I lost my apartment in a fire. I learned that community is what makes a home.

I bolted from the desk where I worked in marketing for a SoHo startup, breathing in ragged gulps, thinking of my cat Crackers trapped inside.

In a flash, I lost the apartment that was my refuge, my home for a decade, taking my beloved cat with it.

I recognize the privilege of being able to purchase an apartment in my neighborhood, where I created a secure future for myself.

In the aftermath of the fire, with my life turned upside down, friends rallied to support me, showing the strength of community.

Read at Business Insider