Green Guru Network

Event Details

A growing worldwide movement in collaboration called "coworking" — where people work in a shared space, alone and together — is finding roots in the Hudson Valley. Three local pioneers are collaborating to celebrate three years of the movement in the region: BEAHIVE in Beacon and Albany; The Purple Crayon Center for Learning and Social Innovation in Hastings-on-Hudson; and W@tercooler in Tarrytown. Coworking spaces were started by nomadic internet entrepreneurs seeking an alternative to working in coffee shops and cafes or to isolation in independent or home offices. Common to larger metropolitan areas, the coworking movement is now a global community of people dedicated to the values of collaboration, openness, community, accessibility, and sustainability in their workplaces. By Deskmag's estimates, there are more than 1300 dedicated coworking spaces worldwide, having doubled each year since 2006. According to its "2nd Global Coworking Survey," 80% of members of coworking spaces report a positive impact on their business network, 92% on their social circle and 75% a positive impact on their productivity. BEAHIVE — the first such space in the Hudson Valley — celebrates its third anniversary this month. The Purple Crayon's shared workspace, The Inc., and W@tercooler in Tarrytown turn one in June. To celebrate these milestones, all three organizations will host open houses and happy hour networking at their respective spaces on  Thursday, June 7 from 1:00 to 7:00 PM. Each space will open their doors to the public to introduce this new way to work, allow people to try out the space for free, and get a chance to know some of its members and programs and network with others in the community. OPEN HOUSES Thu., June 7 1 – 5 PM: free coworking day 5 – 7 PM: happy hour networking BEAHIVE 291 Main St, Beacon, NY 418 Broadway, Albany, NY www.beahivebzzz.com The Purple Crayon 52 Main Street, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY www.purplecrayoncenter.org Watercooler 21 North Broadway, Tarrytown, NY www.watercoolerhub.com Coworking spaces address the changing nature of work. Already, 42 million people, nearly one-third of the US workforce, are independent workers, according to Freelancers Union. And many economists agree that record unemployment and other factors will continue to drive more people into self-employment. Meanwhile, New York State already has one of the largest populations of microbusinesses (fewer than five employees) in the nation, according to statistics published by the Small Business Association (SBA). Green Guru Network and Chronogram, a free monthly magazine that nourishes and supports the creative and cultural life of the Hudson Valley are media sonsoring the events.