What We’re About
Our mission is to provide inclusive and welcoming opportunities for young adults to engage with other young adults in Richmond, Virginia by creating fun, frequent events to build lasting friendships.
Who we are: Trying to Adult RVA is a group of young adults aged 21 – 39 in Richmond, Virginia. Anyone 21+ is welcome to join the group as long as you “feel” like a young adult and are ready to make friends. Some members have found their best friend, partner, community, and more from this group.
What we do: We have fun! Each month there are events you can join to have fun while making new friends. There are a variety of events to appeal to various interests. Some examples include breweries, outdoor adventures, dinners, book club, cooking classes, trivia nights, and more!! We are NOT a networking group. Events are designed for fun, not business. We also have a strong online social community where you can make friends virtually (check out our Facebook group).
How you can join: Check out our events page to see upcoming events and reserve your spot. Some events are paid and some are free. To receive a discount on events, sign up to become a premium member!
Sam founded Trying to Adult RVA in October 2021. She moved to Richmond in 2018 for a job opportunity. After moving, she learned that it is hard trying to make friends as an adult. Shortly after moving, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic happened, making it even harder to make friends. When the community started to reopen and recover, Sam wanted to find a way to make finding friends easier. She started creating events via Meetup to see if others would want to join. They did! Within the first year, the group grew by thousands and she planned over 100 events. She continues to plan fun events within the Richmond and surrounding areas and loves to constantly see new friendships being made. Her hope is that young adults who join Trying to Adult RVA build lasting connections and friendships. She believes everyone is unique and deserving of friends. She strives to create a welcoming community where anyone can meet their new best friend.
Hi, everyone! I'm originally from Connecticut but moved down to the RVA area in 2015 for college, met my husband, and never looked back. By day I work remotely as a Quality Control Specialist for an international consulting firm and on the evenings and weekends I get to explore Richmond with you guys! In my limited spare time I like to read, knit, and hang out with whichever foster pup (or kitty!) we may have at our home. You'll likely see me at any event that has food, games, or is outdoors!
Why does it cost money to be a member and join events? That’s a question we get asked a lot! There are lots of reasons and here’s one… Did you know the Trying to Adult RVA leadership team consists of 20+ people!? The reason we are such a large and awesome community AND why we have the best events to make friends is because we have an awesome team. Trying to Adult RVA is more than just a meetup, our events are where you go for friendship making and fun, local experiences. So, with a team working that hard, they deserve to be thanked for building this amazing community. Earlier this month our team met to talk about our roles for the remainder of the year. Check out this awesome crew! To show appreciation for our leadership team, we reward our volunteers with stars that can be redeemed for local prizes. So that $5 you give us monthly, it goes right back to other Richmond businesses and celebrates our amazing team!! If you want to join our team, look out for the next round of applications. Will be towards the end of the year to establish our team for 2025!
Hey there, my name is Mikey. I’m originally from New Jersey but I’ve been living in Richmond for the past six years. I’m an avid sports fan, trivia fanatic, and amateur cook who does standup comedy on the side. I’m a moderator for the Facebook group and a big fan of memes. Making friends as an adult is hard, but thanks to Trying To Adult RVA I’ve been able to cultivate some truly amazing relationships.
Hi ya’ll! My name is Linda and I’m the Marketing Lead for TTA! I grew up in Richmond and moved back a couple years ago. I work as the center director of a tutoring center and in my free time I enjoy reading, exploring breweries, taking classes at Richmond’s VisArts’ Center, and playing with my two dogs (Milo and Juni). I’ve loved exploring Richmond and making new connections with Trying to Adult, and can’t wait to meet all of you!
Hi all, I'm Alicia (she/they). If we ever meet by accident it’s because I’m an auto insurance adjuster. A native to the outskirts of Richmond for decades, I’m happy to give recommendations for any outing. In my spare time I can be found gardening, reading, exploring Richmond’s restaurant scene, crafting, and participating in the city’s vibrant LGBTQIA community. I’m excited to meet you!
I was born in Virginia but bounced all around the country from Tampa, to Denver to Portland Oregon and eventually landed back in VA. I'm a mild mannered Cybersecurity Engineer by day, but like to spend my free time doing anything other than staring at a screen so I can often be found hiking, kayaking, bowling or any other activities that get me out. I'm always down to try new places and love to do weekend trips to get out of town for a few days.
My name is Dana, I’m 32, and I was born and raised here in Richmond! I am a teacher and part time travel agent, and I love reading, crafting, and cooking. I love the mission of Trying to Adult RVA and I'm excited to meet new people and try new things!
Hey, I am Cassidy and I am the New Friend Lead. I have grew up in Richmond since I was 5 years old and I would call myself a Richmond native. I joined Trying to Adult back in 2021 when it was starting up. I was looking for a way to make new friends after the pandemic to do fun things together. I am most excited to make connections with new people who join the group and make sure everyone feels welcome when joining the group and coming to events. I am into anime, manga, and video games, and I love the outdoors as well.
Hi everyone! I’m Kandi. I was born and raised in Indiana, and I moved to RVA in 2019. My hobbies include reading, traveling, trying new things, and hanging out with my (spoiled) furbaby Noah. Trying to Adult RVA has been an extremely helpful group to an introvert like me, and I love meeting new people and enjoying new experiences together!
Hello all, I am Amanda. I was born and raised in the Richmond area. I currently live in the Varina area with my fiancé and fur baby (Dutchess). I am most passionate about traveling. I am always down to go anywhere be it a short road trip or an adventure around the world. My goal is to make it to every continent by my 40th birthday. Most of my time is spent growing my business and hanging with my family. Therefore, I do not have much free time to get out and meet people. I joined Trying to Adult RVA so that I can socialize more and make some new friends. I hope this group will introduce me to things and experiences.
Julie Marsh grew up in Richmond, Virginia. She is a former middle school, undergraduate, and Masters teacher. She currently is an instructional designer in higher education. Julie joined Trying to Adult after the pandemic because working from home was not conducive to making friendships. She is happiest when she can go for a hike, get on her bike, or take some fun pictures. She looks forward to creating safe, fun, and positive social spaces for those who want to meet one another in and around RVA.
Sarah moved to the Richmond area from Roanoke in late 2021, but was born and raised in New England. She joined Trying to Adult as soon as she got here as a way to learn about the area and make some friends. She lives in Chesterfield with her partner, and their dog and cat. She is the owner of Next Step Success, LLC, a company that provides vocational rehabilitation services (employment and financial coaching for individuals with disabilities) and other similar career counseling services. You can find her at Trying to Adult events that involve books, games/competition, wine, and coffee!
I am from Delaware, but moved here in 2021. I am passionate about being the change I want to see in the world and helping people feel loved and supported. I joined this group to assist with my transition from moving from Delaware to Virginia and learn more about the area. I enjoy meeting and connecting with new people, so this group is great for that. I'm most looking forward to connecting with more friends and exploring Richmond with friends. I'm also looking forward to helping facilitate a space that will allow for all of you to connect with others.
Hi, I'm Samantha. I have grown up and lived in Richmond since I was 8 years old, I moved away for college after high school and then after college did some exploring around the country. I finally moved back to Richmond in 2021 and realized most of my friends had moved away. So I was super excited to find Trying to Adult RVA. Making friends as an adult is hard as we all know and not only does the group have amazing people in it, the events are fun and engaging. I have one very cute orange tabby cat that I met and adopted in college when I was working at Crumbs and Whiskers (DC's cat cafe). I am also super passionate about movies (I went to GMU as a film major) and am always down to talk about movies, books, cats, or Taylor Swift. I love hosting events, decorating, and being creative which is why I was excited to volunteer with Trying to Adult RVA. I can't wait to meet all of you, help people make new friends, and have fun at these awesome events.
