Antidote Agency, Off World Podcast host Community Create Day at Assembly

Attendees gather around the speaker at an event
hosted by Jay Findlay at Assembly 

The Changemaker Residency Program at Assembly, a coworking space in downtown Norfolk, brings together a cohort of creatives to host events and build their brands. This weekend Jay Findlay, a changemaker member, is inviting creators from Hampton Roads to join him at  OffWorld Sessions: Community Create Day on February 22 from 3-7pm.

The event is the brainchild of OffWorld Podcast and Findlay, owner of Antidote Agency, a cultural marketing agency that curates live experiences with a focus on building community. His describes his brand as “the cure for the culture who forgot the human behind the sound.” Starting out as a rapper in Washington, DC Findlay moved to Virginia Beach where he felt he could add value. His events at Assembly aim to entertain and educate. Every quarter Findlay hosts Extra Curricular Activities, a panel style gathering that provides creatives insight into the business side of their industry and gives business owners a glimpse into the world of creatives. Leveraging his relationships in the music industry and with the city of Virginia Beach, Findlay also works at providing opportunities for artists like live shows because “that’s where they make their money.”  

Jay Findlay speaks to guests at an event  

However, Community Create Day is a little different says Findlay.

“It’s not a traditional showcase,” Findlay says. “We’re having recording session with engineers and a mural that everyone can contribute to.”

Special guests include Radio DJ Shaggy from Z104, Batman, the manager of Malice-  half of Award winning duo The Clipse; and Alana Mercedes of Hot 91 at Norfolk State University. In addition to recording sessions, there will also be spaces for media to conduct interviews and record podcasts. Most of the activity will take place on the rooftop at Assembly, but Findlay says there are also spaces for creators who need a quiet place to develop projects.

Each creator in the Changemaker Residency Program receives a free, year-long Pro membership to Assembly, including usage of the campus resources and amenities. Residents are also eligible to apply for $500 stipends to help cover expenses for eligible events and programming held at Assembly. Residents will also have the opportunity to collaborate with Assembly on mission-aligned programming throughout the 50,000 sq ft campus.

Savannah Bolin, community director at Assembly, manages the program and says the mission of the Changemaker Residency is to build community around innovation and creativity. The latest cohort consists of 13 brand owners and is the largest cohort of Changemakers since the program began in 2023. The businesses range from software companies, health & wellness, STEM, and even lifestyle companies. When accepting creatives into the program, Bolin says Assembly looks at a variety of factors like their impact on the community, how  they’re building community in unique ways and what kind of events they want to launch.

“A lot of them are from different worlds, but by the end they’re collaborating in creative ways,” Bolin says.

More than 250 people have already registered for Create Day and Findlay is looking forward to seeing what new projects come out of the synergy of the event.

“I want to show creatives that their work can be done for a living.”

To register for Community Create Day click here.