BY EMILY BOYD | Community development director, Community Housing Initiatives

Many of my close friends and acquaintances have ideas to start something completely new or do something innovative within their industry. It’s clear some of them spend significant time thinking, wondering and dreaming, but when it comes to action and potential execution, it stops.

These passionate women are holding back from something they believe in … but why?

Why is Iowa ranked last in women-owned businesses when we have a large number of women’s networking and support groups, and amazing women in our communities who are willing to help? I know there aren’t simple answers to these questions, but these types of thoughts keep coming up.

I came across The Hive Philly, a female co-working space, midsummer and started connecting dots in my mind. Could we have something similar in Des Moines? Do the women in this community want a physical space in which to work, flesh out ideas and projects, dream together, hold workshops and ultimately have a place in which to feel equipped and empowered?

I do.

I’m tired of being involved in meetings with little purpose and events with no outcomes. I don’t want to be a part of organizations because of status, and I definitely don’t want to be a part of something that isn’t moving the needle. But I’ve struggled to find that, so I figured I could create it.

My vision is to create a space for you, dear female reader, to come and remind yourself that you are capable enough to find the success you envision. This is a space where we get things done, whether it’s our own work or spending hours on someone’s vision, where we make the right connections and figure out the necessary resources.

Right now, this idea is simply a vision, so I created a survey to figure out if this is the vision you want to be a part of.

This is the exploration phase of this idea. There are no buildings, no business cards, no hired staff, but if you want it or you think it’s the worst idea ever, please tell me in this short survey.

I’d love to connect with you beyond an online survey if this is something you want to get behind. Just email me!