At our 2022 State of the Chamber dinner, held on June 22, 2022, we shared the exciting news that we are launching a capital campaign to fund Seen: An LGBT+ Coworking Community!
A project of Harmony, Seen will be the first facility of its kind in the nation to provide an LGBT-centric workspace with a retail and entrepreneurial incubator. (A couple of other LGBT-focused coworking spaces exist in the US, but none that combine the business-building aspects Seen will feature.) It is designed to be an embracive space in which LGBT+ individuals and businesses can thrive.
With a focus on long-term sustainability, we have a multi-step plan we are following in order to make Seen a reality. Our initial round of seed funding aims to raise $350,000 to cover initial costs pertaining to leased space, technology & systems, consulting by community space experts, staff costs, and upfitting-related expenses. Initially, Seen will operate as a space within Raleigh Founded. Later fundraising rounds will help secure a stand-alone location that is exclusively Seen.
More information regarding Seen is below, but please email seen@harmonync.org with any questions. Looking to get involved? We’d love to have your support! Be sure to visit our online pledge form.
Seen will offer the usual amenities found in coworking spaces such as Raleigh Founded and WeWork, but takes it several steps further to help professionals and business owners get ahead and—ultimately—Seen. This unique coworking space will:
Provide ongoing entrepreneurial workforce development, education, resources, and support to foster upward mobility, create more jobs, and attract and retain a talented workforce.
Build, strengthen, and leverage community partnerships with other organizations and businesses to support initiatives that benefit small entrepreneurs and professionals.
Offer small retail space testing grounds for short-term lease to LGBT+ entrepreneurs to test and refine their branding and business models prior to opening a retail store, minimize their initial upfront capital output, gain exposure, and establish a client base.
Provide local LGBT+ artists with a space to display and sell their artwork, using the wall space at Seen, along with studio space in which to create.
Utilize and purchase, whenever possible, supplies and equipment from LGBT+ owned businesses.
Provide training and workshops, including resume writing and interviewing courses for those looking to enter, change, or advance their careers.
Help LGBT+ entrepreneurs obtain their LGBTBE (business enterprise) certification. This important certification (provided by the National Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) will make our clients more competitive in the marketplace by enabling them to secure municipal, state, federal, and corporate contracts through their supplier diversity programs.
Act as the headquarters for Harmony, PrideLife Expo, and other LGBT+ organizations who wish to centralize their community support. First option for leasing offices and office suites will be given to other area LGBT+ organizations.
$50 PER YEAR
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Raleigh Founded - Warehouse
310 S Harrington St,
Raleigh, NC 27603, USA
©2022 Harmony. All Rights Reserved.
info@harmonync.org
