I am a founding member of New Work City, the premiere coworking community in Manhattan.
I’ve written before about why I work there, and have tweeted endlessly about the inspiration and genius that fills its walls.
In April we found out that we lost our lease and immediately had to move into a temporary home at Green Spaces. They’ve been lovely hosts, but we needed more space and have big dreams for what’s next.
Not long ago, we found a perfect spot on Broadway and Canal St — more than 4,700 square feet of totally raw space. We’re in the midst of a custom build-out now, and it’s incredibly exciting. This is more than a space; it’s a revolution in the way people work.
New Work City is responsible for much of the success of my career and much of my personal happiness. Our mayor Tony Bacigalupo, deputy mayor Peter Chislett, and all of our incredible members have created an environment that has inspired me to stop seeing my work as work, but as a calling through which I can have a tremendous positive impact on the world. I truly don’t know that I ever would have made that discovery if it hadn’t been for the coworking experience and New Work City in particular.
But we’re been operating with our hands tied behind our backs. We haven’t had the space, layout, equipment or facilities needed for people to work comfortably and effectively. For the last two months, I have barely been in the space at all because I have been in a heavy research phase on a project and needing to be on the phone for much of the day — and there’s nowhere for me to talk on the phone freely without creating noise pollution for everyone else, so I stay at home. It’s certainly had a negative effect on my morale and productivity.
Construction at the new New Work City is under way, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Beyond flexible coworking space, we’re also going to have dedicated room for education (workshops and classes) and events (daytime, nighttime and weekends). I plan on expanding my practice with workshops I’ll be conducting there, and you can, too. This place is for us, by us. We can make it anything we want it to be.
So I’m asking you for help. Unfortunately I wish money weren’t a part of the equation, but this is the real world, and it takes real money to make real change. We need about $100,000 total for the new space, and are attempting to raise $15,000 through Kickstarter.
If you appreciate what I do, and want to help create an environment in which I (and people like me) really thrive, then please consider showing your support with a donation. The way Kickstarter works is that if we don’t hit our goal, we don’t get any of the pledged money. So please, please help us get there.
If you happen to run a business or have access to a bigger pile of cash to support great projects like ours, then please reach out to me at [email protected]. We are accepting sponsorships and giving substantial benefits in return. This could be a great cultural partnership for the right organizations, so please get in touch.
Thank you for reading my plea, and for helping us to create the next generation of professional independence and influence. Really, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
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