SketchPad started as the brainchild of Irene Lehrer Sandalow in 2015. While working from home for a national Jewish nonprofit, she found that it was difficult to coordinate with like-minded organizers at a centralized location. While other co-working spaces already existed, there was no venue that could provide what she was looking for. Irene envisioned a break from the norm: a pointedly Jewish workspace centered around community organizers and nonprofits. She convened a group of Jewish leaders who would become anchor organizations of this new initiative. It takes bold leaders to foster new ideas, and SketchPad wouldn’t be a reality without the early support of JCUA, KAHAL, Avodah, SVARA, AJWS, Worker’s Circle, Orot, and others. Through many space visits and conversations to envision the goals and values of the new entity, the group took a leap of faith to co-create this organization, and SketchPad was officially established in 2017.
When deciding the identity of what the space would be, the name “SketchPad'' stuck out in the early stages of development. It captured the essence of what an ideal co-working space has to offer. By incorporating the ideas, feedback, and expertise of the individuals in the space, members are able to go back to the drawing board and adapt. “SketchPad” marked the ever-changing nature at the core of collaboration.
Since day one SketchPad has been a pioneer in the Jewish nonprofit community. Intentionally setting a tone of acceptance, the space began to fill with a diverse collection of organizations, from animal rights groups to LGBT advocacy programs. By allowing different groups to be in conversation with one another through career enrichment programming, networking events, and sheer proximity, SketchPad grew into a close community centered around innovative Jewish ideas.
When deciding the identity of what the space would be, the name “SketchPad'' stuck out in the early stages of development. It captured the essence of what an ideal co-working space has to offer. By incorporating the ideas, feedback, and expertise of the individuals in the space, members are able to go back to the drawing board and adapt. “SketchPad” marked the ever-changing nature at the core of collaboration.
Since day one SketchPad has been a pioneer in the Jewish nonprofit community. Intentionally setting a tone of acceptance, the space began to fill with a diverse collection of organizations, from animal rights groups to LGBT advocacy programs. By allowing different groups to be in conversation with one another through career enrichment programming, networking events, and sheer proximity, SketchPad grew into a close community centered around innovative Jewish ideas.
- Presenting Chicago's eleventh annual Jewish 36 under 36 list - JUF: July 19, 2022
- Chicago’s Only Jewish Coworking Space SketchPad Moves to New Space - ChiTribe: June 16, 2022
- Building Community, Efficiencies, and Jewish Life: Why We Should Grow Jewish Coworking - eJewish Philanthropy: September 6, 2019
- This co-working space is Jewish take on WeWork - JTA: June 25, 2019
- Coworking Spaces With a Jewish Bent - Tablet: October 26, 2018
- What Makes A Co-Working Space Jewish? -The Forward: October 3, 2018.
- Lakeview local Irene Lehrer Sandalow receives prestigious award - The Patch: September 28, 2018
- In Chicago, Jewish Groups Share Desks and a Sense of Mission - Tablet: March 2, 2017