Cancer Survivor Opens Co-Space for Black Entrepreneurs

When Joy St. Clair was diagnosed with cancer and told she had less than a year to live, she started saving money to leave her family. A decade later and cancer-free, she used that "death money" to spark life into her community instead.

The Liberty City native co-founded Co-Space, a shared workspace and content studio in Miami Gardens that's become home to 42 Black-owned businesses. In just three years, she's transformed a 1,537 square foot building into a cultural hub where entrepreneurs who couldn't afford their own offices now run thriving companies side by side.

"The Black community can be together, come in and sit with their laptops and work around other nice people," said St. Clair, 39. "They love working around people and feel safe."

The member list reads like a who's who of local business: realtors, hair salons, nonprofit organizations, lawyers, doctors, fitness instructors, and even city officials who book space for community meetings. One movie producer edited his latest film there. Lawyers with downtown offices use Co-Space as satellite locations closer to home.

But the real magic happens in the connections. When one entrepreneur struggled with marketing, another Co-Space member who happened to be a marketing consultant stepped in to help for free.

St. Clair's path to entrepreneurship wasn't traditional. As an American Express executive and real estate partner with her husband, she was already successful. But after accepting her cancer diagnosis with the calm courage of her Trinidadian heritage, she had a vision for something different.

"People told me it doesn't exist so you have to create it," she said. Her husband encouraged her to use the money she'd saved to start fresh.

The building sat empty at first. Then community meetings and social media campaigns helped people understand her vision. Slowly, entrepreneurs started filling the space.

The Ripple Effect

During tough economic times, St. Clair's model offers real relief. Monthly memberships cost far less than traditional office rent, and the shared resources multiply everyone's capabilities.

Ashley Carter, co-founder of EatWell Exchange, uses Co-Space to connect with the Black community about nutrition education and affordable food. "We believe that culture is not the barrier, it's the solution," Carter said.

Dr. Karine Melissa, president of the Miami-Dade Women Chamber of Commerce, calls Co-Space unlike anywhere else. "They have a team of people who are very hospitable. They take care of their members and provide great services and anything else we need for our businesses."

St. Clair's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: look for problems people face and solve them. "People will pay you to solve their problems," she said.

What started as money saved for a funeral has funded 42 new beginnings instead.