Meet Me at the Table: Cynthia’s Creativity, Community & the Power of Making Room

Oct 3

4 min read

Sometimes you meet someone and realize they didn't just create a business.

They created room.

Room for people to create. Room for people to connect. Room for people to discover something new about themselves. And, just as importantly, room for other people to bring what they have to the table.

That's what came to mind when I met Cynthia, the woman behind Sprinkles N Stuff in Lomita, California.

When Cynthia first started making chocolate, she was simply looking for a way to make money and provide for her family. She became a mother at 17, and as her children grew, so did the challenge of balancing motherhood and business.

But she kept going.

And somewhere along the way, the chocolate became something much bigger.

Even the name Sprinkles N Stuff tells part of that story.

"Sprinkles" came from the chocolate she was making, but "Stuff" was intentional. Cynthia knew there would be more. She knew the business would evolve, and she wanted a name that left room for whatever came next.

And it did.

Today, Sprinkles N Stuff is so much more than chocolate.

It's a creative studio where people can come together for different experiences, celebrations, activities, and events. And what I love is that Cynthia hasn't boxed herself into one particular type of customer or one particular type of experience.

You can't box Cynthia in, and I love that about her.

She's created a space for children, families, adults, seniors, birthdays, creative experiences, and even people who may simply need somewhere to sit, work, think, or get something done. She has Wi-Fi. She has AC. You can even rent the space for something as simple as doing your taxes.

Because sometimes you just need somewhere to be.

But one of the things that really stood out to me was how Cynthia makes room for other business owners, too.

For Girls Dinner, Cynthia invited the owner of Honey Boards LA to come in and teach us how to create our own charcuterie boards.

I thought that was such a beautiful example of what Cynthia is building.

She's usually the one teaching and hosting, but she's willing to open her doors and invite someone else in when they have something they can share with the community.

That creates an opportunity for another business owner to be seen, share their expertise, connect with new people, and be part of the experience.

And Cynthia doesn't stop there.

She creates experiences where people can win gifts, participate, laugh, learn, and simply enjoy themselves.

It's not just about having something on the calendar.

It's about creating an experience.

And I think that says a lot about the woman behind the space.

When I asked Cynthia what she's most proud of, she didn't point to a particular event or accomplishment.

She talked about her community.

The people she's built relationships with, work out together, they check on one another, and they know each other's birthdays. They grow together.

It has become an extension of family.

And honestly, I think that's what Cynthia has created without even trying to force it.

A place where people can walk through the door and feel welcomed.

A place where they aren't judged.

A place where they can create, learn, grow, and maybe even discover something they're good at that they didn't know was there.

Because Cynthia wants people to leave with a smile.

She wants them to feel like they were free to be themselves.

And I experienced a little bit of that myself.

During Girls Dinner, I watched women from different walks of life come together around a table, create something with their hands, laugh, answer questions, share pieces of themselves, and just be.

And that's when I understood something.

The activities are fun.

The food is fun.

The creativity is fun.

But the real gift is the space Cynthia creates for all of it to happen.

That takes vision.

And it takes heart.

Cynthia started by trying to provide for her family.

Now she's created something that provides a place for other people to connect, create, learn, and experience community.

And maybe that's the beautiful thing about vision.

Sometimes you start with what you have.

You don't know exactly what it will become.

You just leave enough room for it to grow.

That's what Cynthia did.

And now, she's not only growing her own vision. She's making room for other people's visions, too.

That's what I saw when I met Cynthia.

A teacher at heart.

An encourager.

A woman who cares about people.

Someone who understands that creativity doesn't always look the same for everyone, and sometimes people just need someone to give them permission to try.

I don't know exactly what Sprinkles N Stuff will look like a year from now.

But I know Cynthia isn't done creating.

And I love that.

Because Sprinkles N Stuff may have started with chocolate and sprinkles, but Cynthia has sprinkled something much bigger into her community:

Creativity.

Connection.

Opportunity.

Community.

And a whole lot of room to become.

That's exactly why I created Meet Me at the Table.

I don't just want to know what people are creating.

I want to know why they're creating it.

I want to know the vision behind the business, the people they're bringing together, the opportunities they're creating for others, and what they're hoping to build next.

Because food brings us to the table.

The stories keep us coming back.

I'm grateful I got the opportunity to meet Cynthia, experience a little of what she's created, and hear the story behind Sprinkles N Stuff.

And Cynthia, keep going.

You're doing something special.

There is so much more room for what's next.