Evaluation & Reflection

As of July 2026, TCPC has transitioned to an archival/ad hoc entity. This decision was not taken lightly, and was the result of months of in-depth discussions between the co-founders about how to continue to uphold our mission, vision, and values while also honoring our limited capacity as volunteers. We were able to successfully develop and implement so many wonderful things in TCPC's 2+ years of operations, and we had so many ideas that we never had the time or resources to see through to optimal and authentic development.

TCPC Leadership Disbandment - Community Memo

The community memo below is a letter to our community outlining what it means for our community now that TCPC has moved into archival/ad hoc status. It details which TCPC resources will be staying, which will be leaving, and some insight into what led us to this decision. You can also click on this document to read in an external browser.

Community Memo

In addition to the Community Memo, our full, Technical Notice can be accessed here. The Full Technical Notice details the remaining infrastructural capacity of the collective, status updates and conclusions regarding existent TCPC resources. Additionally, we provide background detailing the decision-making process surrounding this decision.

Unmet Goals & Dreams

Although we're extremely proud of all we have accomplished over the two years of active operations, we had a much more extensive and thorough list of ways we wanted to build the collective to grow and support our community more holistically, thoughtfully, and sustainably. Below we highlight some of the outstanding ideas, projects, and directions we had hoped to take TCPC that we were unable to find sufficient resources and capacity to actualize.

Infrastructure

Internal Calendar System
A recurring, ongoing system that would sync on-going events, available pole classes across studios, birthdays, and other assorted dates and events for all polers.
Legal Status
Establish TCPC as either a legal a 501(c)3 or LLC, allowing TCPC to operate finances using a bank account.
Public Financial Log
Create a publicly accessible system that details all cashflow, including costs for hosting events, participation, and all financial activity run through the collective.
Mutual Aid

Develop and sustain an internal system of mutual aid to support community members through various non-pole assorted needs (financial support, transportation, etc.).

Research

Demographic Survey

A survey asking people in our community to report their idenitites, which would allow us to gather a better understanding of who is in our population, and then use that information to develop more equitable practices in both leadership and resources.

Community Needs Assessment

An open-ended survey asking community members about their needs within the pole community, which would allow us to push for programming and development in the local pole scene in a way that feels relevant and meaningful to the community.

Events & Projects

Instructor Catalog

A catalog of Twin Cities pole instructors where instructors can share their classes, specialties, and qualifications to a broader audience than their home studio, and polers could browse through different tags and specialties around the Twin Cities metro.

TeaCPC Podcast

More episodes of our podcast, TeaCPC would showcase individuals from all across the Twin Cities pole community and their unique stories, abilities, and perspectives.

TCPC Definition Series

An ongoing series of social media posts that would introduce new polers to common lingo used in our community, and continually provide shared understanding of language and definitions in the pole industry.

Studio Dancer/Club Dancer Informational Panel
An opportunity for studio and club dancers to work stronger in allyship, with opportunities for learning more about how to be supportive of SWers, uplifting and not appropriating, and other cross-space topics of relevance to strengthen the TC Pole Community.

Transition Protocol

If you are interested in carrying on the work of TCPC using our pre-established resources (including the WhatsApp Community, Instagram Account, Email/G Suite Access, and Linktree), please follow the directions outlined in the Full, Technical Notice Document under the Future Directions & Revival Protocol Chapter. Contact information for Jenni and Sam to initate the revival protocol can also be found in this chapter.

A Parting Word from TCPC Co-Founders Jenni & Sam

Being a part of the Twin Cities pole community for nearly a decade led us both to see a need for something bigger than ourselves: a way to build bridges between often segregated studios. We kicked off 2024 with the bubbling excitement of possibility led by the question, “Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a group for Twin Cities pole dancers to connect with each other regardless of which studio(s) and/or club(s) we pole at?” This question bloomed into a massive two-year long adventure called the Twin Cities Pole Collective, filled with loads of learning, beautiful new bonds, and months of whimsical, delightful, and meaningful memories. Today as we both firmly set down this chapter together, we celebrate what it brought to our own little slices of the pole world.

There are not enough characters allowable in an IG caption for us to fully articulate what this experience has meant to us. Creating a fully functioning entity from scratch is not for the weak, and we’re both immensely grateful for the bond we’ve grown together built on operationalized language, scrutiny to detail, and intentionality of protocol. We have both felt inspired watching new friendships spark at events, polers of all experience levels pursuing new opportunities, and witnessing the strength of our community in moments of adversity. We have both also extended our hearts to the fullest in pursuit of building more, yet often find ourselves struggling to feel IN community with others as opposed to behind the scenes building it.

The Twin Cities pole community has been experiencing major changes: new studios, ownership transitions, and more performance opportunities than ever before. With these changes, we’re excited to hand off the collective to the next generation of polers to shape and direct alongside the community’s continued growth. We hope our community keeps a little piece in their hearts for who, how, and where this collective began, and that the intentionality poured into starting it lives on as it continues evolving over time.

Because damn, that really was incredibly cool. Thanks for the mems TCPC

<3 XOXO , Jenni & Sam

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