Yesterday, The Progress Center for Black Women hosted the first Community Coworking Day, a special day for people across Dane County to work alongside each other that will take place every second Wednesday of the month.
“I just wanted to be clear that today is a community day,” Progress Center for Black Women Founder Sabrina Madison said.
Madison said she wanted people to join others in the space to get some work done and meet other members of the community. She crafted a space which she thought was welcoming, especially for Black women. The colorful carpeted space includes several work tables, a conference room, an office, meditation room, artwork, a library filled with books for both women and children, couches and a television playing “Living Single.”
“There’s nothing here just for show. Everything is literally created with purpose,” Madison said.
She said she just wanted people to feel comfortable in the space, whether having somewhere relaxing to work or a soothing room to read a book and order Panera on the couch like attendee Gwynetta Adesuyi, who said she felt like she could finally be herself in the center. Adesuyi, the Outreach Specialist for the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies in the School of Human Ecology in UW-Madison, said she saw the event on Facebook.
“I think people should come to the Progress Center for Black Women because it’s all about community and Black women. As soon as I came in the door I felt at home,” Adesuyi said.
She originally came for the grand opening of the center in October. She said she was blown away by how beautiful the space is. Adesuyi said she enjoyed seeing images of Black women and spending time with great people.
“I had a wow moment. I’ve never been in a place that felt so relaxed, so warming,” Life Coach, Consultant, and Transformational Speaker Angela Sheree Kennedy said.
Adesuyi invited Kennedy to join her in the center for the Community Coworking Day. She said she heard a lot about The Progress Center for Black Women on Facebook. Kennedy said the center reflected her as a Black women and felt welcomed by Madison.
“She has made me feel as if I’ve known her for a long time. She’s so welcoming. She’s so cool,” Kennedy said.
Madison said she wanted women to feel like they were in a Black women’s living room except this living room included snacks, water and people from all over the city. She said she plans on hosting the Community Coworking Day every second Wednesday of the month from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Madison said 15 people took advantage of the first Community Coworking Day and hopes it grows in the future. Those interested in joining a future Community Coworking Day should register online at www.centerforblackwomen.org and clicking on the calendar.
“I would love to see some of the same people back and some new faces,” Madison said.
This story has been updated to reflect the number of people attending.
