Creative Blueprint

08/10/2023

I never have time to post on August 9th for . It’s always a whirlwind of space visits, interviews, love letters, and celebrations. But for me, every day is coworking day ❤️

My first space turned 19 this April, and Creative Blueprint turns 20 in September. My career has been dedicated to serve and support all of the members who utilize our coworking communities, and all the passionate leaders nurturing these spaces as we work to connect and expand the international coworking movement.

Coworking Day is a day to celebrate and reflect upon what we love about coworking, and to bring attention to the core values of the coworking movement - like community, collaboration, and sustainability.

We must also honour those who were ‘coworking’ long before us - like artists, academics, activists, women, caregivers, and especially the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Because of them, we already know the only way forward is together.

On Coworking Day people often thank me for my coworking vision, for our coworking manifesto, for maintaining the movement, for all the spaces and alliances we've built, and the work that we do in community - but that appreciation and celebration truly belongs to all of us.

This movement is built upon the value of collaboration over competition - there would be no coworking without the ‘co’. We built and we maintain this movement together.

We’ve been shaping the future of work in ways that are balanced, inspiring, and productive, and where local coworking spaces support our unique needs. These spaces then become hubs for mutual aid, collective resilience, and community economic development.

We also work together internationally through initiatives like the The Coworking IDEA Project, to ensure coworking spaces remain Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable and Accessible for everyone.

It feels incredible to reflect upon all the projects we've led or inspired, the people and businesses we've supported and the connections we've made over the years. To pause to appreciate all the coworking members I’ve met over two decades, all of the wide-eyed first-time visitors, all of the people we get to connect with online and in person. All those who join our Coworking Unconferences and Alliances (like Coworking Canada), and who use COHIP the Coworking Health Insurance Plan to take care of themselves and their families. And to get to meet all the folks who are living and now thriving in rural communities, because they can work and innovate and connect closer to home.

I'm most proud of how we do this work together- the people we've mentored, the spaces we've animated, and the thousands of passionate community leaders who collaborate around the world.

I'm so thankful for all the people who make the time and the effort to hold space for others, who care this much about building community, authentic collaboration, and leaving things better than we found them.

And I am overwhelmed, with absolute gratitude, respect, and so much love.

Today, and always ❤️

05/18/2023

“The case for flexible work has a social and moral imperative. It helps retain women, reduces burnout, and makes it easier to have children and deliver on caregiving responsibilities. According to a recent survey of female hybrid workers that combine in-office and remote work, 88% believe the flexibility of hybrid work is an equalizer in the workplace, and two-thirds say it has had a positive impact on their career growth path.

Flexible work provides greater opportunities for career advancement across gender lines and increases the number of women in leadership, which is good for business. Companies with more women in leadership have more engaged workers and are more profitable.” Erin Grau

Commentary remote work Flexible work is feminist–and women won’t return to a system that hasn’t served them well to spare the feelings of powerful men It is hardly a coincidence that the demographic which benefited most from the old system has also expressed the most anxiety about changing it....

04/07/2022

“The 28 actions outlined in the Plan will contribute to the visibility and overall wellbeing of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in Toronto through placemaking and placekeeping, supporting economic development and prosperity, increasing civic engagement, honouring Indigenous ways of knowing and being, and recognizing rights to self-determination and self-governance. A key priority for the City will be addressing barriers and colonial practices embedded in its policies, processes and practices, to better serve Indigenous residents in Toronto”
https://www.toronto.ca/news/torontos-first-reconciliation-action-plan-adopted-unanimously-by-city-council/

03/04/2022

The The Coworking IDEA Project is hosting an International conversation about refugees, racism and what you can do to help.
Working with our colleagues and coworkers who are being directly impacted by the invasion of Ukraine, we explore the various community-led initiatives that have been created. Together, we will map the existing networks of support, identify gaps and discuss how we can educate and mobilize our own communities. All are welcome.

March 9, 2022 8AM ET | 1PM UK | 2PM CET

Register here: https://coworkingidea.org/events/idea-conversation-special-edition-ukraine/

02/03/2022

The Coworking Alliance Summit is for those who truly believe in collaboration over competition, and who are living their coworking values beyond the walls of their workspaces.

On February 16th we’re bringing together the world’s most cooperative coworking leaders for the 2nd annual Coworking Alliance Summit. Just imagine what we might do if we all worked together?

COHIP - The Coworking Health Insurance Plan (http://COHIP.ca) came out of collective conversations in Ontario, Canada in 2012.

Did you know the Coworking IDEA Project (https://coworkingIDEA.org) is an International initiative maintained by coworking alliances and collaborative consultants from around the globe?

And we’re just getting started…

We’ll cover everything from the basics of forming and growing an alliance, to governance and operations. We’ll share our unique experiences with collective marketing, and collaboration with businesses, community groups, unions, government agencies, and across borders. This is a participatory event, and there will be an opportunity to propose additional topics for discussion.

Start dreaming big (or small) and bring your best questions to be answered by your peers and experts!

All are welcome. Join us on February 16th: https://CoworkingAllianceSummit.com

10/24/2021

Tate has acquired its first custodianship of an artwork which extends to supporting causes relating to the artist's tribe.

10/06/2021

Golden Artist Colors employs over 200 workers in upstate New York.

07/08/2021

The Wildseed Centre for Art and Activism will be a place for Black community members of all ages to create and meet freely. It's set to open in early 2022 and will also serve as a home base for Black Lives Matter chapters across Canada.

07/07/2021

On June 29th, 2021, Michelle Senayah, the Founder and Executive Director of The Laneway Project, unexpectedly passed. This was a devastating loss not only for her friends, family, and colleagues but also for the whole of the City of Toronto. Michelle was a passionate, kind, and thoughtful placemaker...

04/22/2021

Imagine what we could do, if we worked together? On April 27th, we gather coworking alliances from around the world. Join us!
http://coworkingalliancesummit.com