There’s a space for lease on Market Street and there’s an organization that really hopes they can stay where they are.
After finding this post on Craigslist about a 4451ft² ground floor commercial space for rent at 1720 Market Street, we walked over to the former home of the Happiness Institute to see what we could find out.
Last May, another group joined them in this building located one block from Zuni: the Veterans Community Media Center (VCMC). Displaced from their home in the War Memorial due to retrofitting, they teamed up with the Happiness Institute to share some of the rooms. After the Institute moved out, they utilized the entire place for a wide array of programs dedicated to helping veterans.
We spoke with Ellison Horne, the co-founder of the VCMC, about the history of the organization, the types of programs they provide, and how they need our help so they can stay here in Hayes Valley.
Ellison’s role and the history of 1720 Market take us back to 2001 when two buildings were combined in the current location to create production space for Channel 29. “Five years ago, the city slashed the budget for public access television so the Bay Area Video Coalition helped take over and moved all the equipment and electronics to their facility on Mariposa across from KQED” he told us. “This place stayed empty for three years until the Happiness Institute moved in.”
After the Happiness Institute closed their doors, the VCMC took over the entire space. The center serves as a place where any veterans can come and get help with anything media related: working on their resume, searching for jobs, livestreaming panels, and even showcasing art.
Even though almost all of the television equipment was removed, there’s one small studio left:
They’ve used this area for a variety of projects. Most recently they streamed a half hour program on military sexual trauma and are planning on hosting a comedy night in March. Ellison explained “when veterans come up with an idea, one of our team members serves as the sponsor and helps them make it happen.”
Which brings us to their next big project, one with which they need help. Their lease is up in a few months, and rather than moving to another temporary space, they’d love to stay here for another 5 years. In order to do so, they need to raise some funds. They want to organize a mixer that connects veterans with the tech community and hopefully raises awareness to future donors about their purpose and vision.
“We’re planning this tech mixer to give veterans a chance to connect with other veterans employed at places like Twitter and Google so they can learn more about the reentry process” Ellison told us. “But we need help finding veterans currently in tech companies.”
While the date isn’t set yet, they’re aiming for late April or early May and waiting to hear back from the Mayor’s office to see if Ed Lee can join. If you’re a veteran in tech, or know of any other veterans currently working in tech, please reach out to Ellison at ellisonhorne@yahoo.com or through their Facebook page.
And if you or anyone you know would like to utilize the programs offered here, the VCMC hours are Tuesday-Friday (12-5pm) and the Success Center is open Tues, Thurs, and Fri (1-5pm).
