Before starting the Locket Sisters in 2017, I’d leapt out of a career I loved in the non-profit world to start a photography studio with my oldest sister. Poof, I was a photographer, I guess. I remember that I used to look at other people and wonder, “Am I like them? Or her? Or him? Or that Mom? Or this one?” I wanted to be more present with my kids, but I also love to work, and if I don’t put the slightly-more-than-normal energy I have into something, I’d put it exclusively into my family, and that would be to our demise. It’s gotta go other places, too.

I don’t look at other people and wonder if I’m like them anymore. I am my own concoction of a human being, just like you are. And one of the things that has dropped the questioning and sallied up my identity is the unique position of the Locket Sisters in the world, and my role in leading it.

One of my favorite things about this work is the opportunity to live into my values every day, with decision-making power as a business owner, creative direction as a jeweler, and the chance to give back, especially now that we’re established as a healthy little company.

My work with non-profits began with direct-service with youth, and ended with program management for affordable housing. In between there I served adults with developmental disabilities, volunteer mentors, families at-risk of being separated by systems of violence, poverty and oppression. I connected families with food banks and temporary shelters, and wept outside of courtrooms with parents of kids who were horribly mistreated. I got to know volunteer mentors and travelled with a middle-aged man with Down Syndrome to visit his parents in Florida. I loved the purpose, the shared values with my co-workers, and all the trainings that shaped who I am, still, today.

There is activism in the ordinary work of care and connection. And maybe the un-sexy, non-labed, under-the-radar work makes the most difference. Like when you drop a couple sandwiches off for your neighbors as they navigate a new cancer diagnosis. Or donating a few bucks to a GoFundMe that could really help a family stay on their feet. Or being a vessel for someone to tell the truth, wholly and honestly, knowing that you’ll hold it without judgement. 

There’s also the more tangible ways our communities need us, like the fundraising done at Crescent Cove, which is the first children’s hospice center in Minnesota (maybe even the entire United States). Or the work a few parents do for a brand new PTA in a school that has never had one, but wants to support the wonderful teachers the best they can. Or the coffee shop with a mission to end youth homelessness. Or the tennis program run by a pro for kids to get on the court.

We believe deeply in the quiet power of generosity. Not just in a transactional way, but in a way that says: We see what you’re doing, and we want to stand beside you. Whether you’re raising money for a local school, a medical research foundation, a domestic violence shelter, or a mental health nonprofit, we understand that behind every cause are the same people who find us through our lockets, the same people I got to know back in my non-profit days, too. And that’s the same energy we bring to every locket we create. 

We believe in the ripple effect of kindness, love made visible, and taking action toward the world we'd love to see for everyone. 

If you’re looking for a contribution for your fundraiser, fill out this form or reach out directly to mandy@thelocketsisters.com and she’ll get the ball rolling with you.

Warmly,

Allyssa