Originally from Seattle, Gracelyn Woods grew up housing insecure, food insecure and raised by a single mom. From these tough beginnings, she cultivated a fierce attitude of hard work and self-determination that resulted in a successful career in TV and event production in New York City. But after 20 years of this work, culminating in a big job with the landmark Apollo Theater, Gracelyn found herself mired in unhappiness.

"The lifestyle of TV and event production had taken its toll. It had shown up in vices, it had showed up in drinking, it had showed up in overspending," she says in our interview. "My first step was to get the physical space I needed to have a moment to think about it."

So in 2018, she moved to Beacon – alone – and started a new life. She met her partner - an FDNY firefighter - and they had a child. Meanwhile, she took on a big new job as COO and co-owner of The Bellweather Agency. Through all this, Gracelyn directed her energies to her newfound community, finding support and friendship among other parents and the wider community.