Hacker Gals is an organization where women can learn everything from how to cook a quick, healthy recipe to how to create an app for their business.
From the outside, the old Jericho Motors building on Kalamazoo’s Westside looks all but abandoned. But as of last month, this was where the Hacker Gals met twice a week.
Jessica Maronto says it’s a great way to access resources in the community.
“I think it’s really important for women to have a place to connect with other women," says Maronto. "And to be able to build and create and develop and find resources, or access to resources, they wouldn’t have in their own environment or on their own.”
Hacker Gals came out of a similar group in Grand Rapids called Makerspace, which was started in 2013. Founder of Hacker Gals, Stacy Burdette says she wanted to take it a step farther and create something just for women.
“Just trying to figure out how to get through everyday life, even those types of resources were hard to find. My idea was to bring a group together in person and the more I researched it, women wanted to get things done, it defiantly had to be face to face,” says Burdette.
But why meet face-to-face when there’s thousands of resources on the internet? Hacker Gal Sydney Davis says it’s just not the same.
“You don’t really know who’s behind the computer screen typing it, it’s good if you know face-to-face who your relating to," she says. "And some things are outdated and it’s not really custom to tailor what you specifically need.”
Sydney Davis is an entrepreneur. She runs her own website and provides help to those looking to do the same.
“I think since I’ve been a business owner this is the only all women group that I’ve been able to find support," says Davis. "And I know when I come to a meeting, class or workshop I can have a good time, make friends and I can accomplish something I probably wouldn’t have by myself.”
Reaching out to younger women wasn’t the main goal for Hacker Gals but Burdette says they’ve recruited quite a few. Davis says she blogs to help women in their 20s find their voice in the community.
“I decided to specifically talk about my experiences through college my career and my entrepreneurial journey, to provide information resources and empowerment to young folks my age who want to know how to get it done with the means that they have," says Davis. "I feel my target audience goal is to get a career that will pay you what you paid for the education.”
Burdette says Hacker Gals also helps women relax and relieve stress by providing activities such as PiYo which is an exercise inspired by pilates and yoga.
“Many of the Gals want to do it, but they’re shy about trying it in a more public setting," says Burdette. "So this gave the chance for all skill levels to be able to do it.”
Founder Stacy Burdette says she can only hope Hacker Gals grows bigger and spreads to different communities all over the world. But for now, the goal is to find a new Hacker Space to conduct meetings.
“I’ve heard there are many spaces that are either empty or underutilized so it seems like there’s something out there we can use now,” says Burdette.
Burdette says this is an organization where you can connect with someone who has probably gone through or is going through some of the same struggles in their lives and Davis says the Hacker Gals aren’t here to criticize.
“If you need to feel a free of judgment open environment for women, that would be Hacker Gals,” says Davis.
You can contact Hacker Gals through their Facebook page.