Purpose: Driving the New Economy

Financial crises, climate crises, and the growing iniquity of our market-dominated society have prompted a range of startups to ask what a New Economy might look like — and to start building it today.

James Slezak (Purpose Partner and New Economy Practice Founder) joins Aparna Mukherjee (Social Media Editor for a major consulting firm, formerly of The New York Times, Bloomberg), Marissa Feinberg (Green Spaces NYC Co-Founder) and Erica Berger (Storyful, formerly of The Economist) for a panel discussion and debate on what trends and movements are best poised to disrupt unsustainable and unjust economic models.

How can online strategies accelerate the movement towards sharing, co-production, renewable energy, and greater democratic influence on the economy? What’s working and what’s not? What role can big established organizations play, and where are the spaces for new social enterprises? Engage with our panel of experts on these questions and many more.

The 17 Coolest Co-Working Spaces In America

Melissa Stanger | Jan. 8, 2013, 11:01 AM |

Gourmet cafeterias, discounted gym memberships and expensive artwork used to be luxuries afforded only by big corporate offices.

Entrepreneurs can now get the same or better amenities from a co-working space. These communal offices are an affordable solution to a private office, and offer perks that working in a solo office doesn't.

We've come up with a list of some of the coolest co-working spaces in America, from coast to coast.

Green Spaces

Google Earth

Location: Denver, Colo. and New York, N.Y.

Membership: Starts at $100/month

Green Spaces is one of the most popular co-working spaces for sustainable, green-related startups. The spaces in Denver and New York call themselves "hubs for good," and each offers a stimulating environment for "values-based companies."

Green Spaces offers some startups access to their coveted accelerator program, where entrepreneurs can talk to mentors, get peer-to-peer feedback, and other small business resources.

Members can also attend weekly networking events and fundraisers, and receive referrals for a variety of services from bookkeeping to marketing to help them run successful startups.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-17-coolest-coworking-spaces-in-america-2012-12?op=1#ixzz2Hi2O7C8b

Another day: another desk: GigaOM tests out New York's coworking spaces

Coworking spaces have become popular among startups, and they’re popping up all over the city. Our intrepid reporter spent much of the past month camping out at various coworking spaces in New York to see what the fuss is all about.

Green Spaces

The backstory: Co-founders Marissa Feinberg and Jennie Nevin opened Green Spaces to give entrepreneurs interested in social impact a home base. It opened in downtown Manhattan in 2009, after two years in Brooklyn. Green Spaces, which has a sister location in Denver, offers access to a nationwide network of social innovators and hosts regular networking and educational events for members.

What we liked: Between the recycling bins in the kitchen and the wooden pallet desk dividers, green-leaning entrepreneurs will feel right at home. And, even if you’re not especially eco-minded, it’s hard not be to charmed by the exposed brick walls and the reclaimed furniture. Members get access to special rates with a legal team and other local discounts. Green Space’s weekly “idea bounce” lunches provide an opportunity to get feedback from peers (and try some free dumplings from nearby Chinatown)...

The people: Members are either into sustainability, work at nonprofits or are entrepreneurs who just want to be in a values-driven space — from health startup My Coupon Doc to live-streaming performing arts startup VirtualArts.tv. Alums include GOOD (formerly the magazine, now the online community for social action) and staff of design firm IDEO.

Thanks for including us, Ki Mae! Click here for the full story about us and our peers.

Blue Beyond Borders - A Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser

Great coverage of Saturday's event in: Guest of a Guest, Eco-Chick, The Daily News, EcoTopical, EcoBuzzers, See.7 Magazine, and Ocean Doctor, among others

Here is Eco-Chick's post!

Blue Beyond Borders – Sea Change Through Science and Art: A Hurricane Sandy Benefit in NYC Benefitting the New York Aquarium

by Starre Vartan · 12/07/12

I’m excited to attend tomorrow night’s event, Blue Beyond Borders – Sea Change Through Science & Art: A Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser. Not only because it will be an enlightening evening, filled with great discussion among the thinkers, writers and activists below, but also because I’m donating a scarf from my new creative venture, Dogwood & Hastings, to the silent auction. Look for my Manhattan Bedrock Scarf if you attend the event.

When: December 8, 2012 7:00 pm-9:30 pm
Cost: $15
Location: Green Spaces Tribeca (394 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, NY, 10013)
Go to Eventbrite to get advance tickets or call +1 (347) 994-0094

About:

- Curated event raising money for New York Aquarium whose facilities have been devastated by Hurricane Sandy. This event will also promote climate change awareness

- Ocean luminaries will be giving talks on the effects of climate change, the devastation of our oceans and how it is impacting our community, specifically with regard to Hurricane Sandy

- Silent Auction (proceeds go to New York Aquarium). Items for auction: art, autographed books, award-winning photography, and more.

- Gourmet catering, wine and our event’s signature cocktail: Liquid Ocean (vodka, blue curacao, lime juice, garnish with a lemon twist)

Panelists:
Anne Doubilet is an underwater explorer, writer and photographer logging thousands of dives worldwide as a freelance photographer and dive-team member for National Geographic Magazine on 34 stories about the seas. Lecturing at various national and international venues, Anne now speaks to the issue of oceans in peril as seen through her 40 years of working underwater. www.annedoubilet.com

Paul Greenberg is author of the James Beard Award winning New York Times bestseller Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food and a regular contributor to many national and international publications. A prolific writer and voice on issues of ocean sustainability, he is also a frequent guest and commentator on public radio programs including Fresh Air and All Things Considered. www.fourfish.org

David Guggenheim is a marine scientist, conservation policy specialist, submarine pilot and ocean explorer. He is an accomplished speaker, entertaining and educating audiences across America and the world. The Ocean Doctor as he if popularly known provides a unique perspective as both a scientist and a Washington, DC-based policy expert focused on today’s most important conservation issues. http://oceandoctor.org/

Alison Jones is a conservation photographer and environmental journalist who created the non-profit organization No Water No Life.Through the power of photography and science, NWNL documents North American and African watersheds to illustrate degradation of fresh water resources and stewardship solutions. www.nowater-nolife.org

Asher Jay is a multifaceted creative conservationist. She uses all her artistic prowess to spark multimedia, engaging visual discourses with audiences across the globe about contemporary ecological and humanitarian concerns. She is the founder of Garbagea (www.garbagea.com) and Sea Speak Sphere (www.seaspeaksphere.com) under which she exhibits the collaborative installation piece ‘Message in A Bottle.’ www.asherjay.com

Andrew Revkin is an American, non-fiction, science and environmental writer. He has written on a wide range of subjects including destruction of the Amazon rain forest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, science and politics, climate change, and the North Pole. A reporter for the New York Times from 1995-2009, Revkin currently writes the “Dot Earth” environmental blog for The Times’ Op-Ed section. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/

Jeff Orlowski, the director of Chasing Ice, will also be sharing his experiences on the field, recording never before captured moments indicative of large scale climatic shifts with James Balog and how that ties into our daily activities.

Reimagining Coworking for Writers, Women & Green Entrepreneurs

Just discovered this from Sep 3, 2010: 

Successful coworking communities have always been diverse at their core; their ability to bring together tech professionals from various disciplines is part of the value of being a member. It’s gratifying to see this innovative model of working now permeating beyond the technology sector.

Successful coworking communities have always been diverse at their core; their ability to bring together tech professionals from various disciplines into a shared environment is part of the value of being a member of a coworking space.

As the first generation of coworking spaces begins to reach maturity, it’s gratifying to see this innovative model of working now permeating beyond the technology sector into other industries. Indeed, niche coworking communities are now emerging to serve particular disciplines outside tech.

Tech investor Fred Wilson recently highlighted In Good Company and Green Spaces – providing coworking services for female and green entrepreneurs, respectively — in a wide ranging post aboutcoworking spacess in New York. Along with The Writers Junction in LA, which is tailored towards writers, it seems that these flexible work spaces are increasingly attractive to a broader demographic.

Green Spaces

Currently operating in New York and Denver, Green Spaces is seeking to provide local incubators for environmental and sustainability entrepreneurs. Monthly plans range from $50/month to $495/month, covering everything from a hotdesking to a permanent desk, with drop-in access available from $20/day. The residents are certainly a diverse bunch with everything from concierge service providers and magazine publishers to activist organizations and green realtors. Green Spaces seems to be much more eclectic than simply being “green”;  it’s actually a hub for progressive people and projects.

Click here for the full story.

Green Spaces: Coworking for eco-preneurs

Striking out on your own?

Not only can starting your own green business be intimidating, it can get pricey. Why not save some money and network with other eco-minded entrepreneurs by coworking?

Co-working spaces are, by virtue, pretty a pretty sustainable way of growing your startup. Instead of renting a storefront or an office, coworking spaces take preexisting real estate and makes it suitable for real, honest to goodness business building.

Amenities typically include Wi-Fi, conference rooms, printing facilities, and most critically, coffee. The best part is that they create an atmosphere wherein you can connect fellow entrepreneurs and even collaborate, if the stars align.

During my research for the article,  ”The Frugal Entrepreneur’s Starter Kit“ at Small BusinessComputing, I came across Green Spaces, a swank looking place to get going on your green startup in NYC and Denver.

…For instance, Green Spaces in New York City offers eco-minded entrepreneurs a day pass that costs $35 or full, seven-day access for as little as $295 month. Good luck finding even a sliver of office space for that amount in Manhattan... a great way to network without all the forced, well networking, of industry meet-and-greets. Give it a shot and hit up your local co-working space for many of the perks of having an office without all that overhead.

Image credit: Green Spaces

There's a Coworking Space for Everyone

As entrepreneurship and self-employment continue to increase, community workspaces are gaining popularity globally. Coworking is the concept of multiple small companies and entrepreneurs operating out of a shared office space while working independently. According to a recent Global Coworking Survey by Deskmag, coworking has doubled every year since 2006, the latest count being 2,150 spaces worldwide. The traditional 9-to-5 office model is evolving into a 24/7 space—a hub for networking, connecting, and collaborating.

As current job trends evolve, coworking spaces are able to adapt and flow with companies whose needs are ever changing. Earlier this year, Thomas Frey was a featured speaker at the TEDxReset Conference in Istanbul, Turkey. He predicts over two billion jobs will disappear by 2030. Certain markets, from the power industry to education, are integrating current and future technologies—eliminating jobs we have known forever, and creating new jobs that are more efficient.

With this transition, coworking spaces are being optimized—using their flexibility to fit the needs of businesses, both large and small. In many spaces, including my own, large companies have based their employees out of a coworking space to be a more integrated part of their local community, giving them leverage by bosting their network.

I've been a part of the Green Spaces coworking community for the past two years. Green Spaces, located in Denver (there's a New York location, too), is a space that focuses on social entrepreneurship and connecting professionals and businesses working to make an impact on the sustainable community. This type of work style has been exceptionally beneficial for me as I have started to grow my small interior design business. Instead of working from home, I am able to work out of a renovated turn-of-the-century warehouse, operated 100 percent by solar power, with the added perks of connecting and collaborating with those around me. Where else can you have your own company, and together with other members, have the workforce of an entire corporation at your fingertips?

With the influx of coworking spaces popping up in cities and neighborhoods all around the world, it's important to find a space that's the right fit for you and your business. Many spaces have a specific industry focus—from IT to sustainability to start-ups looking to partner with venture capitalists. By finding a space with a community, culture, focus, and network that aligns with you and your business, you will be in the right place to create ideas and collaborate with others effectively.

After visiting many coworking spaces around the country, I have experienced a variety of workspace styles. Some spaces are quiet and private, some are more professional, some are casual and artsy, all of them are fun. Often spaces will offer a free drop-in day pass, so check a few out and give them a try. After all, Rachel Beresh said it best: “Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them—so go out and start creating.”

Click here to read the original story.

The Perks of Creative Play

Jeff Wirth, President of the Wirth Creative, is an expert on developing interactive story experiences for simulation, research, and entertainment. He has consulted for Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group, and Disney Imagineering. His latest project is Whispers in the Dark,in which a non-actor participant becomes the lead character in a story that plays out over 24 hours in various settings in New York City. 

What was your inspiration behind Whispers in the Dark?

For the past 30 years I have been creating interactive story experiences in which non-actors become the central character in a story in which they have no idea what is going to happen. When I was invited by Matt Bolish at the Film Society of Lincoln Center to create an experience for the Convergence Weekend of the New York Film Festival, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce this work to New York City. 

What do participants usually get from being involved with interactive story experiences?

There is a great power in being given permission to play fictionally.  Children play by nature, but as adults, we often become constrained by our perceptions of who we are and who we are supposed to be.  When participants play in an interactive story, they discover the potential that lies within them, outside the realm of their everyday lives.  They discover new power and realize new potential through the process of fictional play.

What’s your favorite story from loosecubing?

When we were scouting locations for Whispers in the Dark, we were looking for a cool office space.  As a Loosecubes member, I contacted Kevin Swett, who connected me with Marissa Feinberg, the owner of Green Spaces which is a Loosecubes host location.  When I met with her, I discovered that Marissa is not only a creative business owner, but also a talented actress, so we wound up casting her in a role in the project.  You never know whom you’re going to connect with when you’re ‘cubing! 

If you’re in NYC, you won’t want to miss Whispers in the Dark at the New York Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2 PM. 

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO LOOSECUBES for connecting the dots here! - Marissa, Green Spaces

How do you make a social business financially viable?

Hidden Heroes and Seeducation (http://seeducation.org) is thrilled to have had the chance to interview Marissa Feinberg, co-founder of Green Spaces and of Green Leaders Gobal, performed by Noam Kostucki.

Moxie Camp for Female Changemakers

Moxie Camp will be in NYC June 29-July 1, 2012 and empower emerging female leaders to get up on their feet, practice sharing their vision and voice, receive hands on coaching, and get comfortable in their power to create big-time social impact.

Moxie Camp is designed for women who work in social enterprise or the nonprofit sector, want to start or grow a socially conscious business, or who simply want to scale their positive impact in the world. Over the course of the 2.5 days together at the beautiful New York Insight Meditation Center, June 29-July 1, 2012, Moxie Campers will learn how to command a room, pitch ideas, negotiate for what they’re worth, resolve conflict, and end risk aversion - once and for all. Participants will discover how to access funding, build strategic partnerships, and use their signature story to build a movement around their ideas. There will be sessions focused on self- care and sustaining a spiritual practice. Pre and post-event calls. And so much more!

Moxie Camp will be co-facilitated by some amazing ladies. Here’s just a preview:

The Coaches - Lara Galinsky(SVP of Echoing Green, a global nonprofit that provides seed funding to social entrepreneurs), Jenny Blake (bestselling author of Life After College and certified coach), KC Baker (stage and camera public speaking coach and in-demand women’s motivational speaker), Jacquette Timmons (financial empowerment expert, coach, and creator of the Financial Intimacy Conference), and Christina Rasmussen (creator of the global movement for how to thrive after loss, Second Firsts, and author of the 2013 Hay House book of the same name)

The Speakers - Tammy Tibbetts (President and Founder of She’s the First, a nonprofit that sponsors girls’ education in the developing world), Natalia Oberti Noguera (CEO of Pipeline Fellows, which trains women philanthropists to be angel investors), Xian Horn (a joyful half-Asian woman with Cerebral Palsy who is creating a revolution in how we discuss disability and beauty), Marissa Feinberg (Co-Founder of GreenSpaces, a co-working and community-building space for green entrepreneurs and changemakers), Nitika Chopra (creator of Your Bella Life, a women’s online lifestyle magazine), and Sheryl Victor Levy (digital strategist for Phil & Co, which provides marketing and communication strategies for social enterprises).

Learn more at http://www.MoxieCamp.com

Alexia Vernon's Moxie Camp Logo: moxiecamplogo.tif