Tony Bacigalupo interviewed Matias Vazquez of Sharing E.C. in Saõ Paolo, Brazil for episode three of GCUC Radio. Matias views his space as a center of commerce for his neighborhood, not just a workspace.  He is a leader of the CoLatAm effort which seeks to unite leaders of coworking spaces across Latin and South America. He is leading the effort with Manu Vega who was interviewed in the last episode.  They hope to recruit others to join their alliance and foster a stronger community of collaboration.

Coworking In His Neighborhood

Matias noticed coworking was growing quickly but not quickly enough in his neighborhood for the people he wanted to serve.  So, he took on the role of starting the first coworking space in his area.  The spirit of collaboration in Brazil has not come to fruition  yet, so Matias promotes it by putting on coworking events that partner with Yelp and local businesses.

Creating Community Within Your Space

Matias’s coworking space is founded on the want to do more for his neighborhood.  For example, there was a shoemaker that was going to leave because he needed more money to pay the rent.  So, Matias went to his  space and told members he needed to get 100 shoes that needed to be fixed. The next day, they accumulated over 200 shoes and paid the shoemaker in advance.

This story showcases how a coworking space is not just a workplace but also a part of the greater community.  Cultivating the type of community in Sharing E.C. where members are willing contribute in such a way came from two things — beer and soccer.  On days with soccer games they drink together after allowing people to get to know one another.

Matias talked about another way he cultivated such a strong sense of community.  On the last Friday of the month, his space has a child-like birthday party that provides another chance for members to meet and get to know one another in a less formal setting.  This party celebrates everyone who had a birthday during that month. The party helps people bond and really makes them feel like a part of the space.

Creating Community Outside Your Space

However, it is important to not only build community within a space but with other local businesses outside of the space.  One way that Matias does this is through a breakfast that occurs twice a month. During this breakfast, businesses from within the space are invited as well as businesses that are just from the neighborhood are invited.  Each has a minute and a half to give one speech detailing their business and what they need help on. This gives businesses from his space the opportunity to be hired by outside businesses on projects that they are experienced.  It also keeps all the work local.

It important to not just think of how community plays a role within your space because it is embedded within the community around it as well.