Building Community | Bay Area Community Exchange

The Tools That Are Changing Coworking

24-02-2012

Uncategorized

What started out a few years ago as a loose community of tech entrepreneurs and freelance writers working out of wi-fi-enabled warehouses and coffee shops has turned into the face of the future of work. As more workers are able to work remotely, the need for structure and resources–even just camaraderie in the morning coffee routine–will grow.

These days, coworking has its own wiki page, its own international conferences, its own mission statement.

“Beyond just creating better places to work, coworking spaces are built around the idea of community-building and sustainability. Coworking spaces agree to uphold the values set forth by those who developed the concept in the first place: collaboration, community, sustainability, openness, and accessibility.” -Coworking wiki

All that’s good and well, but there are still challenges the coworking model must address. Like how to connect the nomadic worker to the space owner with a spare desk. Or how to bill hours when some workers use a space for a day only and others want months-long contracts. How about connectivity and communications among a network of coworkers? Or something simple like coordinating a group happy hour? Turns out, there are apps for that. Of course.

SharedDesks

Like CouchSurfing, but DeskSurfing

What AirBnB has done for homeowners looking to rent out their pads, Vancouver-based startup SharedDesks is doing for the owners of corporate spaces. The site offers a directory of space profiles to connect coworkers with spaces around the world. With over 500 listed spaces, SharedDesks provides one of the largest communities for coworking professionals. It’s great for business and space owners who want to match up with workers based on specific needs. The site is pretty easy-to-use and growing rapidly.

Desktime

Managing the nitty gritty

Like SharedDesks, Desktime started as a listings site for workers looking to rent a desk for a day, a week, or a year. Twenty-six year-old founder Sam Rosen created Desktime to make management of the Coop, his large coworking space in Chicago, more efficient. The unpredictability of scheduling and payments created challenges that the software itself could potentially solve. Now Desktime will offer features like booking and billing features, with more enhancements down the pike. It will be tested on a 50,000 square foot space opening as a coworking hub for tech entrepreneurs.

OHours

Virtual open office hours

Many independent professionals who cowork need things only other people can provide: advice, ideas, networking and relationship-building. Ohours is about those relationships and nothing else. You can set up an appointment to meet a professional in a video chat. The site can also be used to set up meetings face-to-face. It bypasses all the awkwardness of roaming networking events, and it creates the missing link for those working alone: virtual colleagues.

The future of coworking? It looks bright. Plus, the spaces just keep getting cooler and cooler. Loft-like floor plans, multi-use spaces, espresso bars, yoga rooms, converted historic buildings. The cubicle pales by comparison.

*Photo courtesy of CoCo Mpls.

Most Americans Would Rather Have A Walkable Neighborhood Than A Big House

By: Beth Buczynski

22-02-2012

Uncategorized

Before the 2008 recession hit, Americans were obsessed with big houses, big cars, paying no mind to the big debt that went along with them. But since the economic crisis, it appears that most of us have been taken down a peg or two. Potentially losing everything has brought into focus what’s really important–and according to a recent survey (PDF), it’s no longer having a massive house.

According to the 2011 Community Preference Survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors, the shifting economy has had a substantial impact on attitudes toward housing and communities.

After hearing detailed descriptions of two different types of communities, 56 percent of Americans would prefer to live in a the smart growth community rather than a sprawl community. Seventy-seven percent of respondents said sidewalks and places to take walks are among the top community characteristics they consider important when deciding where to live. Perhaps even more surprising was the fact that 57 percent said that improving existing communities was a much higher priority than building new ones.

Other encouraging survey findings:

Preserving farms and open areas from development are a higher priority (53% extremely high or high priority) than creating new developments (24%).
Improving public transportation is viewed as the best answer to traffic congestion by half of the country (50%).
After hearing detailed descriptions of two different types of communities, 56% of Americans select the smart growth community and 43% select the sprawl community. Smart growth choosers do so largely because of the convenience of being within walking distance to shops and restaurants (60%).

These findings stand in stark contradiction to the actions of U.S. politicians who recently voted against an amendment that would have extended federal funding for community biking and walking programs. Instead the bill would expand current highway development, allowing bigger trucks on the road and putting many DOT contracts into the hands of private corporations.

Learn more about the controversial bill in this NY Times article, and then take the time to tell your Senators exactly what kind of community you really want your tax dollars to support.

Image Credit: Flickr – Lance Shields

Pop-Up Public Spaces: Watch A NYC Parking Space Become A Commons

By: Amanda Buhman

07-02-2012

Uncategorized

Making the most of every square foot of public space in an urban area is a great way to build community and achieve that lost sense of a “commons” that is so vital to healthy cities.

Founded about two years ago, the Pop-up Café Program by the NYC Department of Transportation teams with local restaurants to provide outdoor public seating in areas where sidewalk seating was previously unavailable. They use small but well-designed parcels of sidewalk or parking space to create miniature patios for warm weather seating. The seating is open to the public and no purchase at the partner restaurants is required.

The pop-up café at Local (144 Sullivan St.) in Greenwich Village was installed last July, creating a public space for a dozen or so people to hang out that would otherwise have been occupied by a single car. In the time lapse video below, the space is visited by 96 people in one day.

Craig Walker, the owner of Local, says that the newly installed public space is “definitely good for business, especially in a way that creates new space for the community.”

Similar programs are “popping up” in California, Pennsylvania and Canada, with more on the way.

Video Courtesy of NYC DOT

Top Image Credit: Flickr – miggslives

Public Garden Plots Put Town On Path To Food Independence

By: Beth Buczynski

24-01-2012

Uncategorized

Self-sufficiency is a big part of living a more sustainable lifestyle. When you’re not dependent on others for your food, water, energy, clothes, or entertainment, you have more control over how those things are grown, purified, and produced.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen individuals become self-sufficient by growing their own food or going off-grid through renewable energy, but rarely have we seen an entire town support the idea of long-term food independence the way the small Victorian mill town of Todmorden, West Yorkshire has.

Citizens in the town have rallied behind an effort called “Incredible Edible,” a program and website dedicated to making the town of Todmorden food-independent by 2018.

To that end, townspeople have constructed raised vegetable, fruit and flower garden beds on almost every available nook of groundspace throughout the town. There are plots in front of the police station, the railway station, and even down by the canal. Citizens are invited to help themselves to whatever happens to be in season in the beds, at absolutely no cost.

Incredible Edible is also about much more than plots of veg, writes Wake Up World, it’s also about educating people about food, and stimulating the local economy.

There are lessons in pickling and preserving fruits, courses on bread-making, and the local college is to offer a BTEC in horticulture. The thinking is that young people who have grown up among the street veg may make a career in food.

The Incredible Edible effort has also helped to stimulate the local economy, as now local cafes and restaurants can source many of their ingredients from right within the city limits.

Top Image Credit: Flickr – vicki moore

California Concept Cafe Celebrates Families And Community

By: Beth Buczynski

13-12-2011

Uncategorized

There are plenty of restaurants that DON’T cater to families. While those who prefer dining free from the shrieks and giggles of children are entitled to their preferences, it can be hard for hard-working parents to find a place where their brood can eat together in peace.

This gap in the restaurant industry is exactly what inspired the creation of Bumble: a new concept cafe in downtown Los Altos serving up farm to table organic fare for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

“We welcome customers of any age but cater to families with young children as an inviting place to dine and relax with kids,” said proprieter Mary Heffernan.

Unique offerings include a fully-stocked playroom with teachers leading arts and crafts projects, story time and free play where you can drop your kids to eat and play while parents relax on site, a welcoming sandbox in the front yard with sparkling play-safe sand and a 22 foot aquarium between the Family Room and Playroom to engage and entertain while you eat dishes made from local and organic ingredients.

Ok so it has a play space. One could argue that McDonald’s offers the same combination of services. But it’s how Bumble chooses to use its amenities that sets it apart from toy-hawking fast food restaurants.

“Our concept includes Family Memberships, offering the opportunity for families to be a part of the community at Bumble, explained Heffernan. “Members can charge their bill to their house account and use their membership points for playroom time, art classes for kids and special events like Mom’s Nights Out and Friday Night Family Style Dinners. Sunday Nights are Movie Night in the playroom at Bumble and we have lots of fun seasonal special events too.”

Basically imagine that your favorite restaurant suddenly fell in love with your favorite bar, your buddy’s man cave, your best friend’s living room, an art studio and a movie theater all at once, and your babysitter just happens to live there. I’m not even a parent, but that combo sounds fantastic!

Adult's-Only Patio

But more than all the beautiful interior design and fantastic services offered by Bumble, I appreciate their emphasis on personal relationships, play, and whole body wellness. You can eat all the local, organic food you want, but it you’re stressed out all day and all night without a break, you’re not going to feel great in the morning. Bumble truly is a new concept in the restaurant industry–a friendly place where community members of all ages can nourish their body and mind.

So if you live in Los Altos, I’m officially jealous that you have the chance to experience Bumble first hand.

Even though Bumble is just getting started- they’ve been open for 3 months and have a fast following of local families already. And Heffernan hopes that you’ll join them over the holidays.

“We are planning a “New Years Eve Bash” event for families- kids bring their PJ’s and sleeping bags to watch the ball drop in the Playroom while parents get a real New Years party experience upstairs (everyone knows how hard it is to find a babysitter on New Years, here’s your solution!)”

Learn more about Bumble on Facebook, Twitter and Yelp

All images courtesy Bumble Cafe/Picasa

3 Easy Ways To Show Your Support For Occupy Wall Street

By: Beth Buczynski

16-11-2011

Uncategorized

We Support Occupy Wall Street

This is a crucial time for the Occupy Wall Street movement. Yesterday, the NYPD carried out orders from Mayor Michael Bloomberg to destroy the encampment at Zuccotti Park and evict the thousands of protesters demonstrating there.

Journalists were blocked from watching the eviction, during which officers of the NYPD destroyed personal property, including the OWS kitchen, library, medical tent, and permaculture teaching stations. Volunteers that tried to defend these areas were arrested.

Tomorrow, the global Occupy Wall Street movement is planning a massive day of action. Despite the 1%’s best attempts to squash this uprising, the movement is stronger than ever. Every day, more people are becoming aware of the corruption in our government, and they’re tired of suffering in silence.

Here are 3 easy ways to support Occupy Wall Street during the November 17th day of action:

1. Get to your local protest tomorrow. Take the day off from work if you can, or use your lunch hour. Bring your children, invite your friends. It is crucial that OWS demonstrate its awesome power through the sheer number of people that participate. You don’t have to say anything or carry a sign. Just your presence will send a loud message of solidarity to the 99% around the world.

If you’re not sure where your local OWS protest will gather tomorrow, search on www.november17.org, occupytogether.org, or pol.moveon.org/event/weare99 to find an event near you.

2. Donate Supplies To Help Rebuild

It has been confirmed that leaders of cities with major occupations colluded with the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate the riot-cop raids we’ve seen over the past few days. This is a direct violation of First Amendment Rights and shows just how worried the government is that Occupy Wall Street will be successful. The best way to respond to this police-state action is by rebuilding. Since tents, warm clothes, and food were stolen from the occupiers in these cities, they desperately need supplies to survive.

Check out this OWS Donation page to find out what is needed and how you can help provide it. Also, search for your local protest on Facebook (Occupy + your town or region) to make direct contact with local occupiers and find out what they need.

3. Move Your Money

We’ve talked about this before in the context of Bank Transfer Day, but the truth is there is no bad day to reclaim your money from the Big Banks and credit card companies. These corporations have profited off of the misfortune of others for decades, and used that profit to install policies that create economic disparity instead of a strong middle class. They may not listen to petitions or speeches or protest chants, but they will listen to money. Millions of dollars moved out of for-profit banks and into non-profit, community-based credit unions during Bank Transfer Day. Let’s keep that momentum moving in the right direction!

Check out Banks vs. Credit Unions: Which One Is Right For You? and How To Move Your Money Out Of The Bank over at Care2.com for more info.

Town Blocks Wal-Mart With Community-Owned Department Store

By: Beth Buczynski

14-11-2011

Uncategorized

Big box stores like Walmart are the poster-children for the homogenization of our country and the destruction of local economies. But what can you do when a corporation with unlimited capital starts eyeballing real estate in your town?

Well, if you’re like the folks in Saranac Lake, New York, you fight back.

The only department store in Saranac, a town of about 5,000 year-round residents, went bankrupt back in 2002. Since then, people in need of dry goods have had to drive over 50 miles to the nearest alternative.

When the Walmart corporation came sniffing around a few years ago, some residents of the tiny town were relieved, but most were indignant. They knew that if this discount behemoth was allowed to build its 120,000 sq. foot store in Saranac Lake, local businesses would be forced to close their doors forever.

Of course, this isn’t a new story. It’s been played out over and over in small to mid-sized communities all over the country. What is new is the way the people of Saranac Lake responded.

“Rather than accept their fate, residents of Saranac Lake did something unusual: they decided to raise capital to open their own department store. Shares in the store, priced at $100 each, were marketed to local residents as a way to “take control of our future and help our community,” said Melinda Little, a Saranac Lake resident who has been involved in the effort from the start. “The idea was, this is an investment in the community as well as the store.”

It took the town 5 years to raise the $500,000 needed to open their store, no easy feat considering the national recession. But just a few weeks ago in late October, the Saranac Lake Community Store celebrated its grand opening.

By 9:30 in the morning, the store, in a former restaurant space on Main Street opposite the Hotel Saranac, was packed with shoppers, well-wishers and the curious. The 4,000-square-foot space was not completely renovated — a home goods section will be ready for the grand opening on Nov. 19 — but shoppers seemed pleased with the mix of apparel, bedding and craft supplies for sale.

In a time when the Occupy Wall Street movement is highlighting economic disparity caused by mega-corps and political obstinacy, the Saranac Lake Community Store sends a powerful message about what a community can accomplish on its own. This store won’t suddenly close, putting hundreds out of work, because its CEO gambled away the profits. Neither will it suddenly pick up and move to the next town over, because property taxes are lower.

When community members band together to meet their own needs, rather than waiting for someone else to do it, they are empowered. And that’s something no one can take away.

Image Credit: trekandshoot/Shutterstock

TheDoGooder.com Offers 3 Ways To Help Communities Thrive

By: Beth Buczynski

11-11-2011

Uncategorized

The ongoing economic recession has caused funding for schools and small businesses (the backbones of our communities) to virtually evaporate. While the politicians stall almost every practical solution for creating jobs and supporting innovation in Congress, children, families, and local economies continue to suffer.

The recent passage of the McHenry Crowdfunding Bill in the House shows that our political leaders have more faith in the public’s ability to spot and fund worthy industries than their own. A new social network for sustainably-minded people called “TheDoGooder.com” takes this idea a step further by providing a fundraising platform that connects schools, small businesses, and the people who want to support them.

Learn more about how your school or business could get in on the action below!