Willy Street Co-op in Madison, Wis., has had an eventful few months. In March, they held the grand opening of Aubergine, a dedicated stand-alone community space across the street from their east Madison location. Aubergine (which means “eggplant” in French and is named for the co-op’s mascot, Eggie the Eggplant) provides space for commercial kitchen rentals, as well as cooking, wellness and private classes. Additionally, the 2,700-square-foot area features wall space for artwork by local artists.

“We want Aubergine to be a true community hub, shaped by the needs and ideas of our neighbors,” Willy Street Co-op’s General Manager Anya Firszt says. “We look forward to collaborating with local organizations and welcoming everyone to explore and create within this space.”

A couple months later, on May 3, Aubergine participated in the Spring Madison Gallery Night, featuring Jessica M. Gutiérrez, a Nicaraguan American self-taught watercolor and mixed media artist residing in Madison. The co-op partnered with CafeCODA, a local jazz studio that shares a door with Aubergine’s space, to provide music for the event.

On May 8, members from 22 nonprofit organizations gathered at Aubergine to share stories about the upcoming Willy Street Co-op Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) and the impactful work they do throughout the year. Grants from the CRF are awarded to innovative, educational and/or entrepreneurial endeavors that impact a large group of people, reach out to underserved populations, create jobs or develop skills, foster social engagement and offer opportunities for diversifying partnerships and collaboration. This year, Willy Street’s board allocated $65,000 for the grant fund, an increase of $10,000 over last year.