Fuel What Matters!
Join us for delicious food, wonderful people, and conversations that uplift. We’re calling it Momentum Gathering. It’s where curiosity and connection meet.
Every living room gathering brings together passionate people to share powerful stories and explore ways to create impact.
From local projects to big-picture solutions, you’re invited to dive into fresh perspectives, create new connections, and make a difference.
Let’s gather momentum—
one conversation at a time.
Be part of the conversation.
Connect
The South Bay has a new home for connection. This is where friends kick back and relax together.
Engage
Get inspired by cool people doing crazy, impactful work. Jump into the conversation—you belong here.
Activate
Ready to make something happen? We’re all about turning good ideas into real change. Let’s make an impact together.
Upcoming Events
Unfiltered: Power, Labor & Justice in Wine with Louie Seamus, Justin Trabue & Chaney Janssen
In this living room-style gathering, Chaney will lead a candid and compelling conversation with Louie and Justin—two powerful voices reshaping the wine world from the inside out. Together, they’ll explore the labor behind the bottles we drink, the legacy of exclusion in wine, and what it means to build businesses rooted in transparency, joy, and justice. From the contributions of immigrant farmworkers to the challenges faced by women-owned wine businesses, this conversation invites us to rethink who wine is for—and how it can bring us together.
Reimagining Finance—For Good! Meet Jasmine Rashid
What if finance could serve people—not profit? Join author and strategist Jasmine Rashid for an intimate evening exploring how ethical finance and community wealth-building can drive real economic justice. Featuring insights from her book The Financial Activist Playbook and a shared meal in a cozy setting, this gathering invites conversation, connection, and collective reimagining.
Changemakers in Focus: Stories of Youth & Community Impact
Join us for an inspiring conversation with leaders who have dedicated their work to empowering the next generation through education, mentorship, and skill-building. Drawing from their diverse expertise, they’ll share insights on creating opportunities for young people to thrive, the challenges they've faced, and the innovative solutions they’ve developed. Whether you're an educator, mentor, or advocate, this session offers inspiration and practical ideas for making a lasting impact in your community.
Meet the Team
-
Tori Horton (she/her)
HOST & PRODUCER
Momentum Gathering
Tori is passionate about creating meaningful experiences that bring people together and inspire positive social action. She spent most of her career in fintech, helping to launch innovative products and serving as a founding member of several startup companies.
She founded Momentum Gathering to spark conversations among friends and ignite real change at the local level. Each event is designed to feel welcoming, joyful, and full of possibility, with the hope that everyone leaves feeling happier, more connected to friends, and energized to make a positive change. -
Chaney Janssen (she/her)
EVENT ORGANIZER | WINE CURATOR
Founder of Destined for GrapenessChaney is the founder and guide behind Destined for Grapeness, a Santa Cruz–based wine tour company with a soul. Specializing in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Chaney curates immersive wine experiences that welcome everyone—from casual sippers to seasoned enthusiasts.
Her tours go beyond the glass, spotlighting the region’s commitment to sustainability and exploring the deeper stories woven into the wine world—stories of labor, gender, history, and equity. With Chaney, every pour comes with perspective, and every tasting room visit becomes a journey.
-
Suzanne Stillwachs (she/her)
CHEF | SUSTAINABLE GARDENER
Suzanne grew up in San Francisco, where her love of cooking was ignited as a child, making dumplings with friends from Hong Kong, Italian cuisine with neighbors from Calabria and family from Rome.
After graduating from culinary school in Cape Town, South Africa at the top of her class, she traveled the country working in restaurants and as a private chef. From there she worked in agrotourismos across Italy from Como to Sicily. Italy opened her eyes to the inextricable link between the land and the kitchen.
The quality of the produce she saw in Italy inspired her to seek an apprenticeship at Love Apple Farms upon returning to the States. For the past 8 years she has been cooking and farming in the Bay Area, working in kitchens and growing organic produce for David Kinch’s Manresa restaurant and others simultaneously.
Versed in the traditional food practices of pickling, cheese making, fermenting, and preserving, Suzanne integrates these arts along with farming and foraging into her work to make every meal a unique and memorable culinary experience. -
Lauren Blake-Whitney (she/her)
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Since 2021, Lauren has been helping small businesses, restaurants, and nonprofits level up their look and tell their story—through fresh visuals, reimagined branding, and marketing that actually feels like them.
For Momentum Gathering, she’s been the creative behind the scenes—bringing the vibe to life through everything from flyers to the landing page. Her goal? To make sure what people see feels just as intentional, warm, and alive as the experience itself.
Stay in the loop.
Sign up for our mailing list to get exclusive invites and updates on featured speakers and community engagement opportunities.
Don't miss out—join the list today and be part of the movement!