Take Care of the Future
Alex Hillman
This essay was originally published in the Indy Hall newsletter. If you’re not already subscribed, you can sign up here.
Welcome to week 4 of our month-long celebration for Indy Hall’s 20th Anniversary.
These last few weeks have been the perfect way to live our “Take Care” ethos and build momentum towards the big party on Saturday.
Now, there are just 3 days left to our big IH20 bash this Saturday. 😳
Over the last year, we’ve spent so much time thinking about this month, and in particular this day.
And to be totally honest, I’m equal parts excited and anxious.
Excited for the connections and reconnections between people from across so many generations of Indy Hall.
Anxious that we’ve overlooked something important, or that someone who would have loved to be a part of it couldn’t join us.
I’d be lying if I said they haven’t both kept me up at night 😅
But I keep reminding myself that the point of this thing we do isn’t perfection. It’s taking action, chasing dreams, and celebrating any amount of time we get to spend together while doing it.
This is a milestone, and it’s a big one.
And we’ll still be 20 years old next week, and we’ll still keep doing things worth celebrating.
What to expect at the Big IH20 Anniversary Party
We’ve had some questions about the schedule and what to expect for this Saturday, so here’s a quick rundown to get you excited:
3–5pm Pre-party
Want to celebrate with us but prefer to avoid big crowds, have to consider a babysitter on the clock, or an early morning on Sunday?
Come to our pre-party for a more intimate & easygoing hang!
Join us early for…
- Light bites and afternoon snacks
- Rooftop Open Bar with Signature Craft Cocktails powered by Mixy Mobile
- Perfect Wines provided by our friends Mazza
- N/A options available too!
- IH20 Merch available for sale in person
- Friendship bracelets made by the Indy Hall Girl Scout troop
- The best vibes with friends, old and new
Even if you need to be home for dinner, we still wanna celebrate with you. 🥳
5–8pm Full Party Mode
From 5pm onward, let’s dim the lights and turn it up for the rest of the evening!
In addition to everything from the pre-party list above, you can look forward to…
- Tacos from Hi-Lo Taco Co. & Build Your Own Mediterranean Bowls from Real Food Eatery
- Groovy live entertainment to help set the mood, featuring Jimmy Butterfield, DJ Yongwoo, and Eddie Gamble
- A champagne toast with a few words of thanks from Adam and yours truly, reflecting on the many things we have to celebrate
We have a few other small surprises up our sleeve…but hopefully that’s enough to help you plan your time with us!
If you haven’t RSVP’d for Saturday, now’s your last chance before we’re officially sold out!
And if you have any questions, send me a note.
IH20 Week 4: Take Care of the Future
In many ways Indy Hall has always lived in the future, and not just because of technology.
- We were the first coworking space in Philadelphia, and one of the first in the world.
- We’ve consistently been ahead of trends in work, including self-employment and remote work.
- I like to say that we were “Zoom hipsters”, using the tool to connect remote members of our community as early as 2017 (yes, you read that right)
But living in the future isn’t the same as taking care of it.
These days, taking care of the future can feel more dire than ever. And while we don’t purport to have all of the answers, I do think that Indy Hall’s 20 years have taught us that we can take on anything if we do it together.
For me, it’s less about making predictions about the future and more about how we can learn from the past and do in the present to create a better future for everyone.
I have no idea what comes next, but if more people can share and use that lens to solve more problems, I know that we’ll keep making a difference for many years to come.
What’s on deck for this Friday, September 25
💛 Pay What You Wish Coworking — 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
The fourth and final PWYW coworking day in the IH20 series! Sliding scale day passes, a buzzy coworking day, special activities, and more.
Think of it like an Indy Hall sampler day. If you’ve been thinking about a coworking membership, or just want to come by and see who you can meet, this is a great way to start. Proceeds go directly to the anniversary party.
RSVP is required due to limited space! Sliding scale tickets for friends and guests, free with an RSVP for members. Space limited, RSVP today →
🎙️ IH20: Speak Easy Series w/ Dain Saint — 10:00–10:45 AM
Start your day with a 10-minute talk to spark a conversation on the theme of the week, followed by open discussion. Coffee and light bites included!
This week, Dain Saint leads our Speak Easy on the theme “Take Care of the Future.”
Dain is a storyteller, designer, and creative director whose work spans game design, immersive theater, writing, and democratic organizing. As curator of Futurefull — an interfuturist storytelling collective — they help communities imagine and build better futures together. There’s no one more fitting to close out the Speak Easy series the day before our 20th party.
These Speak Easy talks are free during PWYW Coworking. If you’re staying for the day, make sure you RSVP for a PWYW pass too. RSVP for Speak Easy w/ Dain Saint →
🍻 IH20: Happy Hour @ Future Days Beer Co — 5:30–7:30 PM
Each of our four IH20 Fridays has ended at a bar with historical significance to Indy Hall, places that have supported our community long before and well into the future. We saved Future Days for last because the name says everything this week is about.
Free to show up, pay as you go. Please remember to tip your bartenders! RSVP →
And then… the big one.
Saturday, September 26
20 years of Indy Hall. The Big Anniversary Party. Come celebrate with us at the clubhouse!
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