Reciprocal Clubs

Co-creating The Portal has been deeply meaningful work,
anchored in a love for human flourishing. 

I grew up in the Bay Area during the school year and I also had the wonderful experience of spending my summers in China, where half of my family is from. China is an extremely communal culture, and I was used to spending my days surrounded by family and friends at huge local parks, in tea houses, and in bathhouses. I would then return for the school year and feel isolated, alone, and like something was missing in modern day Western culture. 

After college, I spent several years traveling, exploring healing modalities and land-based communities. At age 22, I opened a farm-to-table restaurant - an early expression of what has become a consistent thread in my work: creating spaces where people can gather, connect, and thrive.

That thread has led to The Portal. Today, we are a community of 500+ members in our first SF location - founders, creators, operators, and seekers - coming together through curated gatherings, shared space, and meaningful relationships. I recently moved to Austin to open up our second location. We chose Austin because of the humans who shape this city - kind, active, and creative people who say yes to showing up as their best selves for themselves and for each other. 

Members join The Portal for different reasons, but what they find is consistent: a place to build genuine connection, to be supported in their personal and professional growth, and to contribute to a community that values depth, care, and intentional living.

I know deeply that we are creating a new legacy for ourselves and for the next generation: a legacy that is rooted in communal abundance and health, a legacy that is rooted in care for each other, care for our bodies, and care for the earth, and a legacy that is reclaiming our power to truly co-create the world we want to live in. 

With gratitude,

Anwen Baumeister