A Fresh Start for Jeff
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*PLEASE DO NOT REPOST - NOT PUBLIC YET*
SoleSpace is Closing - Help me get back on my feet
This feels weird, but some friends have said they'd prefer to make a direct contribution to help me have some basic funds to pay my rent and meals for a month until I find some work and get back on my feet.
If that makes sense for you, thank you. Either way, thank you for considering this - I really appreciate it.
BACKGROUND:
I will be closing SoleSpace in the next couple weeks after 6 years, over 600 community events and 50 art shows.
I'm very grateful for the community's support support and all we've accomplished together since Favianna and I kicked off this wacky and dynamic experiment way back in late 2012.
There are many reasons for wrapping up now - the rising rents, the rapidly changing retail environment due to Amazon and Zappos, my advancing age - but the final straw was my lengthy hospitalization this past Summer for "necrotizing pancreatitis." I couldn't eat or drink for 3 weeks, lost 25 pounds and honestly, I'm lucky to be here.
I've been slowly healing the last 5 weeks but my doctors have told me that I need to make significant changes in my life and drastically reduce my stress levels. Also, the insane hospital bills - on top of my already growing debt - have been devastating financially and just make it impossible to continue.
I'll be filing for bankruptcy shortly and starting from scratch with no savings at age 49 - which is scary. I poured every last cent and pretty much every ounce of my energy into keeping SoleSpace's doors open as a community resource for these 6 years.
Honestly, each day I'm trying to navigate pretty intense feelings of sadness, relief, shame, pride, regret and appreciation.
I'm eager to turn the page and I thank you for considering helping with that process.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
- Hire me or help me find a gig! I'm excited for the next chapter and I hope you'll help me find meaningful work that builds on my SoleSpace experience as a social entrepreneur, cultural strategist and community connector, as well as my previous work in philanthropy, nonprofits, communications, fundraising and public policy. I dare say I'm creative, strategic, fun and a very hard worker. Ready? Go!
SoleSpace is Closing - Help me get back on my feet
This feels weird, but some friends have said they'd prefer to make a direct contribution to help me have some basic funds to pay my rent and meals for a month until I find some work and get back on my feet.
If that makes sense for you, thank you. Either way, thank you for considering this - I really appreciate it.
BACKGROUND:
I will be closing SoleSpace in the next couple weeks after 6 years, over 600 community events and 50 art shows.
I'm very grateful for the community's support support and all we've accomplished together since Favianna and I kicked off this wacky and dynamic experiment way back in late 2012.
There are many reasons for wrapping up now - the rising rents, the rapidly changing retail environment due to Amazon and Zappos, my advancing age - but the final straw was my lengthy hospitalization this past Summer for "necrotizing pancreatitis." I couldn't eat or drink for 3 weeks, lost 25 pounds and honestly, I'm lucky to be here.
I've been slowly healing the last 5 weeks but my doctors have told me that I need to make significant changes in my life and drastically reduce my stress levels. Also, the insane hospital bills - on top of my already growing debt - have been devastating financially and just make it impossible to continue.
I'll be filing for bankruptcy shortly and starting from scratch with no savings at age 49 - which is scary. I poured every last cent and pretty much every ounce of my energy into keeping SoleSpace's doors open as a community resource for these 6 years.
Honestly, each day I'm trying to navigate pretty intense feelings of sadness, relief, shame, pride, regret and appreciation.
I'm eager to turn the page and I thank you for considering helping with that process.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
- Hire me or help me find a gig! I'm excited for the next chapter and I hope you'll help me find meaningful work that builds on my SoleSpace experience as a social entrepreneur, cultural strategist and community connector, as well as my previous work in philanthropy, nonprofits, communications, fundraising and public policy. I dare say I'm creative, strategic, fun and a very hard worker. Ready? Go!
Organizer
Jeff Perlstein
Organizer
Oakland, CA