Meet Dānia Clarke

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dānia Clarke. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dānia below.

Hi Dānia, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

When I was a senior in college, I filmed a street interview video in Austin, Texas, where I wandered around with my camera in hand asking people what they were grateful for. So many of them shared deeply personal stories, and two things immediately hit me: 1) every person around us has an inner world as complex and unique as our own, and 2) there are probably more aspects of the human experience that connect us all than we realize. I felt pulled to explore this more, and when I noticed I was procrastinating on studying for finals to read articles about topics like vulnerability and emotional intelligence, I knew I had found my passion. When I experienced the power of authentic connection via a monthly workshop I created while working for GoDaddy 4 years later, I knew I had found my purpose.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m in the process of building my brand, BRIDGE™. BRIDGE (Building Relationships In Diverse Group Environments) is an exploration of human connection using videography, games, and workshops as tools for discovery and inclusivity. In the videography realm, I love capturing stories and events of people who are doing work in the human connection/community space. I also have a game in development that is geared toward fostering meaningful conversations. I’m working with a very talented graphic designer to bring this to life, and I’m excited for the game’s release by spring 2025!

Speaking of fostering meaningful conversations, I’ll be facilitating a BRIDGE workshop with engaging activities here in Denver on January 5th, 2025 at Petals & Pages. The purpose of the workshop will be to celebrate change, navigate uncertainty, and grow in our humanity—together.

Building BRIDGE has been deeply fulfilling. It’s the kind of creative pursuit that manages to leave you feeling energized even when you’re exhausted from spending hours working on it. When it comes to the human experience (the core of my work), the learning is endless. I lead with curiosity and get to meet some pretty special humans along the way.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three qualities or practices that stand out to me are: being observant, active listening, and staying curious. My advice to others who want to explore these practices would be to speak less and listen more, at least initially. Too often, people are so preoccupied with what they think they should say or do next, that they miss out on valuable information about the person they’re interacting with. I’ve been labeled “quiet” in different stages of my life. Still, I now know that behind this perception, I was evolving to become the observant and curious person I am today, allowing me to be fully present with others and engage authentically.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My dad is a large contributor to who I am today. He raised me to leave the word “can’t” out of my vocabulary, to not let fear take the driver’s seat, and to this day, he leads by example in pursuing your own path or the road less taken. He sang me this jingle when I was little, which I remember like it was yesterday: “It’s okay to be scared, it’s okay to be scared, but if you don’t try, then you can’t get better.”

I’m stubbornly persistent when it comes to achieving my goals, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thanks, daddio. I love you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bridgehumans.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgehumans/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniaclarke/