Member Spotlight |
National Nonprofit Day 2024
National Nonprofit Day is celebrated on August 17, 2024. This is a day where we recognize and celebrate Nonprofit organizations and all of the hard work they do. The impact of nonprofits on surrounding communities and around the world is admirable and essential to societal support. At Forge, several of our members work for nonprofit organizations and we are excited to honor, celebrate and highlight them this week.
Freedom Preparatory Academy
Tell us a little bit about what you do/your company does: “We are a charter school organization opening our flagship school in Birmingham this fall to Kindergarten students. I work closely with our team’s Executive Director and School Leadership to ensure an easy operational transition for our school. I help us dot “i’s” and cross “t’s.””
What is your favorite part of your job?
“Helping students and families achieve their academic and personal goals through the school community. Working with bright, amazing children and families.”
What do you enjoy about nonprofit work?
“Having people as the final product and being able to contribute positively to communities and families.”
What made you want to go into this field?
“Deep interest in ensuring that ALL students have excellent educational options and outcomes, especially in my home city and state (I’m a Birmingham native!).”
How has being a member at Forge helped you in your work?
“It gave us a place to land that has been welcoming and perfect for what we needed to get going.”
Project EMS
We are excited to highlight: Drèson Russell, Co-Founder and Executive Director of
Project EMS, Inc. !!
Tell us a little bit about what you do/your company does: “I am a co-founder and executive director of Project EMS, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering under-resourced students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. We provide mentorship, tutoring, scholarship opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences in STEAMM fields—science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and medicine. Additionally, I founded Unified Healing for Rural and Global Health, which focuses on making healthcare accessible and affordable for underserved communities both in rural areas and globally. In terms of education, I recently earned my Master of Business Administration (MBA) and am currently pursuing both a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After completing medical school, I plan to attend law school to obtain a Juris Doctor (JD) to further expand my ability to advocate for health equity, education, and policy reforms.”
What is your favorite part of your job?
“While I enjoy many aspects of my work, my favorite part is being actively involved in developing and implementing programs that align with our mission at Project EMS. There is something incredibly fulfilling about seeing our students thrive. Understanding their individual needs and watching them grow, excel, and embrace their potential is what makes this work truly meaningful to me.”
What do you enjoy about nonprofit work?
“Nonprofit work allows me to directly contribute to meaningful change in the lives of others. It’s about creating impact, seeing the tangible results of our efforts, and knowing that what we do is helping to break down barriers to sectors like education, health, and opportunity for under-resourced communities.”
What made you want to go into this field?
“I was driven by the desire to make a lasting impact on communities that face significant challenges. Growing up in an under-resourced area myself, I saw firsthand the gaps in education and healthcare. I wanted to contribute to closing those gaps by creating opportunities for others and advocating for equitable access to education and health resources.”
How has being a member at Forge helped you in your work?
“Forge has been instrumental in advancing the mission of Project EMS. The exceptional workspace, resources, and networking opportunities available through Forge have allowed us to grow in ways I hadn’t imagined. The supportive community has provided invaluable connections and insights that have helped us expand our reach and impact.”
New and improved website coming soon!
Great I Am Ministries
Tell us a little bit about what you do/your company does: “I founded the organization in 2003 with the purpose of engaging the community and address its needs. I oversee the daily operations of the organization.”
What is your favorite part of your job?
“My favorite part of the job is when I get to go out into the field, assess the needs of the people (community engagement), and fulfilling that need (community outreach).”
What do you enjoy about nonprofit work?
“The ability to make a difference in the lives of people is my main motivation for enjoying nonprofit work.”
What made you want to go into this field?
“As a former homeless individual and a working class person, I understand the challenges people are facing in trying to survive and live. I was helped in many forms over the years. I want to pay it forward and help someone else.”
How has being a member at Forge helped you in your work?
“I have a quiet place to work. It’s the place I do the work behind the scenes so that the field work will be successful.”
http://www.greatiamministries.org
We so enjoy having each of these nonprofit workers, as well as other nonprofits as members at Forge! We admire and celebrate all the hard work each of them does! Are you a nonprofit worker that needs a place to work and further your business? Join our supportive community at Forge!
Sign up for a tour today and ask about our nonprofit discount for coworking!
Member Spotlight |
Check out our Member Spotlight of Seth Daggett! He’s the Product Design Director at Etsy and we’re so happy he is part of the Forge community.
Tell us a little bit about what you do/your company does.
“
Etsy is a global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We connect millions of buyers and sellers from nearly every country around the world to leverage the power of business, with a mission to “Keep Commerce Human.” I manage a team of design managers and designers working on personalization, ML, data, development and design platforms.”
What is your favorite part about your job?
“The best part of working at Etsy is the people, from the coworkers I get to partner with and learn from to the buyers and sellers we support.”
What made you decide to join Forge?
“I moved from Brooklyn to Birmingham in 2021. After working from home a couple of years, I really missed being in more of an office environment. Forge offered a nice, bike-able, commute, and a flexible environment for working around other creative, talented and driven folks.”
What is your favorite thing about Forge?
“I love it’s location, I’m inspired by the architecture downtown and get energy from the commute.”
What is your favorite spot/place to work at Forge?
“I like moving around, but the phone booths are super cozy!”
What are your favorite tech tools to get your job done or keep your life organized?
Is there a product you cannot live without?
“Campari (for Negronis!)”
What is the last show you binge-watched?
What is your ideal weekend in Birmingham?
- Eating! Homemade Pizza on the back porch on Friday
- Pastries at Last Call and Coffee at June on Saturday morning
- Burger at Back Forty or Ramen at Shu Shop
- Catch a Legion FC game on Saturday night
- Lazy Sunday with more food with friends and family
Are you a remote worker, small business owner or entrepreneur? We’d love for you to join our community at Forge! Book a tour today.
Member Spotlight |
We are excited to introduce Forge Member Alyce A Hendricks-Hoglan!
Alyce is the Office Manager and a Paralegal for Elizabeth Hunter Law Firm.
Tell us more about what your company does.
“Here at the Elizabeth Law Firm, we represent clients in Criminal Defense matters across the State of Alabama. We fight and advocate aggressively, and effectively for our clients to be able to be heard in the courtrooms and have a fair hearing.”
What is your favorite part about your job?
“Giving hope to clients who feel like their situation is hopeless. Being able to speak on their behalf on a case that could ultimately change their entire life.”
What made you decide to join Forge?
“We are a small yet dynamic duo law firm. It gave us the space that we needed for the time being, The location is great and the staff are amazing and helpful.”
What is your favorite thing about Forge?
“My favorite thing about Forge is the ability to have flexible time to come into a safe environment and be able to handle important task any time of the day.”
What is your favorite spot to work at Forge?
“In our nice spacious office overlooking the food hall.”
What are your favorite tech tools to get your job done or keep your life organized?
“Practice Panther is a software that is efficient for taking notes, adding clients and getting invoices sent out. Literally an all-in-one stop shop.”
What is the last show you binge-watched?
“Bridgerton and I cannot wait until the next season comes out.”
What is your ideal weekend in Birmingham?
“Well in my spare time, I am actually a Vocalist / Songwriter, so normally I am somewhere playing the piano on the weekends or singing. Posting on my YouTube @TheLadyAlyce is another project I love working on as well.”
Are you currently working from home and looking to get out of the house? Join our thriving community! Book a tour of Forge and see what we have to offer.
