In this episode of the Coworking Values Podcast, we chat with Jerome Chang, a veteran and skilled architect in the coworking community. We explore Jerome's journey from architecture to launching his coworking spaces in 2008. Jerome reflects on the early days of coworking, the role of design in creating functional coworking environments, and his efforts to foster inclusive communities. We delve into his initiative, People of Coworking, which aims to improve diversity and representation within the coworking industry.

This episode offers deep insights into building welcoming spaces and the ongoing challenges and opportunities in making coworking more inclusive.

Timeline Summary

- [00:00] - Introduction to the episode and guest Jerome Chang.

- [00:11] - Jerome talks about his background in coworking and architecture.

- [00:27] - Jerome shares his first memory of coworking and how he got into it.

- [02:09] - Building communities beyond coworking spaces.

- [03:42] - Launch of People of Coworking and its goals.

- [05:05] - Discussion on diversity in coworking and representation at events.

- [08:30] - The importance of inclusive marketing and role models.

- [11:50] - Challenges and efforts in addressing diversity in coworking.

- [13:36] - The role of visible diversity in creating relatable communities.

- [16:07] - Why representation at events is crucial.

- [18:12] - Strategies for event organizers to ensure diverse representation.

- [22:40] - Jerome's call to action for supporting People of Coworking.

Links & Resources

* People of Coworking

* Catherine Park of Color in tech - Our podcast with Catherine.

* Sonia Thompson is an expert on diversity and inclusivity in marketing.

* London Coworking Assembly Forum & Bar Camp

* Coworking Values Podcast on LinkedIn

* Virtual Headquarters - join the independent virtual office network for your coworking business.

* Join the next Community Builder Cohort

* Join the 7k people in the LinkedIn Coworking Group

* Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn

* Connect with Jerome on LinkedIn

* Contact Jerome via Email

One More Thing

Remember, the strength of our communities lies in our collective efforts and shared values.

Please rate, follow, share, and leave a review for the Coworking Values Podcast; it helps our show have an even greater impact.

It also helps people in the wider general public and your neighbourhood understand coworking, how it can benefit their local community, and how it can benefit them in building their careers, projects, and work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com