Globalist expands to Hillman City Collaboratory

The Seattle Globalist is expanding its offices to The Collaboratory, a coworking space and “incubator for social change” in Hillman City (just south of Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood). The Globalist will now base its operations jointly from the Collaboratory and the University of Washington’s Department of Communication.

The Globalist has grown significantly since its launch in April 2012. Executive Director Jessica Partnow says she didn’t quite realize just how much the staff had expanded until the team’s first day working at the Collaboratory. She feels this larger space will enable more collaboration among staff members.

“We have three full timers, two part timers, two columnists, another editor, a calendar editor, a reporting intern, and more than 300 freelancers — but we hardly ever all get together in the same room,” Partnow said.

The Collaboratory hosts more than a dozen Seattle nonprofits, startups, and media outlets, including Families of Color Seattle, Community Arts Create, and the Valley & Mountain Fellowship.

“Just as our days at the UW bring us close to the university community, our days at the Collaboratory bring us close to the neighborhood, our fellow coworkers, and the wonderful nonprofits sharing the space,” Partnow said.

The Collaboratory is a perfect fit for The Globalist because it brings the organization closer to some of the immigrant and refugee communities who attend Globalist programs and workshops, and are often the subject of Globalist stories. It will be a chance to connect with another Seattle community in a different part of town.

It’s already paying off: fellow Collaboratory member Goorish Wibneh is currently working on his first Globalist story, an East African perspective on Black History Month.

Partnow believes the new location is a crucial support for the organization’s growth. “Even when technology means we can be connected 24/7, nothing comes close to the power of putting amazing people together in the same room.”

Megan Herndon

Megan is a University of Washington student majoring in Journalism and minoring in French. She has a passion for writing, photography, and sharing peoples' stories from around the world.