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1 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces Building a Vibrant Tenant Community The NonprofitCenters Network October 23, 2008
1 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Building a Vibrant Tenant Community
The NonprofitCenters Network October 23, 2008
2 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Speakers
The Centre for Social Innovation
• Located in Toronto, Ontario • House over 120 tenants • Started in 2004 • Help fulfill the organization’s
strategic and programming vision of providing shared spaces, capacitybuilding programs and incubation services.
Eli Malinsky, Program Manager The Centre Social Innovation
3 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Speakers
Third Sector New England NonProfit Center
• Located in Boston, Massachusetts • House 28 tenants • Started in 2004 • Manages the Center’s
programming to include a mix of technical assistance trainings, networking, and other educational activities.
Jackie Cefola, Program Coordinator Third Sector New England Nonprofit Center
4 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Speakers
The Institute of Cultural AffairsUSA
• Located in Chicago, IL • Houses 27 tenants • Manages the Technology of
Participation curriculum, a unique strategic planning/group facilitation methods is used by over 20,000 practitioners
Nino Tillman, Executive Director The Institute of Cultural Affairs
Building a Vibrant Community
NonprofitCenters Network Webinar October 23, 2008
Eli Malinsky, [email protected]
What is the Centre for Social Innovation?
7 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Work Space
8 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Community Centre
9 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Incubator
FPYN
10 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
The Basics
• Nonprofit organization • Not the building owner; a
tenant on a fiveyear lease • 20,000 sq ft • 120 Tenants: 40 offices, 40
desks, 40 Hot Desks • Eight meeting and event
spaces • $1 million opertating budget
Building a Vibrant Community – Tip #1
Designing for Community
12 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Designing for Community Transparency
• Glass reflects values of openness, collaboration, and transparency – and conveys a sense of dynamism
13 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Designing for Community Open
• Avoid walls wherever possible!
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Designing for Community Unstructured Space
• Community is formed over coffee – not in meeting rooms
• Big, open kitchens
• Couches, comfy chairs and harvest tables
• Use modular furniture
Building a Vibrant Community – Tip #2
Animation as philosophy and practice
16 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Animation Philosophy & Practice Dedicated Attention
• Communities need administration and animation
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Animation Philosophy & Practice Physical, social and virtual
• Physical: interventions in the space that foster communication (message walls, maps, photos)
• Social: Quarterly parties, summer picnics, speed geeks!
• Virtual: Internal email lists, tenant profiles
18 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Animation Philosophy & Practice Light Touch
• Enable (don’t force) participation; create the conditions for collaboration
• Let tenants find their own level of comfort – you can’t mandate community*!
(* but you can establish Tenant Cooperation Policies)
Building a Vibrant Community – Tip #3
Building a participatory culture (Space 2.0)
20 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
A Participatory Culture The Royal We
• Work against the traditional tenant vs. landlord relationship – we’re in it together!
• Consider and act on all reasonable suggestions – solicit feedback
21 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
A Participatory Culture Small & Diverse
• Collaboration is more likely with small groups who do not have an already entrenched organizational culture
• Collaboration is as likely among diverse organizations as similar organizations
Building a Vibrant Community – Tip #4
A Community Resource
23 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
A Community Resource Open your space
• Encourage the broader community to take advantage of your space
• Provide resources and opportunities to draw people in
24 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
A Community Resource Connect and collaborate • Partner partner partner!
• Invest your time and effort in the surrounding community
Building a Vibrant Community Third Sector New England’s
NonProfit Center
Jackie Cefola Third Sector New England, NonProfit Center [email protected] 6175236565 ext. 208
26 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
27 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
The NonProfit Center
• Founded in 2004 by Third Sector New England • Over 110,000 rentable square feet • Located at crosssection of Boston’s Chinatown and
financial district • Registered historic building • LEED certified through Commercial Interiors program in
August 2006 • Energy STAR • 90% occupied • 28 tenant organizations with over 250 staff • Thousands of other stakeholders
Boston’s home for progressive social change
NonProfit Center Open House, April 2006
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Community Milestones
• May 2001: TSNE attended NCN conference • June 2003: Policies set for tenant selection and center
governance • April 2004: NonProfit Center founded • November 2005: Program coordinator hired • December 2005: First tenant roundtable meeting • January 2006: First program calendar for tenants • February 2006: First program open to public • April 2006: NPC Open House • July 2006: Shared Space developed • March 2007: NPC café opens • April 2007: NPC program newsletter • Summer 2008: Vlog, Facebook page
Community Organizer and Belly Dance Instructor, April 2008
29 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
What is community programming?
Relationshipbuilding activities that enhance a center’s mission
At the NonProfit Center, these are activities that… further the availability of affordable, stable space
create opportunities for crossorganizational collaboration and learning heighten visibility for the nonprofit sector
Chefs Collaborative and ITEP staff in Shared Space, July 2008
30 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Professional development: – Mission, Vision and Programs – The new Form 990 – Major Donor Communications
Personal development: – Public Speaking – Green Living group – Yoga
Events: – Open House – Networking evenings – New tenant welcome breakfasts – Charitable donation drives
Intentional Opportunities
Dragon Dance, April 2006
Ongoing services: – Monthly tenant meetings – Building tours – NPC Café – CSA farm shares
Fun: – Book club – Movie lunch – SNB Knitting
Communications: – Tenant Spotlight – View from the Center
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Selforganized activities
Professional development: – Regional Environmental Youth Summit – Progressive Communicators Network Conference
Personal development: – World Animal Week – Lunch with Zogby – T Riders Union
Services: Easter Seals administrative internships
Events: – Roots & Shoots Day of Peace – MMRF Walk for Wayne
Fun: Bellydancing, NPC Walkers
Green Valentine’s Day, February 2007
[ Plus more that I don’t know about and that’s good ]
32 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Program Partners
Cross organizational networks: – NonprofitCenters Network – Marketers Making a Difference, Boston
Service providers: – Scarpone and Associates – Clark Strategic Communications
Nonprofit organizations: – MassBike Coalition – Second Chances – Museum of Science
Businesses: – Green & Black’s – Stone Soup Farm – AMS Consulting
Black Gold presentation, 2006
33 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Written: – Program calendar and elevator ‘ads’ – Web content – Summary articles and meeting notes – Update emails – Feedback forms
Verbal: – “canned” pitch at start of every program – Make introductions whenever possible – Eat lunch with others – Enthusiasm is contagious
Relational online: Facebook, Intranet Boston & Beyond staff, June 2007
Communication Strategies
34 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Questions to consider
What is your mission? Who is your “community” and what is their mission? What is your plan?
Creative mix of activities Mandatory participation or not Timing work/life balance Partnerships Public vs. centeronly programs Fee vs. free Selforganizing ok or not ok How much is enough
What resources are available? Personnel, volunteers, time, money
What are your desired outcomes? How can you measure success?
Be The Media workshop participants, November 2007
35 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Future possibilities Next few months: restructure process for service provider application and schedule
programs further in advance
Next few years: organize program coordinators to better share resources, contacts and lessons learned
Further out: educate private sector about community programming
Building a Vibrant Community
NonprofitCenters Network Webinar October 23, 2008
Eli Malinsky, [email protected]
Building a Vibrant Community Third Sector New England’s
NonProfit Center
Jackie Cefola Third Sector New England, NonProfit Center [email protected] 6175236565 ext. 208
38 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
The Institute of Cultural Affairs
39 © 2006 The NonprofitCenters Network & Tides Shared Spaces
Questions?
Eli Malinsky The Centre for Social Innovation (Toronto, Canada)
Jackie Cefola Third Sector New England Nonprofit Center (Boston, MA)
Nino Tillman The Institute of Cultural Affairs (Chicago, IL)
nillman@icausa.org
Roxanne Hanson The NonprofitCenters Network (San Francisco, CA)
