> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://berniejmitchell.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to Strengthen Your Community and Make It Irresistible—Without the Corporate BS - URL: https://berniejmitchell.com/how-to-strengthen-your-community/ - Published: 2025-02-16T12:33:11.000Z - Updated: 2026-03-07T18:57:26.000Z - Description: AI, Inclusive Design, and Unreasonable Hospitality: The Key to Building Relationships That Light Up the Room - Author: Bernie J Mitchell - Tags: Newsletter, #bernie-j-mitchell, #Migrated-1772909644287, #Import 2026-03-07 19:56 **So Reader,** The past few weeks have revolved around **community, culture, connection**, and the invisible glue that holds them together—**social capital**. Building relationships and trust **isn’t just helpful** in coworking, business, and life—it’s the **foundation of everything** we do together. But let’s be honest—so much of the **community-building talk** out there is just **corporate Orwellian business speak**—a **consumerised version of community** that feels hollow. Now, more than ever, I believe people are looking for **something real, something deeper**, which is why we’re so invested in the **citizenship conversation** at the [**London Coworking Assembly**](https://londoncoworkingassembly.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com). It churns my stomach to see individuals in our industry **speak about the community** while actively supporting **political movements that dehumanise people**, particularly those in **marginalised communities** and **lower economic brackets**. --- > As **Josh Johnson** perfectly puts it, *“If you make your obsessions community, culture, connection, and compassion, then there is a way forward.”* Our next step is on February 26th and 27th, the [**London Coworking Assembly**](https://londoncoworkingassembly.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) will host **three workshops at the** [**Workspace Design Show London**](https://workspaceshow.co.uk/?ref=berniejmitchell.com)**.** (See below how to attend.) *I know 90% of you reading this won’t be coming, but I’m sharing this because a lot of it is stuff you can take and use right now, wherever you are* We love putting these workshops together to share ideas, listen, learn, and cut through the high-level talk. These sessions are designed for people **working at the street level**. We **want you to keep connecting**, get practical, and use what you learn when you return to your space. As always, our events aren’t your typical industry man-els and panels of infomercials thinly disguised as content, We’ll be delving into **AI**, **inclusive design**, and **unreasonable hospitality**—the tools you need to **bolster social capital**, forge **lasting connections** in your coworking space, save time, and make your community **irresistible**. One of these workshops will also help you **plan your** [**European Coworking Day**](https://coworkingday.eu/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) **event**, using real-world AI tools to **design, market, and communicate** your event effectively. --- ### **📍 Attend the London Coworking Assembly Workshops @ Workspace Design Show London** 📅 **February 26th & 27th** ✅ **How to attend the Workspace Design Show:** 👉 **Anyone can attend the** [**Workspace Design Show London**](https://workspaceshow.co.uk/?ref=berniejmitchell.com)—you do **not** need to sign up for our newsletter to get a general event pass. ✅ **How to get access to our exclusive coworking workshops:** 👉 **Sign up for the London Coworking Assembly newsletter**—this is the **only way** to get access to our workshops. 👉 **Get first access to all future coworking events we host.** 🔗 [**Sign up now to get your workshop invite**](https://londoncoworkingassembly.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) 🎁 **Bonus: Get the free email course—"5 Biggest Mistakes Coworking Community Builders Make (And How to Avoid Them)."** [📩 Sign up here](https://londoncoworkingassembly.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) --- ### **✅ The Community Builder Cohort is Open—Only 4 Spots!** If you own or run a coworking space, you already know the deal: You’re the marketer, the community manager, the event planner, the tech support, the cleaner—and, on a bad day, the one unclogging the toilet. You didn’t sign up for this chaos, but here you are, juggling everything and wondering when you’ll have time to **focus on growing your space instead of keeping the lights on**. That’s precisely why Emily and I created the [Coworking Community Builder Cohort](https://thirdplaceworks.com/community-builder-cohorts/?ref=berniejmitchell.com). This **12-week working group** is where you **stop figuring it all out alone** and start building **systems, strategies, and workflows** that make running your space **smoother, easier, and more sustainable**. 🔗 [**Secure Your Cohort Spot Now**](https://thirdplaceworks.com/community-builder-cohorts/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) ✔️ **Stop spinning your wheels**—we’ll help you put real systems in place. ✔️ **Get more engaged members**—so your space runs on community, not just desks. ✔️ **Make marketing suck less**—learn what works for small, independent spaces. 🚀 **We kick off the first week of March.** **There are only four spots in each Cohort.** ✅ If you’ve followed along for the last few months, you already know this is for you. [🔗 Secure Your Cohort Spot Now](https://thirdplaceworks.com/community-builder-cohorts/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) --- ## **1️⃣ How to Use AI to Plan and Execute Real Events** 📍 *Workshop: AI for Everyday Coworking Tasks* with [**Kofi Oppong**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kofioppong1/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) **& Bernie Mitchell (me!)** ### **AI in Coworking: More Noise, Less Use** My POV - **99% of the AI conversation in coworking is absolute bollocks.** - Big ideas. - Lofty theories. - **More "thought leadership" than actual leadership.** You’ve seen the **man-els** and panels, the LinkedIn posts, the breathless predictions about **AI revolutionising work** from people who haven’t had to **chase down an unpaid invoice or book a handyperson in years**. **Meanwhile, the people holding coworking spaces together with duct tape and sheer willpower—juggling emails, chasing down repairs, and keeping members happy—are drowning.** You’d think AI could take the pressure off. But if you’re knee-deep in running a coworking space, good luck finding advice that isn’t just vague promises and keynote buzzwords. More than once, I’ve seen an owner return from a conference buzzing about new tech, dump it on the community manager, and call it 'game-changing.' Meanwhile, the Wi-Fi is down again because the owner wouldn't pay for it when the community manager said it needed fixing. **Here’s the reality:** - No one ever sat you down and **taught you how to use email**, yet now it runs your life. AI is the same—it’s just another tool. - **If you use it right, you’ll save at least 8-10 hours a week**—enough to finally breathe between running events, marketing your space, and keeping your members happy. - **Running events? AI can save you 10-12 hours per event**—from writing emails and social posts and organising spreadsheets to working faster in apps like Grammarly and Canva. That’s **an entire workday back** to focus on something that matters. The difference? **We’re not here to give you another lecture.** We’re here to **collaborate, use these tools in real-time, and determine what works for coworking operators**—the people on the ground, not just those on the conference stage. Join us if you’re done with the noise and ready to use AI to make your life easier. **Practical Takeaway:** AI isn’t about revolutionising your world overnight—it’s about **saving you time** on repetitive tasks that already take up too much of your day. **Tools like ChatGPT** can help you draft emails, automate responses, and analyse reports faster than ever. In addition, this workshop will teach you how to **plan and execute your** [**European Coworking Day**](https://coworkingday.eu/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) **event** using AI to design, market, and communicate the event seamlessly. --- ## **2️⃣ Designing for Everyone: Inclusive Space Design** 📍 *Workshop: Inclusive Space Design* with **Amy & Guenaelle from 360 Workplace** Inclusive design isn’t just about adding ramps or broader doorways—**it’s about creating spaces that work for everyone** at **every stage of your coworking space’s life cycle**. In this **interactive workshop**, [**Amy**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-morgan-8763bb102/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) **and** [**Guenaelle**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/guenaelle-watson-111758a/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) will use **real-world examples** from their work with [**Urban MBA**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/guenaelle-watson-111758a/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) **to** show how to **consider inclusivity** from the start of your coworking space **until it reaches full capacity**. ### **Key Takeaways:** - **How to design** inclusive spaces, whether starting from scratch or refining an existing space. - The **Urban MBA** case study shows how small, thoughtful changes can make a space feel more welcoming and accessible, regardless of stage. - **Interactive discussion** with fellow coworking leaders to identify opportunities to make **small, impactful changes** to your space. 💡 **What you can do now:** Even if you can’t attend the workshop, you can start thinking about **how your space could be more inclusive** by considering these three questions: 1. Are you designing for **different working styles** (e.g., quiet zones, collaborative areas)? 2. Does your space accommodate **neurodiverse** individuals and **accessibility needs**? 3. How can you **adapt your space** to cater to people at different stages of their business lifecycle (e.g., new freelancers, growing teams, established businesses)? --- ## **3️⃣ Unreasonable Hospitality: Making Members Feel Like Family** 📍 *Workshop: Unreasonable Hospitality for Coworking* with **Sonya Whittam & Julie Firth** **Unreasonable hospitality** is about creating an experience that makes **people feel valued**, **seen**, and **connected**—just like the **social capital** we’ve discussed. It’s about moving beyond the basics of customer service and fostering **genuine relationships** with your members. [**Sonya**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonyawhittam/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) **and** [**Julie**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-firth-storybrandguide/?ref=berniejmitchell.com), StoryBrand Guides and Certified Coaches in Will Guidara’s **Unreasonable Hospitality** framework bring **expert insight** into how coworking spaces can weave **hospitality** into a **community's fabric**. In this **interactive workshop**, you’ll learn how to turn **every interaction** into an opportunity to **create raving fans**. ### **Key Takeaways:** - How can **small, meaningful gestures** be made to impact member satisfaction and loyalty? - **Real-world strategies** to embed **hospitality into the core** of your coworking space. - **Peer feedback** from fellow coworking peers helps you discover **new ideas** and **insights** you can immediately implement. 💡 **What you can do now:** Think about **a tiny touchpoint** in your space that could be elevated—whether it’s a **thoughtful welcome** or **publicly acknowledging members** for their contributions. Small actions often make the most significant difference. --- ### **One More Thing: Keep the Conversation Going** You’re here because **some form of community and connection is vital to you.** Some of you have been reading the evolutions of my weekly newsletter here for fifteen years! Sometimes, it is ‘about me,’ but most of the time, it is about **people, community, and the connections that make being alive fun and meaningful**. That’s why we host these workshops—to cut through the noise, bring people together, and **figure out what works for coworking community builders at the street level.** But whether you can attend the **Workspace Design Show or not**, this conversation doesn’t end here. 📩 **Stay connected with us.** We don’t just share what’s happening—we guide you to **the people, ideas, and tools that save you time and make coworking better.** 🎤 **Join more of these conversations.** We're hosting more online meetups, such as the next **Unreasonable Connection** session, to maintain momentum after the Workspace Design Show. 📍 **Be part of a bigger movement.** AI, inclusive design, and hospitality aren’t just event topics—they’re the tools we use to **build stronger, more connected coworking spaces** in 2025 and beyond. **🔬Currently, we are digging into these topics:** - **Small-Town Coworking Communities**: Highlight how hospitality is vital in creating welcoming, tight-knit coworking spaces in smaller towns, where relationships are often more personal and community-driven. - **Email Marketing**: Emphasize how genuine hospitality translates into stronger member connections, which can be nurtured through personalized, engaging email communications. - **Coworking and Citizenship**: Connect hospitality to the idea of coworking spaces as community hubs, encouraging local involvement and fostering a sense of belonging for all members. - **Family and Childcare**: Address how hospitality extends to creating inclusive environments for parents and caregivers and ensuring their needs are met. If any of this resonates with you, we’d love for you to **stay in the loop, join the discussions, and find your people here** 👉 [**Sign up for the London Coworking Assembly newsletter and get your invite**](https://londoncoworkingassembly.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com)**.** --- ### **📍 Attend the London Coworking Assembly Workshops @ Workspace Design Show London** 📅 **February 26th & 27th** ✅ **How to attend the Workspace Design Show:** 👉 **Anyone can attend the** [**Workspace Design Show London**](https://workspaceshow.co.uk/?ref=berniejmitchell.com)—you do **not** need to sign up for our newsletter to get a general event pass. ✅ **How to get access to our exclusive coworking workshops:** 👉 **Sign up for the London Coworking Assembly newsletter**—this is the **only way** to access our workshops. 👉 **Get first access to all future coworking meet-ups we host.** 🔗 [**Sign up now to get your workshop invite**](https://londoncoworkingassembly.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) 🎁 **Bonus:** Get the free email course**—"5 Biggest Mistakes Coworking Community Builders Make (And How to Avoid Them)."** [🔗 Sign up now](https://londoncoworkingassembly.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com)