FRISCO — Melanie Nance knows what it's like to be new in town.
She moved to North Texas nearly three years ago from Tulsa, earned her real estate license and started helping people find a place to call their own. She quickly realized that finding a home was just the beginning for newcomers. They're often navigating new jobs, new schools and a whole new community, too.
Finding friends in this digital age isn't always easy either. That led to a light-bulb moment and the start of Get to Know Frisco, a monthly gathering geared toward new residents.
Nance hosts the mixer at a different location each month. She recruits businesses to donate space and door prizes. It's family-friendly and free. New residents wear red name tags. Those with some roots in town, whether it's just a few years or several decades, wear blue ones.
"I enjoy bringing people together," said Nance, 33, who grew up in Dallas and now makes her home in the northern suburb.
And while the event is focused on Frisco, there are no boundaries when it comes to connecting. Everyone is welcome, and Nance makes sure to greet people as they arrive.
The most recent event, at Rotolo's Craft & Crust, a new pizzeria near Toyota Stadium, included a visit from Nance's team leader at The Cheney Group/The Associates — Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney.
There's no set agenda, just a chance to ask questions and get acquainted.
Posted at each event is a U.S. map with colored dots to mark where people came from — California, Florida and nearly everywhere in between. Some have hailed from as far away as Ireland, India and Afghanistan, too.
That's no surprise for Frisco, which for years has been one of the nation's fastest-growing cities and is becoming increasingly diverse. The city's population is estimated at over 180,000, with projections for that to double in the coming decades as the city reaches build-out.
This past year alone, the city has gained an average of 27 new residents a day.
With so many newcomers, there's a need for a sense of belonging.
Nance said her goal is simple — help people navigate their new surroundings, whether they need recommendations for doctors and dentists, date nights or kid-friendly outings.
"I enjoy helping people," she said.
Lizette Leos, who has lived in Frisco for four years, said Nance is well-suited to lead this informal welcoming committee for new residents.
"She just has a genuine heart at serving people," said Leos, who considers Nance one of her closest friends.
Together, they came up with slogans and T-shirt designs to share their hometown pride with the Get to Know Frisco crowd. The shirts, available at Leos' Living on Grace Gifts online business, include sayings such as "I'm So Frisco" and "Frisco Vibes."
"We're all so different, but we have something to relate to," said Leos, who originally is from San Benito in South Texas.
Jessica Sheleg, 25, moved from North Carolina in June for her job as a commercial sales rep and settled in The Colony. "I knew no one," she said. "I was flying blind."
Then she saw a Facebook post about Get to Know Frisco and decided to attend earlier this month. "I like the fact that so many people are not from here," she said.
Steve Davidson lives in Allen but does business in Frisco. He comes to support Nance and network. The idea, he said, is to get people to feel like part of the community.
Joe Galvan works at J.Paul Roofing in Richardson and lives in Dallas but finds the Frisco group open and welcoming. "You never know who you'll meet," he said.
Jenny Snocker's family moved to Frisco in September from Fairfax, Va., where they'd lived for 15 years. Before all the boxes were unpacked at their new home, they turned out to the first Get to Know Frisco event held at City Works at The Star.
"It means a lot to be connected," said Snocker, who's been making a point to explore their new home with her family, which includes their adopted grandma.
Julie Steward is a longtime family friend who bonded with the Snockers. So when they decided to move to Frisco, a city she knew nothing about, she came, too. She left her first Get to Know Frisco event with one of the door prizes.
Steward likes the mix of rural and city life and is quick to point out that the traffic here is nothing compared to the tie-ups in the Washington, D.C., area. And people are noticeably more friendly in Frisco, she said.
"I feel like I'm home," she said.
If you go
The next Get to Know Frisco mixer will be at The Reservoir Frisco from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13. For details, including photos from previous events, visit the group's Facebook page.
