Dear Friends. Heres an update on our efforts to open up a collaborative coworking lab in the Creative Enterprise Zone as a next step to a full rollout. We actually looked at one really interesting office space right in the heart of the zone at University and Randolph. We are hoping to have a formal showing early next week (still waiting to hear back from the building owner). If all works out, we could conceivably start coworking in early to mid November. To make it happen, we need to have about 8 partners contribute to a modest $125/month for a minimum of 6 months. Or, we need to find a few supporting partners (individuals, congregations, foundations, etc), willing to pay a $125/month share for the initial 6 months. If we can do that in the next few weeks (and we are close... very close), Lydias Place can open a coworking lab in the heart of the Creative Enterprise Zone, establishing a real footprint in the neighborhood and providing something tangible to build upon. My hope, and expectation, is that once the lab is in place, than it will be easier for additional partners to join the coworking community, allowing us to grow appropriately in a sustainable way, without the need to continually search and beg for partners and funding assistance. As a lab, well also be able to live out what it means to work together and explore faith in daily life in the midst of the daily grind of work. We will learn more in this next six months than we might ever learn otherwise... so I am excited for the opportunities that the Spirit is opening up. Of course, we are also working on planting the first seeds of the worshipping community as well. To have a physical presence in the community (the coworking space)_ will certainly help build the worshipping group as well. Good things are happening in the Creative Enterprise Zone and along the Green Line Central Light Rail Corridor in St. Paul. We could use some more partners to take it that next step. Do you know someone who might want to cowork with us? Would you or your church or your business or your organization be willing to underwrite a share of our initial 6 month startup costs (@ $125/month for 6 months). If so, please give us a call at 612-859-1134, respond to this post privately if you wish, or email us at scott@lydiaplace God bless you... we hope to hear from you soon. Pax Scott Simmons
Posted on: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 00:43:10 +0000