Wicked Rae’s: Building Our Next Community Space

By Jules McVey & Oakley Rae

When we first opened Wicked Rae's, we were held together by belief.

A handful of people on this platform helped us raise about $2,700; enough to paint the walls, buy supplies, build our website, and create a space where an idea could start to become real.

That early support meant more to us than I can fully put into words. It gave us a beginning.

Since then, we’ve done what so many small organizations do in the early years: we’ve bootstrapped everything. We’ve built slowly, intentionally, and with a deep commitment to the people we serve.

And that commitment has led us to work with more than 3,000 people - including disadvantaged youth, children ages 3–7 in our sensory workshops, adults, corporate teams, and nonprofits supporting people in recovery and healing.

What started as a vision has grown into something we could not have imagined on day one.

We are now partnering with organizations year-round as their art integration wellness partner, helping create spaces for healing, growth, and connection through art.

And still, we know there is more to build.

We dream of opening a café, creating a larger community gathering space, and building something that brings people together in a deeper way. A space that creates local jobs, expands access, and becomes a true home for connection, creativity, and care.

Our realtor has shared that the full vision will likely require at least $350K, and that’s why our fundraising goal starts at $100K to help us get into the new space and keep moving forward.

The area we were originally looking at doesn’t have the kind of space we need, so right now the location is open. If you know of a space we should see, or if you have ideas for where we should be, we’d love to hear from you.

We also plan to take you along on the journey through videos on our socials, blog posts on our website, and tours of the spaces we’re exploring. We want this to be bigger than a move. We want it to be a story we build together.

We're so grateful for everyone who has supported us so far.

Your belief helped us begin, and your continued support helps us keep growing. Ten years from now, I hope we can look back and say, “wow… look how far we’ve come!!” And even more than that, look at the community we gained all over the world along the way.

If you’d like to follow along, share, or support what we’re building next, we would be deeply thankful.

Link: Fundraiser by Jules McVey : Help Us Move Into Our New Building and Create Local Jobs

Jules McVey, Oakley Rae, and Bones-Fish

Co-founders of Wicked Rae's