Do I need to identify as queer to use the space?

The Dandelion Collective is available for use by Queer / Trans / Non-Binary individuals and our allies.

Why Dandelion?

While American society typically regards the dandelion as an undesirable weed, it is actually an invaluable plant that contributes to the overall wellbeing of the ecosystem around it. Dandelions are incredibly resilient plants that can grow in the most unforgiving and inhospitable conditions. They grow taproots that go up to 15’ underground to find nutrients and pull them up to the surface to benefit themselves and any surrounding flora and fauna. The plant itself is nutrient dense and every part of it can be used for edible or medicinal purposes.

Like the Dandelion, we have used our innate resources to establish a resource to support the community. Dandelion Collective is more than a place to work. It is an intentional community hub. Folks who can afford to pay membership fees for their businesses or organizations make it possible for us to create free or reduced cost access to the building and its resources. We are dedicated to taking a people first approach to every decision we make.

Is the building wheelchair accessible?

Unfortunately, the building is not wheelchair accessible, as there are stairs connected to every entrance and no ramp. When we signed the lease, we included a clause where the landlord granted approval to make “reasonable” renovations to create this access. We are researching options and grants to make this possible.
We believe that accessibility means many things. When looking for a space to call home for our collective, we wanted to find a building that covered as many accessibility requirements as possible, centering the safety and well -being needs of the trans and nb community. This meant we needed a building that had gender neutral restrooms and a fitness center (or the ability to establish one). We also needed to be in a building where we had the power to define and shape how “security” was defined and managed. The space also needed to be financially sustainable. We found that, unfortunately, if you are in DC and want all of these things, wheelchair accessible buildings become hard to find.
This said… if you would like to share resources on creating or advocating for ADA accessibility in DC or if you have leads on wheelchair accessible buildings that meet the criteria listed above, please feel free to send us an email. We’d love to connect.
If you are looking for a queer-run space that is also wheelchair accessible, consider checking out the resources available at new DC Center Building.

Can I host a one-off event at your building?

Yes! Send us an email with details about your event and your budget and we will work with you to see what we can do. We love a creative or unique idea. If you are still in a concept phase and are looking for a collaborative partner, reach out!

How can I benefit from the collective if I cannot afford a membership fee?

If you are just looking for events managed and attended by the queer community, check out our Community Events page. Most events hosted at Dandelion Collective are free to attend.
If you need a place to work, send us an email. Tell us about yourself and your workspace needs (just communal coworking? Need a private office? How frequently?). Based in this information, we will see what is possible. In our first year of operations, we have worked out multiple agreements for free, reduced fee, and barter.

Do you have a question that was not answered here? Please send us an email with your question and we will get back to you as soon as possible.