Posted by Monica Danna on Dec 23, 2008 in
arts + events,
coworking,
social media issues Here is the second installment of my 2008 monthly recap. You can catch up on Jan-March here. I’ll post June and July tomorrow. Moving to a new WP template, too! 
April: Defensiveness
Houston Chronicle
April things really started picking up at the Caroline Collective, a coworking space in Houston that I was asked to help open with Matthew Wettergreen and Ned Dodington. The media really started pick up on what we were doing, so lots of photo shoots, interviews, and tours went on in April. Matt and I stayed up all night customizing a Wordpress template, which eventually turned into the current Caroline site. I understand now how programmers can work for hours and hours at a time. Addicting! Taught myself some CSS in the process. Now I’m hooked.
April was also the month that Matthew defended his 7 year long thesis at Rice University. I was glad to be there to share in this moment with him, and to celebrate this awesome accomplishment. Afterward, he, Ned, Michelle and I headed for the Son Volt show at The Continental Club, a spectacular set by those guys, a perfect end to a great day.
Guy Kawasaki at HTC
Web 2.0 guru Guy Kawasaki also visitied Houston in April. After meeting some super talented H-town ladies at SXSW, he couldn’t keep himself from finding out what was in the water in Houston. He shared many principles of success, one that particularly stood out for me: Don’t Be Afraid to Polorize People. With success, will come negative and positive attitudes. A lesson I learned a lot about this year.
May: Mergers & Misunderstandings
Migs + John Volunteering at the Art Car Parade
As summer approached, May was filled with parties: Art Car Parade, my first Derby Party (thanks to Bill and Angela Green!), and my very first introduction to Sarah Gabbart and her crafting lounge, Sew Crafty Houston. | full Sew Crafty Set.
I also learned in May that my company was being acquired by Halliburton. A shock to us all, but a change that has so far worked out wonderfully in my favor. I’m excited about the new role I hold there, and am looking forward to help take Halliburton into the world of Web 2.0!
May was a tough month emotionally, as the opening of Caroline grew closer, as did stress surrounding the opening party, balancing personal and professional lives, and strained friendships. I ONLY got though that month because of the awesome support of ma peeps and this awesome community in Houston. And to that I am ever thankful to you all.
Tags: 2008 wrap-up, art car parade, caroline collective, coworking, guy kawasaki, orange show, sew crafty houston, yearly recap
Posted by Monica Danna on Jun 16, 2008 in
arts + events,
coworking,
happy hour 
Join the Caroline Collective crew this Wednesday, June 18th, from 5-10pm at Beaver’s Icehouse for Green Drinks.
If you enjoyed the Green Drinks Station at the CC opening party, come by Beaver’s each Wednesday as they support new entrepreneurial projects.
%25 of this Wedesday’s profits will support Caroline.
Hope to see all of you there!
Tags: beaver's icehouse, coworking, drinking, green drinks, networking, new living, parties
Posted by Monica Danna on May 31, 2008 in
coworking 
Today we were joined by awesomeness at
Caroline, as the community came out to help us get her ready for the party on Saturday.
Many, many thanks to True Light Resources (and Karl), Hala Daher, Stefanie Acken, Enita Torres (Ephiphenita), Imelda Bettinger, Sean Stoner, Michelle Calabretta, Bryce Giesler (Word Junky), Jason McElweenie (deneyterrio), and Brent Ozar.
We got the flowerbeds cleaned up and the indoors got a good cleaning. And most exciting, we got the sign up and painted.
Hope to see all of you at the party on Saturday!
More pics from today here.
Tags: caroline collective, coworking, volunteers
Posted by Monica Danna on May 30, 2008 in
coworking 
So the date of the caroline collective party is drawing near, and we’ve still got lots to do to get her in shape for the big day. Momma need a new pretty dress!
Ned and I are attempting to organized some shifts of people to help out this Saturday at Caroline, as well as next Saturday, day of the party.
For this Saturday, we’d love as much help as possible. We are looking for people willing to move some debris off the property, clean rooms, floors, bathrooms, clean up flower beds, blow leaves, and just generally rock out with awesomeness.
We have some supplies, but whatever you can bring would be appreciated: brooms, mops, cleaning supplies, ladders, MUSCLES, shovels. wheel barrows, tools, etc.
I’m trying to secure a few baby pools so we can take a dip in between breaks. Afterwards, we can always take a walk down to my place for a dip in my pool
I can’t thank everyone enough for all your hard work and dedication that have gone into making this dream a reality for us. I am overwhelmed with emotion each time one of you extends your extra time and support to this project. And we are all eternally grateful.
Please comment below if you think you can make it by, and if you wil be able to bring some supplies so we can get an idea. Hope to see some of you tomorrow.
Call me with any questions 281.687.7515.
Tags: caroline collective, community, coworking, friends, volunteers
Posted by Monica Danna on May 26, 2008 in
coworking You may have noticed that I’ve attempted to start blogging again, after a long break. Yes, long overdue, but also with good reason. The last few months = nutzo.
In the last 6 months, I’ve started a new job, traveled to 4 continents in 4 weeks, rode a camel, smoked a hookah, returned home to an emergency appendectomy, had my Godmother pass away, and most recently, find out that my company has been purchased by the largest oilfield services company in the WORLD. Any guesses?
So to say the least, I’ve been a little preoccupied.
However, I still haven’t mentioned the one thing that has taken up most of my brain power, sweat, energy, and heart: a little beauty called Caroline. And she’s lovely.
I know that some of you reading this have been hearing me for months talk about this project, and I’m ecstatic to say, she has arrived.
This week, tenants began moving into the Caroline Collective, A coworking facility in Houston’s museum district, that I have been helping to bring to fruition over the past few months. I know many of you have heard the story of her conception, and seen the progress of her completion, but for those of you who have not, let me explain further.
Coworking has become a global phenomena in the last few years. A concept that takes freelance, independent workers out of an isolated work environment, such as a home office, and surrounds them with access to a community of like-minded individuals, all the while providing them with resources of a corporate office space.
Over the last 2 decades, the corporate worker has more and more sought opportunities to become independent from an organization, and become their own boss. In the process, according to entreprenuer.com, in the U.S., over 14 million homes operate a home-based business.
However, as the entreprenuer moves out of the corporate office, and into a home environment such as a home office or coffee shop, they begin to lose a sense of collaboration and community. Thus, the birth of Coworking.
Coworking’s official definition, “a cafe-like community collaboration space for developers, writers, independents and anyone looking for a space to conduct their work in an environment alternative to the traditional working office,” describes the concept. If I were to pull one work to highlight from that definition, it would be “community.” As the basis and successes of coworking spaces around the world, hinge on the importance of community.
Providing tenants with private office space, open desk space, wireless internet, conference room facilities, coffee, secured parking, quick access to Downtown, Midtown, Museum District, and the Medical Center, Caroline Collective is a revolutionary concept for Houston, that is sure to impact the social make-up of the city’s workforce.
As I compose this post, one of Caroline’s first tenants, is documenting his move into the space via Twitter and Brightkite. A very emotional, exciting step for those of us who have seen this idea move from a glimmer in the eye of Matthew Wettergreen and Ned Dodington, to a space full of handmade desks, and walls splattered with blue paint by volunteers Houston’s own community. A bit surreal, and a bit overwhelming.
Over the past few months, Caroline Collective has been covered by the Houston Chronicle, Chron.com, ArtsHouston Magazine, 002 Magazine, and various local and national blogs. Evidence that Houston is ready and willing to support this endeavor, rightfully so, as the space was created for the community, by the community.
Caroline Collective is located at 4820 Caroline, just north of the Fine Arts Museum. For a tour of the facilities, please contact me and I’d be happy to show you around.
We are planning a huge opening party on June 7th, 2008 form 7-10pm. I’ll create a dedicated post of the party, with the invite attached. So save the date!
For more information on Caroline Collective or coworking, check out these resources:
Caroline Collective website
www.carolinecollective.cc
Caroline Collective Flickr Photo Group
www.flickr.com/groups/carolinecollective/
Caroline Media Archives
http://carolinecollective.cc/category/media/
Coworking Wiki
http://coworking.pbwiki.com/
Coworking Blog
http://blog.coworking.info/
Tags: caroline collective, coworking, houston
