A social change advocacy group has a new work space on Bank Street.
About 28 cities and counting are part of “Hub World,” a global network of more than 5,000 social entrepreneurs.
The focal point for each location is a physical space where people can starts initiatives addressing social, cultural and environmental challenges.
This month, Hub Ottawa got a space at 71 Bank St. Vinod Rajasekaran, the hub’s managing director, says he expects it to open late February 2012.
“There was a need for people with really good ideas to have a space,” says Jonathan Wade, co-ordinator at the Collaborative for Innovative Social Enterprise Development, which gives advice and money to people starting not-for-profits.
The collaborative plans to help hub participants.
The Ottawa hub needed a centre of gravity, says Rajasekaran.
“It’s always difficult to rally people around a concept when there’s no physical space,” Rajasekaran says.
To keep people interested in the goal of getting a space, the hub hosted bi-weekly meetings and larger events.
Tracey Clark, managing director of the local coffee chain, Bridgehead, says when she heard about the project she was eager to help.
“They are energized, smart, committed, have a lot of integrity and they’ve done their homework,” says Clark, who now serves as chair of the hub’s advisory board.
Future hub space users say they're excited.
Shawn MacDonell, founder of Creativision, a coaching and consulting firm for entrepreneurs, will use the space.
Until now, says MacDonell, he has relied on his home or local coffee shops for an office space.
“Nobody knows where to find each other,” he says.
The hub will finally allow him to meet, understand, help and work with like-minded individuals in one space, he adds.
Rajasekaran says his vision of Ottawa five years from now is a city more willing to share, collaborate, take risks and pilot new initiatives.
“We all are working together to generate an environment in which new ideas can replace old ideas to address social needs,” Wade says.