for adventure. We've worked on amazing projects together and she continues to build an amazing portfolio through her work in Ghana.
Co-Founder of Kɔ Fie Co, PR and Experiential Marketing, Janaan is also my little sister. She's a force and has an amazing work ethic. I admire her will to explore and thirst for adventure. We've worked on amazing projects together and she continues to build an amazing portfolio through her work in Ghana.
Owner of Cuchara Jewelry, Edi is one of my best friends and biggest supporters. She helped kick off Mama Akua's. As a small business owner she has really created an amazing platform that shares community stories through Cuchara and makes amazing jewelry. I admire Edi's sense of joy and heart, she finds greatness in everyone she meets.
Owner of Cuchara Jewelry, Edi is one of my best friends and biggest supporters. She helped kick off Mama Akua's. As a small business owner she has really created an amazing platform that shares community stories through Cuchara and makes amazing jewelry. I admire Edi's sense of joy and heart, she finds greatness in everyone she meets.