In 2008, Seattle’s LGBTQ Community Center shuttered its doors, an early sign of the Capitol Hill neighborhood’s evolution from gay haven to trendy turf.
The community lamented the center’s closing, but it also presented an opportunity for innovation. Local business owner and activist George Pieper decided to run with that opportunity.
He started by forming Seattle LGBTQ Community Development, a bridge organization for other non-profits to collaborate, without any turf wars. From there, sprang the idea for an LGBT Community “impact hub,” modeled, in part, on successes in the startup ecosystem.
Pieper envisions a large co-working space, with non-profit organizations (rather than startups) operating side-by-side. This new style of community center would allow these non-profits to work independently and collaboratively.
“There’s a lot of opportunity within this community impact hub for resources for people who are looking to start a business and collaborate with like-minded people,” said Pieper. “This will be an incubation hub for startup nonprofits that are doing work within the community as well.”
Providing job training, resources for seniors, and aid to Seattle’s LGBT homeless population are all Pieper’s wishlist for the impact hub.
“We really hope that it’s going to be for everybody,” he said. “There are connection points for young people that are coming out or questioning. There will be this opportunity for seniors, opportunities for middle-aged business folks like myself. There will be opportunity for artists to collaborate. We’re looking at this to be a wonderful meeting place where community happens at the ground level.”
The group originally planned to build the community innovation center in the new Sound Transit Center in Capitol Hill, but the property was too expensive and had limited space. Two nearby locations have since been identified as possibilities. Pieper estimates it will be three years before the new center’s grand opening.
The plan is to dedicate the first floor to retail businesses, providing financial support for the new center on the second floor. Several non-profits, including the Greater Seattle Business Association, have expressed interest in co-locating there.
“We have folks that have started businesses from nothing and have become successful business owners,” said Pieper. “They have some value to share with folks that are in that beginning stage, where they’re looking to start something up. Wouldn’t it be great if, within that space, there was this opportunity for that kind of community collaboration?”
Pieper has enjoyed success as a business owner himself. In 2007, he and Dawn Ackerman founded OutSmart Office Solutions, an LGBTBE-certified office furniture company, specializing in environmentally and socially responsible products.
“I feel like I’ve had some success.” he said, “When you do, there’s a responsibility to give back to those who don’t have that same opportunity, and share with them that there are these opportunities out there.”
