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Creating a culture of belonging is necessary for BIPOC and Queer leaders. Through nine years of leading my equity space, EqualSpace, my team and I have gained insights into the critical needs of diverse founders and the specific, often obstructive journeys they travel. These experiences inform the culture needed for them to grow and thrive.

As I reflect on Pride and its origins, I think of the struggle of Queer people to exist authentically. For many of us, EqualSpace represents the safe space we have always craved. LGBTQIA+ individuals often face the challenge of coming out repeatedly, shedding layers of falsehood. This process is deeply tied to feeling safe, yet many of us come out despite not feeling safe, embodying radical and unapologetic authenticity.

This journey varies for different people, but the critical need for safety and belonging remains the same. EqualSpace is my love letter to the intersectional experiences of multicultural people. It affirms their worth in a world that often tells them they are not enough. My co-founder and I created EqualSpace in response to the pain points and obstacles we faced, from lack of investment common among BiPOC founders to feeling othered at events.

In creating a more intentional sense of belonging, we focus on intersectionality and addressing the impact of othering. Let’s explore some definitions:

Othering

“Othering” refers to perceiving or portraying someone or a group as fundamentally different or alien, often marginalizing or dehumanizing them. Renowned sociologist Stuart Hall explains: “The concept of ‘the Other’ is central to understanding how we construct and maintain our identities by distinguishing ourselves from those we view as different. This process often involves stereotypical representations that diminish the humanity of the ‘Other’ and reinforce existing power imbalances.”

Belonging

Belonging is the inner process of feeling seen, heard, felt, and understood. It refers to the human emotional need to be an accepted member of a group, whether it be family, friends, coworkers, or a community. Renowned social scientist Brené Brown says: “True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.”

To create a space where our community and guests feel a sense of belonging, we focus on multiple touchpoints:

POC and queer founders often feel unseen. At EqualSpace, we ensure our community and guests feel seen through diverse artwork, decor, music, and products that reflect their identities.

We use a 1/3 rule during engagements: 1/3 of the time sharing our story, mission, and amenities, and 2/3 of the time understanding the journey, goals, and dreams of our members. This approach ensures they feel heard, responded to, and empowered.

We actively engage members through regular acknowledgment of achievements, whether small or large. This includes newsletter highlights, monthly one-on-one meetings, social media shout-outs, and personal greetings.

Encouraging a member or SPACE(r) to feel valued involves creating an inclusive environment, recognizing individual contributions, and fostering active participation. These strategies build a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and felt.

At EqualSpace, we affirm our members from the moment they step in. We greet them, ask for their pronouns, and respect their identities. Our space features diverse visual affirmations, from hanging plants and mud cloth fabrics to art by Queer, brown, and Black artists. The air is scented with Kanea Candles, poured with love by Akosua Ayim, a fantastic African woman founder. At our coffee bar, we serve Black Swan Espresso, a local Black-owned roaster.

Every detail at EqualSpace is intentional. It is healing to see members shed the weight they carry, if only for a moment, and truly belong.

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Join us for an exhilarating day at our vibrant coworking space, where creativity knows no bounds and collaboration thrives. Experience the freedom to work from our inspiring environment, designed to fuel your passion and amplify your productivity. Best of all, it’s all on us for the day!

🌟 But wait, there’s more! At our ES550 campus, we’re bringing in venture capital professionals who are eager to connect with you. This is a golden opportunity to get expert advice, network, and find the support you need to take your startup to the next level.Sign up here to meet with Venture Capitalist, Kiyana Glass-Miller from the Black and Latino Angel Investment Fund. 🌟

Whether you’re looking to brainstorm, collaborate, or simply get some work done, our spaces are designed to inspire and empower you.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Bring your ideas, your passion, and your drive. We can’t wait to see you there!

Don’t miss out on OpenSPACE – where every moment is an opportunity to thrive, create, and connect. See you there!

Join us for an unforgettable night of music, dance, and culinary delights at Newark Levels: The Muses of Brick City! This multi-floor extravaganza will take you on a vibrant journey through Newark’s dynamic cultural landscape, featuring incredible local talent and amazing vendors across three unique floors.

Get your tickets now and be part of the magic! This is going to be a night to remember. 🌟

THE PERFORMERS

Gail Campbell

Prepare to be mesmerized by Afro Rock Neo-Alternative singer Gail Campbell. Her powerful performance will ignite your spirit and set the stage for an epic night.

Newark, NJ native Gail Renee Campbell has two groundbreaking albums: Bloody Waters and Let My People Go. Her music, a blend of jazz, rock-n-roll, blues, hip-hop, and dance, is paired with a deeply soulful voice likened to Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, and Ella Fitzgerald. With a retro style and personal lyrics, Campbell stands out as a unique artist. Both albums, produced by Stanley Ipkiss, are celebrated for their innovation, with Bloody Waters winning the 2020 Heritage HipHop Album of the Year Award. In January 2024, she signed with Rockboy Records, co-founded by Fly Ty and platinum producer D/R Period. Under this label, Campbell is poised to take the world by storm.

Yeimy

Immerse yourself in the sweet melodies of Latin-Indie performer Yeimy. Her soulful tunes will transport you to a world of musical bliss.

Yeimy Gamez Castillo is a multidisciplinary storyteller, raised and based in the unceded lands of the Lenni-Lenape, in present-day Newark, NJ. She is a singer/songwriter, community organizer, poet, and music producer. Her queer and city-bound immigrant upbringing inspires her sonic and literary practices. Mixing and delving into her musical inspirations, from Cumbia, Bolero, Soul, and Rancheras to Acoustic Folk, Indie Rock, and Jazz, she employs a captivating multi-genre approach and lyrical finesse. Through this, she translates and transports listeners into her imagined worlds. Yeimy’s work has been seen and featured in the New York Times, BBC Radio 1 News, and Many other outlets.

The House of Old Navy

The House of Old Navy will snatch yo’ lace frontal with their killer voguing styles. This iconic crew is turning it out and serving with fierce energy and flawless style.

The Kiki House of Old Navy, founded in 2008, is a vibrant force with chapters spanning from sunny Florida to chilly Canada. For those not in the know, kiki houses sprouted from fabulous social gatherings at LGBTQ+ health organizations. These events and houses, initially meant for socializing evolved into their own dazzling ballroom subculture. Now, the kiki scene is a glittering training ground for young ballroom talent, offering fierce competition and leadership opportunities. So, darling, when you hear about the House of Old Navy, think bold, beautiful, and ever-so-CxNTY!

THE VENDORS

This event is a part of the Prudential Presents North to Shore Festival. This event was made possible through the North to Shore Festival Presented by Prudential.

Audible, an anchor in Newark, invites startups with game-changing ideas and a passion for innovation to be a part of this unique opportunity. Audible, the leading provider of premium digital spoken audio content, is excited to announce the launch of its groundbreaking startup attraction program, aimed at fostering innovation and economic growth within the state of New Jersey. This initiative, known as the Audible Startup Attraction Program, is designed to attract promising startups to the state by offering a substantial grant of $250,000 to selected startups that choose to establish or expand their operations in New Jersey.

“We’re proud to be creating economic opportunities for the growing innovation sector, local businesses, workers, and residents to thrive. Our startup attraction efforts are leading the way in this resurgence by thoughtfully and equitably growing the tech and innovation ecosystem, empowering diverse founders and supporting the local economy.” said Aisha Glover, Vice President of Urban Innovation for Audible’s Global Center for Urban Development.

“This innovative pilot program is another scalable model that can be adopted by other companies seeking to make an impact in the cities they call home,” said Audible Founder Don Katz. “It is gratifying that since moving our US headquarters to Newark and the launch of many efforts to impact and accelerate positive change, that so many Audible employees are drawn to work at Audible because of our People Principles, which includes our stated commitment to the people and city of Newark.”

This is beyond exciting, with six companies in the tech innovation, hospitality, and entertainment sectors already participating in the program, and will be expanding in Newark. Four new tech startups have leased office space in 550 Broad Street, while Newark Culture Club is opening at 12 Halsey Street, and Harlem’s BLVD Bistro will open a second location in the mixed-use space at 33 Washington Street – all located in Newark’s newly created burgeoning arts and innovation district adjacent to Harriet Tubman Square and home to Audible’s headquarters.

ABF Creative is a multicultural kids and family podcast network and production company, founded by Newark native Anthony Frasier, that joins Audible in the audio and podcast industry. ABF Creative leverages its unique production framework to deliver award-winning IP that builds emotional and cultural connections through loveable characters and compelling narrative storytelling.

Gymble (pronounced gym-bull) is a fitness app, founded by three athletes from Charlotte, NC, that connects communities to facility rentals, personal training and fitness experiences. The all-in-one platform helps fitness facilities and entrepreneurs market to their customers and manage their bookings more effectively.

co:census is a collaborative, cloud-based workspace for urban planning and design teams to learn, plan, create, analyze, and work together as they conduct research projects and community engagement. The company’s enterprise solution is used by Ford Mobility, MIG, and Habitat for Humanity’s teams to plan community engagement, create projects to collect feedback and analyze text and voice data with their patent-pending AI.

Fitnescity is a consumer health startup that gives consumers easy access to wellness tests, along with personal analytics, while allowing local clinics to reach more consumers. Designed to make health and wellness testing convenient and accessible, Fitnescity partners with local clinics, labs and leading healthcare providers across the country to provide wellness tests. It also enables consumers to track their wellness goals and outcomes over time with a user-friendly personal analytics platform that can not only make test results easier to understand, but also, in the long term, develop predictive models to inform wellness decisions.

If you are considering this program EqualSpace has space for your startup to choose Newark, we have an entire campus at 550 Broad Street that will be the perfect base of operations as you plant roots in this amazing city! So contact us to learn more about the program and how we can support you! Email us iamequal@equalspace

· TapInto – Audible Launches Business Attraction Effort to Boost Newark Economy

· Patch – Audible Tries To Lure More Companies To Newark With $1M Program

· NJ Business Magazine – Audible’s New Business Attraction Initiative to Grow Newark’s Innovation Economy

· ROI-NJ – Audible giving $250,000 grants to help bring startups to Newark

· NJBIZ – Audible’s incentive effort aims to help businesses grow with Newark

· RE-NJ – Audible launches program to boost leasing, business growth around Newark’s Tubman Square

In the ever-changing world of creative industries, a game-changing phenomenon is reshaping the design landscape, and its name is Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI’s ability to incorporate emotional intelligence into design is the key to unlocking a new era of creativity.

The numbers don’t lie – Adobe records that 83% of designers already embrace AI tools to enhance their work, finding new ways to push the boundaries of imagination. Moreover, an astonishing 91% of consumers have expressed a strong preference for brands that can authentically evoke emotions through their designs.

This article delves into the exciting prospects of AI’s integration with emotional intelligence, examining its transformative impact on creative industries.

Understanding Emotional Intelligence in Design

Emotional Intelligence (EI) involves acknowledging, comprehending, and handling emotions within ourselves and others. In the design context, EI goes beyond technical skills and aesthetics, encompassing the capacity to create emotionally resonant experiences.

A key aspect of EI is empathy, which allows designers to connect with their audience on a deeper level, leading to more impactful and memorable designs.

Importance of EI in Design and Creativity

Statistics show that 63% of consumers are more likely to purchase brands that evoke emotional connections, highlighting the significance of EI in design (Survey by Harvard Business Review). EI is pivotal in design and creativity, empowering designers to craft experiences that evoke genuine emotional responses. By understanding their target audience’s emotional needs and desires, designers can create products and services that leave a lasting impression.

For instance, companies like Apple have integrated emotional intelligence into their design philosophy, resulting in products that forge strong emotional connections with consumers, leading to brand loyalty and advocacy.

The Role of Human Emotions in the Design Process:

Human emotions are the driving force behind the successful design. By tapping into emotions such as joy, nostalgia, or empathy, designers can create products that resonate deeply with users. Take the example of Coca-Cola’s iconic holiday campaigns.

By infusing their designs with warmth and nostalgia, they evoke a sense of tradition and joy, establishing an emotional bond with their consumers beyond the product itself.

Challenges of Incorporating Emotional Intelligence into AI Design

Integrating emotional intelligence into AI design poses several challenges. A significant challenge lies in guaranteeing that AI systems can effectively interpret and respond to human emotions. Although advancements have been achieved in emotion recognition technology, there is still ample space for further refinement to achieve greater nuance and accuracy.

Moreover, maintaining the authenticity and emotional richness of the creative process demands a delicate equilibrium between human input and AI-generated designs.

AI’s Current Role in Creative Industries

AI in Graphic Design and Visual Arts

AI has already made significant inroads in graphic design and visual arts. Designers can now leverage AI-powered tools to automate repetitive tasks like layout design, color palette selection, and image enhancement, streamlining their workflow and saving time.

For instance, Adobe’s Sensei AI technology enables designers to automatically remove backgrounds from images and generate custom fonts based on a user’s handwriting. This allows designers to focus on the more creative aspects of their work, enhancing productivity and artistic expression.

AI’s Impact on User Experience (UX) Design

AI has revolutionized UX design by enabling personalized and intuitive user experiences. With AI-driven algorithms analyzing user behavior and preferences, designers can create dynamic interfaces that adapt to individual needs.

For example, e-commerce platforms like Amazon use AI to recommend products based on customer purchases and browsing history, enhancing user engagement and conversion rates.

AI-Generated Music and Creative Writing

AI has ventured into the realm of music composition and creative writing, paving the way for the future of creative innovation. AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets of music and literature to generate original compositions and written content.

While some purists argue that AI-generated art lacks human emotion and creativity, there have been impressive examples of AI-produced music that resonates with audiences.

For instance, OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model can generate coherent and creative stories, showing the potential of AI to augment human creativity.

The Pros and Cons of AI-Driven Creativity

The integration of AI in creative industries has its share of advantages and challenges. On one hand, AI can boost efficiency, democratize access to design tools, and inspire new ideas through its ability to process massive amounts of data.

On the other hand, there are concerns about AI’s potential to replace human creativity and perpetuate biased outcomes. Striking a balance between human ingenuity and AI assistance is crucial to ensure that AI-driven creativity remains a tool for human expression rather than a replacement.

The Emergence of Emotional AI in Design

Advancements in Emotional AI Technology

Emotional AI is rapidly advancing, driven by natural language processing, sentiment analysis, and affective computing innovations. AI algorithms can now detect and interpret human emotions through voice tone, facial expressions, and text analysis, leading to more sophisticated emotional understanding.

For example, AI-powered chatbots can assess customer sentiment during interactions, enabling personalized and empathetic responses.

How Emotional AI Differs from Traditional AI in Design

While traditional generative AI focuses on data analysis and problem-solving, emotional AI goes beyond cognitive capabilities. Emotional AI seeks to comprehend and respond to human emotions, facilitating emotionally resonant interactions between humans and technology.

It enables AI systems to adapt and cater to individual emotional needs, leading to more human-like and compassionate interactions. For instance, emotion-aware virtual assistants can comfort and support users in distress.

Case Studies of Emotional AI Implementation in Creative Projects:

WARC reveals that 65% of consumers believe brands lacking emotional engagement will become obsolete in the next five years. One notable case study of emotional AI implementation is the Replika app, an AI chatbot designed to be a user’s emotional companion. Through continuous conversations, Replika learns about the user’s personality and emotions, providing a supportive and empathetic presence.

Final Thought

The future of design is unfolding, and the integration of AI’s emotional intelligence stands at the heart of this transformative journey. As designers harness the power of emotional AI, they unlock new dimensions of creativity and establish deeper connections with their audiences.

Embracing AI as a collaborative partner rather than a replacement, designers have the potential to craft emotionally compelling designs that transcend boundaries and ignite the human spirit.

However, with great power comes great responsibility, and ethical considerations surrounding data privacy, AI manipulation, and human-AI balance must guide our path forward. As we navigate this uncharted terrain, let us remember that AI’s true potential lies not in isolating human emotion but elevating it to unprecedented heights.

Due to the advancements in technology, it’s now possible for many employees to work remotely. Technological advancements such as instant messaging, video conferencing, internet access, and secure information systems have facilitated remote work for employees. Many employees benefit from this setup, primarily due to the flexibility it offers in their work.

However, working remotely has its challenges. Many employees lack accountability and structure in a remote working environment. Without proper tools and policies, remote workers may experience isolation, decreased productivity, and lack of motivation.

This is why employees need to know how to properly embrace the future of flexible employment. In this article, we’ll talk more about how employees can foster an environment of remote work that promotes accountability and success.

Flexibility: Empowering Employees and Boosting Creativity

One key aspect of remote work is providing employees with flexibility. They are free to choose their own schedule and working environment. Whether they want to work from their home, a coffee shop, or a sharespace, it enables them to establish a balance between their work and personal life.

Flexible and remote work also gives birth to creativity. Many employees are able to find inspiration when they’re in different settings. Confinement in an office can cause stagnant performance. With remote work, employees can change their work environments, leading to more productive and creative performance.

Accountability: The Backbone of Remote Work

Despite the various benefits of remote work, employees must always take accountability. Accountability remains the backbone of remote work. Without it, the benefits can quickly turn into drawbacks. A strong sense of responsibility and communication is essential for a remote working environment to thrive.

How to Establish Flexibility and Accountability in Remote Work

We now know that flexibility and accountability should go hand-in-hand for remote work to thrive. Here are some tips to ensure both elements are embraced in a remote working environment:

Managing a remote team means establishing clear goals and objectives for each member. Before anything else, employees must know what is expected of them. They should know what goals they’re working towards to achieve. This helps guide them in their work so that they don’t end up doing work that doesn’t benefit the team.

When you’ve established your goals and objectives, remember to track them. Seeing where you’re at with certain goals makes it easier to plan your next steps. For instance, if you’re falling behind, you can adjust your goals so everyone can accomplish what’s on their plate.

Every team member in a remote team must know how to properly communicate. They should also maintain open lines of communication with each other. These will help them accomplish different goals and objectives without going back and forth.

To ensure good communication, utilize different communication channels. For example, the team must agree on which instant messaging platform they should use. This helps consolidate all important information in one place. They don’t have to guess or figure out where they can reach certain team members.

With remote employees working from different areas, keeping track of what everyone is doing can be difficult. This is where project management tools come in useful. A project management tool shows what everyone is doing or working on.

This can be extremely helpful for managers since you don’t have to check in with each employee individually. Instead, you can refer to the tool and see their progress. If the manager sees something erratic on the tool, that’s the only time they reach out to the said employee. Project management tools save a lot of time, making the team’s workflow more productive and efficient.

Another important factor in remote work is empathy. Many remote teams have people working from different cultures and backgrounds. Without empathy, your team may have a difficult time working together. Messages and tasks may get lost in translation, affecting your team’s productivity.

One way to overcome this challenge is to invest in emotional intelligence training. This can show that team members understand each other’s perspectives. A team that considers each other’s background will work more harmoniously towards their goals.

Lastly, a successful remote team encourages continuous learning. Accountable work environments, whether in-office or remote, have team members looking forward to improving their skillset. Successful remote teams continuously think of ways to improve their workflows and processes.

Continuous learning is essential in a remote working environment. It helps develop team members to become more productive and efficient. This, in turn, leads to better accountability and may even lead to better results from the team overall.

The Bottom Line

A successful remote working environment should balance flexibility and accountability well. With the right guidelines, remote teams can become more productive and efficient.

We’ve talked about different ways to promote accountability in a remote team. By following these tips, you can ensure that your remote team stays on track and achieves its goals.

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. We believe that access + resources = SPACE & Opportunities.

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How to Create a Culture of Belonging

Othering

Belonging

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