Dear Stoke supporters, members, and partners,
It's been a hell of a couple of years for us at Stoke, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect and share some of what has been accomplished and achieved in that time. After taking all of our events and programs online in early 2020, we continued to conduct them virtually last year. This includes our weekly Coffee + Conversation, monthly Lunch + Learns, and annual events like FlintConf and the entirety of the AccelerateHER incubator program and pitch event - all were held 100% online and we managed to make them engaging and keep people connected.
We hosted all of these events and programs while also continuing to operate the 9,000 sq ft coworking space that we've managed in a public-private partnership with the City of Denton for the last 5+ years. We did all of this as we undertook a 10 week renovation of our space to add 12 new private offices and an exterior awning. Stoke staff worked to take excellent care of our members and were able to continue to grow our member community to new levels. We work to provide a space and community that is authentic, inclusive, and creative - to connect to others, learn, and work.
Mural at Stoke, created by ArtLab3000
One of our biggest successes of 2021 was the conclusion of the first ever AccelerateHER program, an incubator program for women-owned businesses which Stoke run in partnership with TWU Center for Women Entrepreneurs. The program provides intensive support to women entrepreneurs through weekly cohort calls, weekly workshops, and hands-on mentorship for the 5-months of the program. We will wrap our second cohort at the end of February with a pitch event. We would love to see as many of you there as possible to support and encourage the talented, driven, and diverse women we have in the program.
AccelerateHER incubator program event flyer
Stoke celebrated its 5 year anniversary on August 1 of last year, and earlier this month I celebrated 5 years with the organization. These are tremendous accomplishments to me both professionally and personally, and I am grateful every day for the community that we have at Stoke and in Denton, the space that we've built, and the positive impact that we've had on the culture and economy of Denton. I am proud of the work that has been accomplished and excited for what is to come.
-Heather Gregory, Stoke Executive Director
