Our Story
Kim & Jenna met while working together in 2017. Therapists by training, we were both working at an agency and found that friendship was a common theme in our work. Through our work (and trial and error in our own friendship), we realized that many of the skills that we learned in training as mental health professionals were the foundations of our closest friendships too. We felt passionate about bringing these tools to other womxn so that their friendships were as empowered, honest, and strong as ours. We also share a passion for social justice and see friendship among womxn as a social issue. After many hangouts focused on smashing the patriarchy, we felt inspired to launch The Matchstick Collective to help womxn form the friendships that they want while simultaneously sparking social change.
Our Name
In her book, All the Single Ladies, Rebecca Traister describes a letter between Charlotte Brontë and her best friend, Ellen Nusse. Brontë notes that her husband was increasingly concerned about the friendship between the two women, saying that their friendship and correspondence were, “dangerous as Lucifer matches.” We agree that strong, connected friendships create empowered womxn who are “dangerous” to the patriarchy and will transform society.