=SPACE Continues Rapid Expansion Becoming Largest Black Owned Sharespace In New Jersey

Premium sharespace =SPACE continues their commitment to providing access and resources to the Newark community with their multi-floor 6,000 sq. foot expansion at 89 Market St. in Newark. 

Creating a space with multicultural business owners in mind, =SPACE continues to provide opportunities and valuable industry connections to multicultural founders, women ventures, and LGBTQ+ enterprises. Partnering with RBH Group, one of the most impactful leaders of inclusive civic progression in Newark for the expansion, =SPACE will now offer a multimedia suite for content creators and event space across two floors. 

“As one of the largest Black/Brown owned shared-spaces in New Jersey, we dedicate ourselves to providing opportunities and resources to multicultural founders, women ventures, and LGBTQ+ enterprises. We love Newark and always step up to the challenge of ensuring our space is accessible to all individuals who enter our humble abode. With the city’s entrepreneurial community ever growing, =SPACE wants to open wider doors for new and long standing local techies, freelancers, creatives, and everyone in-between.” – Akosua Ayim Interim CEO, =SPACE

=SPACE is excited to continue to participate in the shaping of the Newark community, solidifying their commitment to becoming a beacon of greatness and source of support in the city of Newark.

If you are media interested in covering the expansion, please contact Tequilla White at tequilla@tequillawhitepr.com

About =SPACE

A premium sharespace created with multicultural business owners in mind, =SPACE provides resources for startups, coaching for tech companies and access to minority business owners. With a multimedia suite, monthly programming and access to a workspace specifically tailored to your cultural identity, =SPACE has become a pillar in the Newark community and a hub for innovative thought leaders. 

Newark Tech Week

Newark Tech Week provides an opportunity for all tech-based businesses in Newark to connect and introduce people to innovation in our city. Newark boasts a number of tech startups that produce ground-breaking ideas. Our mission is to showcase these amazing startups & businesses and celebrate Newark’s growth. We understand the power that each tech company in Newark has individually, and now we have a chance to make Newark our stage to show everyone what our tech community is made of. We are Newark, Silicon City.

Grab your Newark Tech Week Passes here:

Monday Pass

Tuesday Pass

Wednesday Pass

Thursday Pass

Friday Pass

Saturday Pass

Ras In 60 — Podcast Debut

=SPACE & Little Engine Media are excited to announce the opening of our new, high-end podcast studio in coalition with our first recording partnership with no other than the Honorable Mayor Ras J. Baraka.

This is our latest addition in creating a space that caters to the needs of our members – content is king & now you can create your own with state of the art equipment and engineering.

Ras in 60 offers a new experience and viewpoint into the life of an impactful thought leader and political figure. This will not be your conventional political podcast. During each episode, prepare to be intrigued by new information you will hear straight from the Mayor himself. He will include segments on fitness, lifestyle, health, Newark’s progress in development and more.

In this episode of Ras in 60 you will be Meeting the Mayor. In this introductory episode Mayor Baraka will talk about his fitness routine, his favorite music artist, the VMAs coming to Newark, the Forbes Opportunity Zone Summit and much more.

Each show is expected to be about an hour long but please keep in mind since this is an introductory podcast the first episode is expected to be shorter than future shows.

Stay tuned for future episodes as they will involve a series of conversations between the Mayor of Newark and guests who are doing work to move Newark and/ or the culture forward.

Click play and listen to episode 1 of Ras in 60!

Get involved in every conversation by hashtagging #Rasin60

Ras in 60 is also available on Spotify

Newark First Fridays Starts May 3

=SPACE Partners With NFF To Offer Free Coworking & Other Interactive Activities

RSVP FOR FREE COWORKING OPPORTUNITY HERE

Each month, Newark First Fridays (NFF) showcases emerging artists, makers, artisan food vendors, musicians, and uniquely talented street performers. Seeking to empower equitable business and exposure to Newark as a complete city.

=SPACE will be participating in NFF and offering free space, along with fun interactive experiences. Check out our IG page for more real-time updates! Find out more on the NFF website! 

Here are a few other venues that will also be participating:

Brick City Comedy Revue: 8pm – 10pm

     Join them for the Brick City Comedy Revue hosted by Justin Williams-May 3rd is the 5th anniversary of the show, got Newark’s own Lucas Brothers headlining!

 Newark First Fridays Bike Tour: 6:15pm – 8pm

     Led by Girls on Bikes + Brick City Bike Collective, the bike tour will meet at 5:30 PM and takeoff at 6:15 PM beginning at the Southern Plaza of Military Park (intersection of Broad Street & Park Place).

     Save the date(s); explore select Official Stops monthly and have a good time riding around the city of Newark! Bike rentals provided by Newark Community Cycling Collective

Burger Walla: 11am – 6pm

     Seeks to be a part of the fabric of the city and the neighborhood we are continuing to build. It is about being a cool spot with fresh and tasty food.

Google Livestream Workshop: Brand Awareness

A brand is a personality that identifies a product, service or company, including a name, term, sign, symbol or design. A brand also represents the relationships between customers, staff, partners, investors, and so forth.
Building an audience is more valuable than direct sales for over 70% of brand managers. B2B companies with brands that are perceived as strong generate a higher EBIT margin than others. 
In this livestream powered by Google, you’ll learn about brand awareness and receive…
  • Real-time guidance from Google experts
  • Details on different advertising campaign types
  • Instructions on how to increase leads, sales, and brand awareness
  • How-to’s for first-time users on choosing goals and measuring success
Be one of the first 15 attendees and get a special edition swag from Google (may include free ad credit)!
You can also come and enjoy some light networking!
Makerhoods & =SPACE both focus on supporting the growth of small businesses in different sectors. We took this opportunity to use Google via their program Grow with Google as the great connector. Grow with Google is an initiative that’s committed to helping people across the United States gain the digital skills they need to help grow their careers and businesses.

RSVP HERE

Port Authority of NY/NJ Officially Opens Community Outreach Center At =SPACE

We are proud to announce that =SPACE has developed a partnership with The Port Authority of NY/NJ. They officially opened their community outreach center in our Maxblau facility on April 15th. At the opening day celebration, we hosted a slew of powerhouses from New Jersey & New York including Congressman Payne Jr., Mayor Baraka, and the Executive Director of the Port Authority.

The Port Authority takes an active role in the many communities they serve. They believe in being proactive and forging strong relationships with federal, state and local government officials, as well as community groups and leaders.

Their Department of Government & Community Relations serves as a valuable resource for elected officials, residents and community organizations. The Port Authority’s dedicated staff serves as a liaison between their departments and the community, offering updates on major projects as well as the day-to-day business of the Port Authority.

Women-In-Novation RECAP

Women-In-Novtion was a major success. We had over 100 attendees with varying ages, genders, and professions. We are proud of all of the hard work that the EQUASPACE team put into this production!

There were so many powerful and awe-inspiring moments that created a wonderful and supportive energy. All of the speakers’ positive advice and vocalized dedication to equity and inclusion were welcomed messages to all attendees. 

The moderator of the panel of phenoms, Natasha Rogers, asked thought-provoking questions, promoting the panelists to talk about raising the bar and dedication to endless excellence. The younger students in the audience, especially took their words and advice to heart. 

Breakout speakers Lindsey Holmes & Cy Lauz focused on the hard-hitting realities of this imperfect world, with not just constructive viewpoints, but also solutions for audience members to take heed and use in their daily lives. They spoke of humanism, diversity in thought & culture, and how both play an important part in the evolution of our global society.

Keynote Speaker, Aisha Glover, spoke on the importance of recognizing positive mental health and reliability. She received such high praise for her motivating and relatable rhetoric.

This event was not only a success because of the phenomenal attendees and speakers, but also because of our sponsors. We want to give a special thanks to the Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation (GNEC), Newark Downtown District (NDD), and most gratefully, the Grammy Museum. This event would not have been as spectacular as it was without any of them and we are so proud to have them as all-star supporters of our business and entrepreneurial community.

Women’s Cypher Podcast: NON-CORPORATE GIRLS & =SPACE

Women’s History Month this year has really been one for the books and to top it off The NonCorporate Girls partnered with =Space  for an all women round table talk. We delved into topics such as competition vs collaboration, how to quiet the voice of fear and what does it look like to support your network. NCG was joined by Vicky Llerena , Akosua Ayim, and Tamara Williams, who all lead impactful lives in very different ways. In listening to the stories of each we also shed light on all our commonalities as women entrepreneurs and business owners. Listen in to this episode for a refreshing perspective on what we all deal with at one point or another. An often great reminder  of a women’s worth, especially in a collective of like-determined sheroes!

Click the link below to tune in on this dope podcast episode!

NCG Ep. 64 – Women’s Cypher Podcast: https://www.noncorporategirls.com/podcast 

 About The Speakers:

Vicky Llerena

Vicky is the CEO of Social Vibes Media, a digital marketing agency focused on helping professionals, real estate game-changers, and small businesses rebrand & increase their digital presence. Her workshops focus on digital lead generation campaigns, social media branding, & female entrepreneurship. Oh, and she happens to be Latina.

She brings with her over ten years of experience having worked at Univision WXTV-41 and PRNewswire. Vicky was named Top 25 Brand Builder by Leading Women Entrepreneur in 2017. She works with organizations, such as Rising Tide Capital, Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of NJ, FOWNDERS, and Small Business Development Center to teach entrepreneurs how to obtain online customers through social media. Vicky was featured in NJBiz, Huffington Post, CEO Blog Nation, and many more media outlets.

 

Akosua Ayim

A 2016 MBA graduate of University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School, Akosua specializes in branding & strategy and especially thrives in the cross-section between corporate and creativity.

After four years in investment banking at J.P. Morgan gaining experience in financial analysis, account management, process improvements and derivatives, acquiring an MBA enhanced her strategic thinking and management skills. Working post-MBA with Adludio, the London-based programmatic adtech start-up, has given international experience in strategic branding and partnerships. Akosua is well-known for efficiently providing sustainable, unique solutions and providing highly rated client service to a wide variety of clientele. She has since worked with household names such as Black Girls Rock! and Travel Noire. Akosua should most certainly be in your “people you need to watch” list.
 
 
Tamara Williams
 
As the founder and president of Soulective Group aka SoulCulture Fest, Tamara had the opportunity to manage multiple events, budgets, deadlines, schedules, and programs for a very diverse demographic. She currently spearheads a variety of events including SoulCulture Fest, with over 4000 festival goers. As an artist, Tamara brings a creative and fresh approach to events for an innovative experience.
 
 
Non-Corporate Girls
 
Non-Corporate Girls LLC is a podcast and creative agency platform. Through the agency portal, NCG Creative, we provide services in content strategy and visual storytelling in the lifestyle, beauty and fashion spaces. The Non-Corporate Girls podcast is a media vertical where we speak on advice, tips and overall resources to help those trying to figure out their passions and in turn, help shape their brands.
 
Being Non-Corporate does not mean being against Corporate America. Non-Corporate is a state of mind that evolves when you realize you are being limited in reaching your full potential, which means it is time to start betting on yourself to take the next steps in propelling your career. Embracing a Non-Corporate attitude we aim to introduce a community where the creators, the doers, and the believers can unite.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Tanisha Best

Exhibiton: Newark Swimming Pools
 @Tbest25_

What is the Genisis of your work? 

The origin of puddles started in 2011 while living on NYC. I was in Harlem and literally looked down and saw an image reflected in water. For me the instant fascination became my personal challenge of seeing my environment from a different angle. The idea of city pools formed and literally took on a life of its own. My personal connection with pools is deeper as I formally don’t know how to swim but I love being in water. In a way these puddles have transformed into alternate views of landscapes for me. Also the perspective changes according to the weather, so it’s very dependent on environmental conditions. I’ve recently been focusing on capturing Newark and my goal is to share the views.

What message do you want to convey to other women artist ?

I want to convey that we’re truly magical beings and that we’re capable of not only creating life but inspiring lives. I’m inspired by the strength, endurance and resilience of so many women that if I can give back an ounce of inspiration that is given to me on a daily basis then I will feel as though I’m earning my residency on this earth.

What does women history month mean to you?

It’s means everything in terms of representation and honoring women of all walks of life. It’s a chance to give thanks and show appreciation by showcasing and sharing the stories that are part of not only this county but at the heart of the world. As I get older I fall more in love with my womanhood and admire the fierceness in other women. Also I’m genuinely rooting for all women to have the ultimate glow up and take their rightful place at the table!

Is there a woman artist or entrepreneur you look up to or inspires you ?

There are so many, but if I had to choose one visible artist it would be Issa Rae. What she created was genius and for the first time I related to a character who wasn’t afraid to be awkward and insecure. She’s taken so many risks in a time where our beauty as black women still isn’t embraced by mainstream but I admire her focus and drive to write black women into cable television and on magazine covers.

What is something you want someone to know about newark ?

Newark is one of the oldest cities in America and there’s so much history. I would want them to know that Newark is the birthplace to a lot of amazing and influential residents and those who move here ultimately always develop a soft place in their heart for this city.

Tell me a beautiful Newark memory that is important to you !

It would have to be my grandmothers being next door neighbors. That’s how my mother and my father met each other. My favorite memory would be on that very street too. It would be being taught how to ride a bike by one grandmother and having cookouts on the back deck with my other grandmother. I feel it forever connects me to Newark.

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