1st: Not just anyone can become a coworker here. In addition to only offering a limited number of spots, we require that individuals and groups align with at least two of our three values: Faith, Justice and Community. They do this through our Request Form that is then approved by the staff of the Wesley Club. 2nd: Wesley Co-Works is an off-shoot of our ministry and mission to support college students. We require all organizations and individuals to attend our once-a-year symposium at which they will formally introduce themselves and their work to our college student community. Beyond simply getting to know one another, we hope to facilitate professional and personal networking opportunities with our students. 3rd: We are (admittedly) a small organization, just starting out in this new application of our mission. While we are committed to providing top-quality services, there will likely be hiccups as we iron out processes and amenities. 4th: Most days and times co-workers have access to the space, Wesley Club operates as a student-lounge. During our lounge hours, co-workers will share their space with students going about their business of studying, hanging out, eating, and napping. Our hope is that informal connections between coworkers and students flourish over coffee and home-made cookies.

This is an extension of our mission and vision. By supporting organizations and individuals who are broadly aligned with us, we understand ourselves to be furthering our work beyond what we could do by ourselves. Plus, it is HARD out here for small, struggling organizations and people fighting to better this broken world. Maybe this makes it a little easier--We Hope!

1st: As a Christian, social justice nonprofit focused on supporting the needs of college students, we see sharing our space with other aligned groups to be an extension of our ministry and mission. We, therefore, require that organizations and individuals who use our space be aligned in at least 2 of our 3 values: Faith, Justice and Community. 2nd: Our space is the physical home to our people. It is the geography of our community life together. As we host guests in our space, we want to maintain the centrality and safety of our community.

Step 1: Fill out and submit the Request Form (or schedule an interview with the Executive Director). Step 2: Wesley Club staff will review your application, and schedule a time to discuss it further. Don't think interview, think get-to-know-you coffee with questions like what do you do for fun, and what music do you listen to while you work? Step 3: Once you are fully approved, the Executive Director will meet you for a formal orientation to the space, door-codes, etc.

Alignment in the broad sense! Alignment with our values does not mean that we believe the same things in the same ways about the same issues or topics. It means that we are substantively working towards mutually beneficial goals in our separate missions and approaches. For example, an Islamic nonprofit fighting for immigrant justice around Seattle would easily align with both our values of faith and justice. Similarly, a non-religious law practice building community with and offering legal guidance to polyamorous couples could easily align with our values of justice and community.

Examples we could imagine include: Any group or individual actively fighting against our particular brands of faith, justice, and community. Companies with no social justice, community, or faith component to their mission. An individual unable to substantively articulate their idea of social justice or community, or who does so in a way that suggests they might have more to learn than we feel we can teach.

Again, it DOES! NOT! MATTER! if we hold the exact same ideas about these values. But in the name of vulnerability and transparency, here are some basic definitions of our values. Faith: Our faith is a progressive, Christian faith in the Wesleyan tradition and tied to the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church. We don’t presume to have all the answers nor do we assume that others should themselves adopt what few answers we have. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find any one member of our community who'd share this stand-point in its entirety. We seek to create opportunities for mutual engagement and curiosity with faith and spirituality. Trusting holy mysteries to fill gaps and show up in surprise. In short, we don't really get it, but we are out here trying. Justice: We understand justice to be about fighting for a reparative social justice through activism, advocacy, demonstrations, and protests. We stand behind and with the oppressed and marginalized against the forces of empire in all its many forms. Community: We believe that community is a verb, describing the building and living out of shared intimacy, belonging and meaning with others. It is how we know and are known by others. It is shown through attentive empathy and in acts of mutual-aid.

In many ways, our student community is really playing host to our coworkers. We are hopeful that informal connections and laughter over lunch might lead to more formal, mutually-beneficial opportunities later. In other words, we hope you hang out with them when you can and vice-versa. All coworkers are required to attend our once-a-year symposium in an effort to facilitate these connections in a more structured way. There, students will be able to hear more about you, your work, and what needs you have in the coming year. Additionally! At the risk of saying more than we need to, romantic and sexual relationships (even when consensual) between coworkers and college students is strictly forbidden.

YES! While our private entrance is not, anyone who needs it can access our space through the building's front door and elevator on NE 42nd street. Admittedly, this is not perfect and can be annoying. We are committed to working with individuals to make their access to our space what they need it to be.

Our lounge supports a queer-dominated and multi-racial community. All are welcome here. While we cannot guarantee safety from the systemic -isms of this world, we do promote bravery on the part of our community members to confront and not tolerate dehumanizing treatment of any kind. This culture of belonging and bravery requires the work of everyone in our space. Our coworkers are invited and expected to do their part in maintaining our culture of respect and belonging.

As an extension of our values, we offer discounts to individuals holding marginalized identities, and organizations led by the same. We also offer discounts to groups with a mission of supporting college students.