Hi all,
What an amazing and needed discussion. Thank you so much for everyone’s points.
I have been part of running a small co-working space in Brixton, South London; one of London’s most ethnically diverse boroughs, also one of the economically most unequal ones, housing prices in Brixton are actually rising faster than in any other area of London … Hence, when we thought about building a co-working community the tensions in the wider area/neighbourhoods played a massive part.
The co-working space has since been taken over by a new team of leaders. Both have grown up in the Brixton area, are from African and African-Caribbean background and really have experienced the changes that have happened in the area. In only four months the community within the space has grown and evolved massively, and there are very courageous conversations happening about gentrification, inequality and race. I definitely recommend checking out the space ‘Impact Brixton’ and the weekly event they are running on Monday nights.
This process has led to us growing a new project called OurSpace. Working across co-working spaces and community centres, we are trying to answer the question ‘What actually makes an inclusive space for social action’. We are engaging local leaders, businesses, change-makers in a new programme and have just launched a crowdfunding campaign as well.
We are looking for all kinds of support, sharing the campaign, getting involved with experience and advice, taking part in the programme, pledges and sponsoring us via our rewards…
So please, do get in touch with me & check out the OurSpace project here: [https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ourspace-building-inclusive-spaces-in-lambeth]
Cheers! Steph