Building Creative Communities
Building Creative Communities:
A collaboration between Peter Gould’s Like-Hearted Community, Writers in Riyadh, and Huna
Last Saturday, I attended an event that explored Creative Communities, co-organized by Writers in Riyadh and Peter Gould — founder of Like-Hearted — who flew in all the way from Australia to be part of this gathering. The event was generously hosted by Huna, A space that has become a second home to me in Riyadh. Huna has warmly welcomed Al Jalees Literary Circle events for the past year. But this evening carried a different kind of weight. With Peter leading the conversation, the room felt warm, curious, and filled with a closeness you don’t always find in public events.
Meeting the Voices
The event invited three guest speakers, each chosen for their remarkable contributions to community: Muna AbuSulayman, Lubna Ahmed-Haque, and Akmal Saleem. Their perspectives were distinct, their journeys different, yet together they created a conversation that felt honest, necessary, and very human.
For me, the highlight was finally meeting Muna AbuSulayman. I grew up watching her, admiring her honesty and unapologetic presence on screen. To see her in person and to remember that she was the very first supporter of Al Jalees expanding into Riyadh felt like an anchor moment. Beyond her media career, she is also known for her humanitarian work as a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, and her words reflected that sense of responsibility.
“I want to be a person who opens doors for others,” she said. Later, she added: “There comes a time when you cannot access the anguish of your youth anymore, and when that happens, you shouldn’t be the one making the decisions that matter to them. Because leadership isn’t only about logic, it’s also about emotion, and without both, you cannot truly serve.”
Her honesty reminded me that compassion is powerful, but it also requires balance and boundaries.
Lubna Ahmed-Haque brought a gentleness that stayed with me. A medical writer focused on disease awareness, she also leads Riyadh Writers, a creative community I love to visit. “Art comes from an emotional space,” she reminded us. “Storytelling is born from vulnerability, and that vulnerability is where true creativity begins.” I admire her work, not only for the way she builds spaces for writers, but also because of her focus on health awareness. As a Previvor myself, I know how much courage and clarity it takes to shed light on health issues.
Akmal Saleem was sharp, and his words cut straight to the point. “Conviction is destiny. You have to see the pathway and tell yourself you will get there.” He spoke about resilience not as an outward fight but as an inner practice: “It isn’t about how loudly you fight on the outside; it’s about the quiet strength you build on the inside.” Then he revealed something that startled us all — his 300-year plan. Not for his lifetime, not even for the next, but for generations far ahead. It wasn’t polished or packaged. It was natural and almost casual, and it left me questioning how far into the future I allow myself to dream.
And then there was Peter Gould, founder of Like-Hearted. Known for bringing heart into design and community work, he wasn’t just the moderator, he was the calm center of the evening. His presence was steady, kind, and intentional, making the space feel safe enough for honesty to surface.
What I Took With Me
What I loved most about this evening was how organic it felt. Nothing was rehearsed, nothing staged. It was just sincere accomplished people who were deeply present and sharing what matters to them.
From Muna, I was reminded that service must be balanced with care for oneself.
From Lubna, I reminded that storytelling heals, and the creative communities are vital for our society.
From Akmal, I carried the challenge of imagining beyond myself, into a future that outlives me.
From Peter, I was given reassurance that creativity, when anchored in purpose, can nurture communities.
My Reflection
At Al Jalees, I’ve learned that communities aren’t built by events alone. They are nurtured in genuine encounters, in safe spaces, and in evenings like this one where people speak with sincerity and openness.
That night, as I left Huna, one thought stayed with me, and now I leave it with you: