Week 9, 2022

Dear reader.

I write this newsletter each week to share industry celebrations, trends and observations with hundreds of leaders like you, who go to work every day to make workplaces more healthy, hospitable, empowering and safe for millions of humans around the world. 

And so, before we dive into this week’s links I’d like to address the war in Ukraine that’s destroying and disrupting millions of lives at this very moment. 

I don’t bring this up today solely to call out the unnecessary, insurmountable and inexcusable losses and damage this war has brought with it, but also to share a few ways that the coworking community is taking action to support those directly affected.

Whilst I like many of you may be safely thousands of miles away from the conflict, gunshots and any immediate danger, a whole group of our global coworking community are not.

15 days ago, representatives of the Coworking Association Ukraine joined us at the Coworking Alliance Summit. We learned from them and were inspired as they planned ways to better support coworking communities and the surrounding neighborhoods, all across in their country.

And then everything changed. At the strike of a clock, planning for the future, empowerment and connectivity turned towards the urgent needs for building defenses and ensuring mortal safety. 

Unsurprisingly, almost as quickly as the madness began, coworking leaders began looking for ways to help our colleagues, and their communities.

With so many campaigns, projects and support networks already being established and extended, here’s some that you may have missed:

• How to support Ukraine by Vika Zhurbas, from the Coworking Association Ukraine.
• Coworking for Ukraine launched by Christophe Fahle, One Coworking and partners to help refugees.
• WeHelpUkraine launched by Hugo de Sousa and a small team in Portugal to help refugees.
• Open doors and arms campaign in Netherlands, Slovenia and Poland by European Coworking Assembly.
• This boycott call & discussion by workspace tech co andcards on Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Countless trips, pickups, safe landings being coordinated for strangers and some of the tech teams behind some of your favorite coworking and workspace tech platforms.
• Alongside all the amazing work being done by these multinational and local NGOs. 

Do check them out, see how you can support those who could use your help in any way. 

And to our friends affected directly or indirectly, I truly wish for the rapid return to safety, stability and sanity for you and your loved ones.

Hector Kolonas