Building Community Without Barriers
A conversation with Monica, co-founder of Third Space
Welcome to our interview series, Creative Changemakers. Every month, we will be speaking to a different business owner who is using creativity as a tool to build community and create change!
This month, we sat down with Monica, co-founder of Third Space, to explore how she's redefining community spaces in an age of remote work and costly social clubs. In a city where finding your place can feel both expensive and exhausting, Third Space offers a refreshing alternative - a welcoming environment where you might find yourself co-working one day, attending a workshop the next, or simply hanging out with the resident Dalmatian. We were deeply inspired by her vision of making genuine connection accessible to all, and we think you will be too!
Whether you're new to NYC, working remotely, or just seeking authentic community, Third Space welcomes you to drop by and experience this unique venue for yourself. Visit their space to work, connect, learn, or simply be - no membership required.
The following is transcribed from an in-person interview between Jane and Monica. This interview has been edited for clarity.
“This is not a space to breed exclusivity. It's a space to bridge gaps between people and make people feel like they're a part of something.”
What inspired you to start 3rd Space?
“I've moved a lot and experienced what it feels like to try to make new friends and carve out a space for yourself somewhere. Working remotely, you start to feel like, who is my community? Who are the people I'm spending time with? The things I wanted to be a part of, everything cost money. If I want to go after all the hobbies or things I'm interested in, I could be spending $1,000 by the end of the month being part of this club and that club. That didn't feel sustainable. I wanted to create a way we could rethink how we socialize and create space for social interactions to happen, and for those interactions to continue and build the community around them. That's where the idea for Third Space came.”
Where does the name 3rd Space come from?
The name is very on the nose. Because I'm a researcher, I love digging into information. I figured out that third space is a commonly used term in psychology. It means a place you can go outside of your home or work, free of expectations. You don't have to be productive there or achieve a certain thing. It should be a space where you can go where you just feel comfortable.
What kind of community do you hope to cultivate?
This has been ever evolving. We've had the model of throwing stuff on the wall and seeing what sticks. From my background in education as a designer and researcher, you can have your own ideas of what you think is needed, but until you ask and give people an opportunity to use the product and see how they react, you're not really going to understand.
The long-term goal is to create a culture of inclusiveness, where people can meet people they wouldn't expect to meet and support people outside their immediate friend circle. We want to create a supportive community that extends outside the space and into the broader community.
How would the Third Space community describe the space?
“The concept is still a little bit existential. Everyone has their own experience they leave with. Someone could come and say it's co-working, or say they hang out there to meet friends, or they've done a workshop and learned things.
Everyone leaves with their own interpretation, which I think is cool. The space isn't necessarily definable because it ranges in how people experience it and what they take away from it.”
What do you want first-time visitors to know about your space and what should they be prepared for?
“One of our values is to create an inclusive, accessible environment. When you step in, there's no "too cool for school." Everyone is on an equal playing field. We want everyone to feel welcome and that they can engage in what's happening here. As my choir teacher used to say, check your egos at the door. This isn't a space to breed exclusivity. It's a space to bridge gaps between people.
Also, there's usually a dog at the space - a very cute Dalmatian. Be prepared to have fun and feel cozy and welcomed.”
What does creativity mean to you?
Creativity can happen in so many mediums. We often associate it with art or music, but, [for example], engineers are creative, and developers are creative. Creativity means allowing yourself to go to a different realm than you imagined was possible. It's about going beyond what you think is realistic and being in the realm of possibilities - whether it's code for a website, a table, or an idea like Third Space. It's about exercising the part of our brain that allows us to go beyond reality.
What's the biggest challenge as a business owner?
The biggest challenge is recognizing that you're not going to be perfect and giving yourself grace in that process. As a business owner, if you have a bad day or your energy is low, that's the energy behind the company. I've had weeks where I've been strung out and stressed, realizing I've put too many expectations on myself. I want to show up joyful, generous, and open. That's the energy people feel with the business. It's about giving myself the opportunity to recharge and sometimes do less so I can show up better.
Thank you Monica! If you’re interested, check out Third Space on Instagram and visit the space in Bushwick to join the community.
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Until next time,
Your Creativity Guides 👨🎨
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