With a community grant from the town of Woodstock, Vermont, we designed, built and ran the Optimist Center for three years, from 2017 until 2020. It was designed for entrepreneurs, workshops and community programs, and included spaces for coworking, a retreat space and a studio. We helped the town of Woodstock create their Vision for 2020 from the space, and closed the center during the pandemic.
The Town of Woodstock and its Economic Development Commission provided the grant funding for our first year of operation and our build-out costs. We couldn’t have started without them. The Center was owned and run by Advance Humanity, a Certified B Corp, and it was Vermont’s first coworking space to offer an Airbnb studio, so guests could stay overnight to attend a workshop, hold a weekend retreat for their business, or simply have a relaxing visit to Woodstock.
Why did I do this?
I always dreamed of having my own cafe or bookstore: an inspiring third place like Ben Franklin’s Junto, where great people meet, collaborate and make amazing things happen. I was approached by the Town of Woodstock to create something just like this, and we had the chance to build it right next door to a local cafe!
My wife Tunga and I also dreamed of building another community center in Mongolia, as a women’s empowerment and learning center. We were able to ultimately do this through our work with the Hatan Foundation.
What we did
We tried to help change the world one optimist at a time. Here’s who we supported and what we shared:
- Hatan FoundationWe helped the Hatan Foundation raise money for scholarships for young women in Mongolia, and provided mentorship and training to its staff and scholars.
- Certified B CorporationWe were among the first dozen Certified B Corporations in Vermont, alongside Ben & Jerry’s, King Arthur Flour and Seventh Generation.
- Woodstock ApparelWe mentored and supported young women at Woodstock High School developing an innovative approach to team spirit and to improving the resources available to women’s sports.
- Free community meditationWe opened our space for free meditation every Wednesday morning at 8am, and every first and third Wednesday night at 6pm.
- 1% for the PlanetWe were proud partners with 1% for the Planet, along with Patagonia and other great organizations around the world.
- Woodstock Youth CouncilWe helped facilitate conversations and collaboration in our community to create a youth council for students in Woodstock.
- VermontPass.orgWe were founding members of the Vermont Pass, which helped Vermont’s coworking spaces come together. We designed and hosted its website for free.
- Woodstock 2020We helped our community come together to vision the future of our town, sharing our space and designing and hosting the Woodstock 2020 website for free.
- Community TED TalksWe shared free TED Talks about powerful ideas worth sharing, together with dinner and conversation open to the community.
- Open coworkingEvery Thursday from 10am to 4pm, anyone could come and enjoy the Center for coworking, free.
- Local nonprofitsWe supported local nonprofits with free grant-writing workshops, facilitation and leadership development.
- Big Brothers Big SistersWe provided open space for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermont to hold their strategic meetings and board meetings.
We also held Book Chats every second and fourth Sunday afternoon: we’d start with highlights from a book we love, then hold an informal discussion circle together. We read books like The Happiness Equation, Goal-Free Living, Big Magic and Give and Take.
Building the Center
A few photos from behind the scenes: the idea room and the workshop before, during and after renovation, and some corners of the finished space. Tap any photo to see it larger.
The idea room, before 
The idea room, during 
The idea room, after 
The workshop, before 
The workshop, during 
The workshop, after 
Couches by the stairs 
The Dreamers’ Photo Booth 
The studio 
The sign 
The patio 
Grand opening
Join us from anywhere
Alongside the in-person offerings at the Center, I created an online Optimist Program so anyone could benefit from our workshops and classes. Those videos are finding a new home on my YouTube and TikTok.
Our online classes and workshops included:
- How to Handle Overwhelm
- Choose Your Theme for the Year
- Focus on Good Enough
- First Help One Person
- Rock Your Job Interview
- How to Do Informational Interviews
- Goal-Free Living
- How to Stay Grounded
- Letting Go of Perfection
- Be a Go Giver
- Be a Shared Leader
- Show Your Work
- Know Your Priority
- The Happiness Equation
- Crafting Your Purpose, a four-week series
- Clarifying Your Values
- Your Most Important Roles
- Your Remarkable People
- Your Awesome Project
In the news
- Valley News · August 28, 2017The Optimist Center Brings Co-Working to Woodstock
- Mountain Times · June 6, 2018Vermont-based Remote Workers Will Get Subsidy
Inspirations
Here are some of the organizations that inspired me on this journey:
- Marlboro CollegeVermont
- The Junto Institutefor entrepreneurial leadership
- Norman Williams Public LibraryWoodstock, Vermont
- Town of WoodstockVermont
- Woodstock Inn & ResortWoodstock, Vermont
- 100statecoworking in Madison, Wisconsin
- Global Round Table Leadership
- Good Commonsrelax, retreat, revitalize
- VCETVermont Center for Emerging Technologies
- Advance Humanitymy first organization
- The Engine Room
- Hannah Grimes Centerfor entrepreneurship
Closed at the beginning of 2020
Thank you for a wonderful three years
From 2017 to 2020, the Optimist Center was a wonderful experiment in coworking and community development. We received thousands of visitors, hundreds of people took advantage of our yoga classes, workshops, trainings and events, and we had a wonderful community of coworking members who enjoyed the space over the three years we were open.
As we closed our doors we were grateful for the opportunity to serve our community together with great people from throughout our town. In our closing months we used our resources to help a local family in need and colleagues who are continuing to support remote workers in our community. Thank you for your kindness and support.
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Paulo Coelho
Follow along
One essay a week, every Saturday morning.
Two dreams from my list, and the heart of my Year of Optimism.