Deidra Colvin has volunteered at Editha House for 3+ years. She has done so much for us as an individual volunteer, including making holiday baskets for guests, baking treats, and hosting art parties.
Deidra generously shares her time, but even more meaningfully, she generously shares her community. She is the organizer of a very special meet-up group called the ‘Soulful Circle of Women’ (SCOW). Deidra introduced Editha House to the group in 2015, and they have been faithful supporters ever since.
Their annual, month-long Community Pantry Drive always leaves our shelves overflowing with food for guests. Twice, they have decorated the House for the holidays, while baking cookies simultaneously, so the comforting and warm aroma of freshly baked cookies fills the House as the holiday decorations go up. They have also prepared breakfasts, dinners, and baked goods for Editha House on numerous occasions.
Every time they visit, they fill the House with laughter and a strong sense of community support. Whatever they do, they do it with an abundance of joy and generosity. We decided to sit down and talk with Deidra to find out more about this special group.
Editha House (EH): Tell us more about how the Soulful Circle of Women originated.
Deidra Colvin (DC): It started officially in March of 2011, but for some years before that a few of us were in another meet-up group known as the ‘Living Sistahs’. I met Marla Boyd, who has also been at Editha House many times, as part of that group in 2008 and we bonded right away. A couple of years later, Caroline Magee joined as one of our co-organizers and resident photographer, and another friendship was formed.
When the organizer of ‘Living Sistahs’ stepped down, Marla, Caroline and I decided to continue the group under a new name, focus and purpose. We realized a need for women of color to find each other and share experiences, resources, and knowledge. And like myself, many were new to Phoenix and didn’t know how or where to start.
We also wanted to give women an open and easy way to socialize with other like-minded women, have fun, get to know each other and celebrate life’s ups and downs. We have three other ladies (Cassandra, Cema, and Erica) in our group that help us plan and/or host meet-ups.
EH: What kind of gatherings do you host, besides at Editha House?
DC: Wow, we have had so many meet-ups: dining, wine tasting, plays, art museums, picnics, holiday parties, day trips, feeding the homeless, toiletry drives, concerts, accessory parties, and game nights, just to name a few. We have 130 members, out of which 20-30 are really active. Over 30 women have volunteered at Editha House since 2015. We have a lot of fun and there is a lot of laughter in our group.
“We have supported three members who have battled cancer over the years. When someone in our group is in need, our women show support.”
EH: How did you find Editha House?
I was looking for a volunteer opportunity for myself as well as for our group when I came across Editha House. I took a tour and I’ve been volunteering ever since. I think our first group meet-up event at Editha House was on June 27, 2015.
Our group is really special and caring. We have supported three members who have battled cancer over the years. When someone in our group is in need, our women show support. Almost everyone has been touched by cancer in some way and partly because of this, our group LOVES volunteering at Editha House.
It’s so rewarding to not only volunteer but to be able to interact with the guests and caregivers. After their first-time volunteering, everyone wants to come back. We’ve cooked meals, decorated for the holidays, baked cookies, collected for the pantry drive, and made gift bags for Valentine’s Day.
We have so many women that want to volunteer together as a group at Editha House, the meet-up fills up immediately and we always have a wait-list to attend.
EH: That’s amazing Deidra. Your group is really special. We consider ourselves lucky that the Soulful Circle of Women is part of our support team.
DC: Thank you. We are honored to volunteer at Editha House and look forward to coming back again and again.