So Glad We've Caught Your Eye!
(how can we turn you into a coworker, catalyst or space owner?) ;)
Coworking is a network of loosely joined workspaces from around the world. This site consists of people who run spaces, are in the midst of setting up a space, who are looking for space to work out of and are interested in watching and/or supporting the growth of the movement. Coworking has been around for a long time as an idea - spaces were around as far back as the 1800's - but in our very global and networked world, it's become less about the individual space, and more about the growing movement to create Building Blocks for the wide world of independents, who don't believe that working solo means that you have to 'work solo'. Instead of merely concentrating on building a space in your local neighborhood, posting signs and leaflets to get bodies in, we use the power of social networking to collaborate towards a global union of these spaces, supporting one another and finding strength through the collective voice.
And that is what coworking is. 500+ people from around the world, working together on this. There is no central organization, only leagues of interested individuals, making these spaces happen. Space owners in California offering advice to Catalysts in France. Interested individuals from Singapore giving advice and support to Catalysts in Australia. Coworkers traveling around the world, finding spaces to work out of.
A community of like-minded individuals. Thank you for adding to it. :)
Just In Case We've Convinced You
Here is how you can get involved...
- Join the Coworking Google Group
- Edit this wiki (pw: coworking)
- Blog about it, using the tag "coworking" and <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/coworking" rel="tag">coworking</a>!
- Join the backchannel @ irc://irc.freenode.net/#coworking!
- Create (or participate in) Coworking Events
- Read or contribute to the blog at blog.coworking.info
- Support your local Coworking efforts. Show up. Become a resident. Help out.
- More Ways to Get Involved
And What Can We Do For You?
Seriously...if this isn't doing it for you, what would? :) Tell us below...
Does anyone own a coworking building in a small, 15,000 person, rural town?
Comments (3)
Rene Ylanan said
at 8:57 pm on Sep 24, 2008
Hi! I've been visiting this site sporadically for about a year now. I understand the coworking concept and I think it's a great practice, but I never jumped in because I couldn't seem to figure out what it was you all were trying to achieve.
Then on this page I read what seemed to me to be the closest thing to a mission statement for this group. The line that goes "to collaborate towards a global union of these spaces, supporting one another and finding strength through the collective voice".
Very nice indeed. But I still kind of want to know what the end-game objective is... is it "more and more coworking spaces" or "more and more people doing coworking"...?
tara hunt said
at 1:50 pm on Nov 9, 2008
Hi Rene,
I'd say a little of both. For me, the goal of coworking as a movement is evolving over time. It started to be a personal one - have a place to work that isn't my living room or a coffee shop, then it started to benefit me when I traveled, so I wanted to help create more coworking spots all around the world. Now, I just love that it seems to resonate with many people and want to help out.
Tara
Roger Ratcliff said
at 10:29 am on May 8, 2009
Does anyone own a coworking building in a small, 15,000 person, rural town?
I am thinking of purchasing a building in an historic downtown for a co working group. There is a large front room and smaller meeting rooms in the back, plus another large room.
Do I need cubicles, or is an open architecture OK?
Anyone have experience?
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