Why Communities Need More Places to Belong
Updated: Sep 7
Wicked Rae's Journey Toward Building a Creative Community Hub
By Jules McVey & Oakley Rae
When we first opened Wicked Rae's, we weren't backed by investors.
We weren't funded by grants.
We weren't supported by a major organization.
We were supported by belief.
A small group of people helped us raise roughly $2,700. The funds weren't large, but their impact was.
Those contributions allowed us to paint walls, purchase supplies, build a website, and create a place where an idea could begin taking shape.
That belief became the foundation for everything that followed.
Since then, Wicked Rae's has served more than 3,000 people through art, creativity, sensory experiences, team-building programs, family workshops, youth programs, community events, and partnerships focused on wellbeing, connection, and human development.
What started as a small creative dream has become something much larger:
A living experiment in what happens when people have a place to gather, create, connect, and belong.
Today, we're asking a bigger question.
What if Wicked Rae's could become something even more meaningful to the communities we serve?
The Growing Need for Community Spaces
Across the country, communities are facing a quiet challenge.
People are more digitally connected than ever.
Yet many report feeling increasingly isolated.
Traditional gathering places have declined.
Neighborhood meeting spots are disappearing.
Opportunities for genuine connection often compete with busy schedules, technology, and social fragmentation.
Researchers frequently refer to these gathering places as "third spaces" or "third places."
The first place is home.
The second place is work.
The third place is where people gather voluntarily to build relationships, share experiences, learn, connect, and participate in community life.
Third places have historically included:
Cafés
Community centers
Libraries
Creative studios
Cultural gathering spaces
Volunteer organizations
Local art hubs
These spaces play an important role in community wellbeing because they create opportunities for belonging.
And belonging matters.
Creativity Is More Than Art
Many people see art as an activity.
We see it as an access point.
Art creates opportunities for:
connection
conversation
healing
self-expression
confidence
community participation
relationship building
Over the past several years, we've witnessed children discover confidence through creativity.
Parents reconnect with their children.
Strangers become friends.
Teams learn to collaborate.
Individuals in recovery find supportive environments.
Organizations build stronger cultures.
What appears to be an art activity on the surface is often something deeper.
A human experience.
Building What Comes Next
As Wicked Rae's grows, so does our vision.
We dream of creating a larger community hub designed around creativity, connection, learning, wellbeing, and belonging.
A space that includes:
Community gathering areas
Expanded art experiences
Family programming
Team-building events
Educational workshops
Creative wellness experiences
Pop-up community events
A future café and social gathering space
Opportunities for local employment
Not simply a business.
A community asset.
A place where people of different ages, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can gather and create together.
Human Experience Design in Action
Much of our work is rooted in Human Experience Design.
Human Experience Design asks a simple but powerful question:
How do people experience the environments around them?
Do they feel welcome?
Connected?
Inspired?
Included?
Safe enough to participate?
Creative enough to contribute?
When spaces are intentionally designed around human needs, remarkable things become possible.
People become more engaged.
Relationships strengthen.
Communities become healthier.
Collective intelligence grows.
The space we're building is ultimately about creating conditions where more of that can happen.
Building Local Impact
This next chapter isn't only about Wicked Rae's.
It's about creating opportunities for our larger community.
The vision includes:
Creating jobs
Supporting local artists
Partnering with nonprofits
Collaborating with schools
Expanding access to creative experiences
Building stronger community networks
Providing gathering spaces for connection and learning
As we explore future locations, we're looking for a space capable of supporting this larger mission.
A place where creativity and community can grow together.
Help Us Build What's Next
Our fundraising goal begins at $100,000, with a larger long-term vision requiring significantly more investment.
But this effort is about more than funds.
It's about participation.
If you know of a space we should explore, we'd love to hear about it.
If you believe communities need more opportunities for creativity and connection, we'd love for you to follow the journey.
We'll be sharing updates through videos, social media, blog posts, and behind-the-scenes tours as we search for the next home of Wicked Rae's.
Because this isn't simply a move.
It's the next chapter in building a community together.
And ten years from now, we hope the most important thing we'll be able to measure isn't square footage or revenue.
It's the lives connected, the friendships formed, the opportunities created, and the community that grew because people chose to believe in what was possible.
Jules McVey, Oakley Rae, and Bones-Fish
Co-founders of Wicked Rae's
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a third place or third space?
A third place is a community gathering space outside of home and work where people connect, learn, socialize, and build relationships. Examples include cafés, libraries, community centers, creative studios, and cultural gathering spaces.
Why are community spaces important?
Community spaces help reduce isolation, strengthen social connection, build relationships, improve wellbeing, support local economies, and create opportunities for civic engagement and belonging.
How does creativity build community?
Creative experiences bring people together through shared activities, collaboration, self-expression, problem-solving, and storytelling. Art often serves as a bridge between people who might not otherwise connect.
What is a creative community hub?
A creative community hub is a gathering space that combines arts, education, culture, wellness, and social connection. These spaces support individuals, families, organizations, and communities through programming and shared experiences.
What is Human Experience Design?
Human Experience Design is the intentional creation of environments, systems, interactions, and experiences that support how people learn, connect, engage, and thrive.
How do arts programs benefit communities?
Arts programs contribute to social connection, creative development, emotional wellbeing, community engagement, lifelong learning, cultural expression, and economic development.
What makes Wicked Rae's different?
Wicked Rae's combines art, creativity, experiential learning, team development, wellness, family programming, and community engagement to create meaningful experiences designed to strengthen human connection and collective wellbeing.
How can people support the Wicked Rae's expansion?
People can support by sharing the vision, donating to fundraising efforts, connecting Wicked Rae's with potential locations or community partners, attending events, and participating in programs that strengthen local communities.
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