5 minute read
Community & Connection
Community & Connection
Bringing collaborative coworking to Visalia's Downtown
Words by Sonia Mehrmand Illustrations by Saegan Brien
The popularity of coworking spaces has grown alongside the expanding remote workforce. The Central Valley has felt the effects of this, with many millennials returning to their hometowns after their LA or SF-based jobs moved completely online. As remote work becomes the norm, our region must expand its coworking options in order to attract remote workers to the Valley, and provide a home for entrepreneurs and the creative workforce.
This is where Visalia’s first coworking space—Kinwork—comes into play. Kinwork will not only bring a shared workspace to downtown Visalia, but also a gathering place for creatives and entrepreneurs who seek collaboration. It will provide educational resources and workshops, a community event space, private studios, meeting rooms, and more as it develops its offerings.
“Art has been a constant in my life, evolving from childhood dance and guitar lessons to adult involvement in theater, creative writing, arts collectives, and a career in an arts nonprofit. Interacting with the arts and artists daily, it's a fundamental aspect of my life.”
We use the term “Creatives” broadly to describe the Kinwork community. We’re referring not only to artists in the traditional sense, but also to entrepreneurs and business owners who bring creativity into everything they do. From restaurateurs, to photographers, florists, doulas, consultants, real estate agents, and more, Kinwork is for anyone seeking a space to collaborate and grow their business.
Many creatives make their best work when surrounded by the energy of like-minded people. In major cities, this comes in the form of makerspaces, workshops, and studios. For a long time, entrepreneurs and artists have been attracted to city life because of the opportunities available. However, as the cost of living climbs and life is more isolated, the dream of becoming a working artist and business owner is less and less achievable.
Enter Visalia.
I arrived in Visalia during the Spring of 2021 after living in Sydney, Australia for 4 years. Before this, I was living in Southern California’s suburban sprawl. Though I wasn’t in LA, I would make the one-hour trek into the city frequently to take advantage of its thriving arts sector. In Sydney, I became a part of a welcoming arts community, where I made lasting friendships that I maintain to this day.
When my husband and I made the move to the Central Valley, I came to terms with the fact that life in a smaller town meant letting go of the creative communities that I had in larger cities. However, I also looked forward to living near the Sierras and the national parks. It seemed like a worthy trade-off. Little did I know that in Visalia, I’d find both: a thriving artistic community that welcomed me with open arms, as well as easy access to jaw-dropping nature.
My first encounter with the local arts scene was at Arts Visalia. As I walked through its galleries, I knew that I was in the right place. I continued to have meaningful encounters with the arts at events like First Friday and Taste the Arts. However, as a remote worker and independent producer, I noticed more and more that I longed for the sustainable and dynamic creative community that I had while living in my previous homes. These communities not only provided me with a social life, but also inspired me.
Little did I know that an Instagram story would connect me with a likeminded collaborator.
Saegan Brien and I met when she was redecorating, and I was looking for furniture to fill my new (but empty) home. I responded to her Instagram story, purchased two rugs, and we struck up a conversation.
Saegan was born and raised in Visalia, but attended graduate school in Georgia, where she often collaborated with other artists in her cohort. She, too, missed the days of creative jam sessions. Saegan knew she wasn’t alone in this feeling, especially being immersed in Visalia’s artistic community for most of her life and teaching emerging artists at College of the Sequoias.
Saegan began by telling me about Kinwork and her team, photographer Megan Welker and floral designer Jalisca Thomason. She went on to describe the creative coworking space they were dreaming up for Visalia’s artistic and entrepreneurial community. It was music to my ears.
Since then, we hosted our first event at Merryman Station in Exeter, a gathering for local business owners and artists. Over 70 people attended, and the enthusiasm was palpable. We achieved our goal: To create a collaborative atmosphere that recreated what people will feel inside of Kinwork.
We’re working with Witschi Construction and 4Creeks to transform our location on 607 E Main Street, and Kelsey Ormonde from Sanctuaire Interiors will bring in the beautiful details to make Kinwork into the welcoming space Visalia’s creatives and entrepreneurs need.
Join our community and become a part of our journey. We need your support to make this dream come true! We are currently fundraising to make Kinwork a reality on Visalia’s Main Street. You can contribute on the IFundWomen platform—scan the QR code below! Stay tuned for our community engagement events and workshops on our Instagram: @Kin.Work
Creativity comes alive in community, and Kinwork is the space where local minds come together to thrive.
