b"six different kitchens. There are often other businesses working at the same time,sothereisasenseofcommu-nity. Well sample each others food or talk about whats going on in the food world.Itsyourownprivatespace but at the same time, you are part of a community.Formanynearbyfoodentrepre-neurs, GSKs opening could not have come at a better time. Thats because Pilotworks, a shared kitchen space in Newark, shuttered just as GSK started renting.Theyliterallyclosedover-night. People called me and said, You know,Iwenttogousethekitchen during my allotted time and there was a lock on the door. It was pretty trau-matic, Ohleth says. It was great tim- With a background in food, corporate ing for us and really unfortunate tim- marketing, and nonprofit, Stacy Basko is well-suited for the job of director of ing for them. But we were able to becommunity engagement and curriculum that bridge for a lot of people. development. Photo by Julia Maloof AlthoughthesixkitchenspacesVerderosa.are humming along, GSKs goal is to provide educational opportunities forWhen she met Ohleth at a Valley foodbusinessesthatexistoutsideitsArts event, they started discussing col-walls as well. Monthly workshops andlaboration. Now Basko runs the highly classesareavailableonlineforthosesuccessful series called The Formula, near and far. GSKs signature workshops for grow-MaplewoodresidentStacyBaskoing food businesses. Stacy has a cu-has held myriad food business and cheflinarybackgroundbutalsobringsa positions, which makes her a perfectwide variety of experiences and posi-match for working at GSK as the di- tions in the world, says Ohleth. Shes rector of community engagement andworked at homeless shelters and mar-curriculum development. I was look- keting for Bank of America and brings ing for a commercial kitchen when Ia lot of that real life experience to that first moved out here and started think- culinary aspect in the workshop. Class ing about running a food business. Buttopicsincludemarketingandsocial I could never find one that was closemedia strategies, business certification, I g n i t e Y o u r enough, she says. how to break into the farmers-market N e t w o r kJOIN THE SOMA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ATOUR IGNITE YOUR NETWORK EVENT TOCONNECT, LEARN, AND GROW WITH YOURLOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITYAT SOPAC LOFTTHURSDAY 4/286PM - 9PMSPONSORED BYTICKETS AT SOMACHAMBER.ORGJewel Domino operates BelleJohns' Soul Food, her all-natural soul food business, from Garden State Kitchen. There's always a line in front of her tent at the South Orange Farmers Market. Photo by Julia Maloof Verderosa.36/ matters magazine / hearth + home 2022"