If you’re anything like me, then you may have had a childhood – and even adulthood – obsessed with some niche aspects of pop culture. Maybe you were obsessed with comic books or science fiction, or maybe you preferred role-playing or video games. Or maybe you just had one or two franchises or media that you were particularly obsessed with.
If that’s true, then you may meet the criteria of geekdom.
Being a geek can be a lot of fun. But it can also feel isolating, especially if you don’t always share the same interests and passions as everyone around you. For many of us geeks, growing up can be hard until we get old enough to find our own friends and communities. It would have been amazing to have a space when I was young where I could meet and socialize with fellow geeks my age and not feel isolated or alone.
In short, Geek Space in Jerusalem is what I wish I had when I was a kid.
For years, Geek Space has been a place where nerdy teenagers can get together and find the community they need. What started out as a weekly program has grown into a full-fledged community space, with hundreds of members and a plethora of regular activities and meet-ups. Created by Tiferet Sigala, it has found a new home at Yarden Cohen’s JLM SPARK community center, and it is for that reason that both people are being featured here as Jerusalemite of the Week.
Following their annual Hanukkah party for their members, In Jerusalem sat down with them to hear about their work.
Tell me about Geek Space and how it started.
Sigala: Geek Space is a JLM SPARK community for geeky-fandomy teens. It started as a weekly program in 2021 to provide a creative and supportive home for teens who ‘like to like things.’
There are a lot of definitions for the word ‘geek.’ When we talk about geeky teens, we are talking about those who enjoy being fans of media, especially sci-fi, fantasy, comics, anime, role-playing, etc. I know that these teenagers exist, and I know that they are capable of awesome things because I was a geeky teen.
I also knew that these teens didn’t really have a home in Jerusalem. They traveled to conventions at the Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv or hung out on the floors of the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.
That’s how Geek Space started, providing a supportive and empowering creative space for amazingly passionate teens.
After two years of Geek Space running as a weekly program, in which we worked on individual and joint projects (the big project being the Geek Space Convention), we shifted to a community format.
Meanwhile, more teen communities opened in JLM SPARK, providing a space for teens with diverse interests.
Currently, Geek Space is a thriving community, with monthly meet-ups, workshops, courses, and different types of events. The community is also very active on WhatsApp, with almost 400 members and over 20 groups devoted to different subjects (art, writing, memes, games, etc).
What role do you play in Geek Space?
Sigala: I am the founder and manager of the community.
On a technical level, that means I am in charge of conceiving and planning content year-round, working with suppliers for workshops and courses, managing the budget, running the monthly meet-ups, and monitoring WhatsApp groups.
On a deeper level, it is my responsibility, and my privilege, to be a supportive adult for teens who are often struggling to find themselves and their community. It is my job to create and maintain a safe, empowering, and creative space where teens can be themselves, learn real-life skills, create, and make mistakes.
Tell me about the Hanukkah party.
Sigala: The Geek Space Hanukkah convention is the ‘community-operated’ event of the year. The explicit goal is to provide a meaningful and empowering experience for geeks ages 12 to 18. Everything is planned and operated by the teens of the community, and all the participants are teens.
We start working on conventions at least two months in advance. I put out an open call for convention staff. Based on that, I create teams (logistics, cosplay, content, etc.), provide a framework and outline, appoint team leaders, and then take a step back to watch and support the teams as they work.
It can get a little messy, and it isn’t the most streamlined Geek Space event, but that is the point. The convention staff can practice important skills – teamwork, creative thinking, communication, and time management – in a setting that is important enough that they truly care about the outcome, but low stakes enough that they aren’t afraid to take risks and make mistakes.
After every convention, we reflect on the process and write up a document with recommendations for future conventions.
The convention is a full day of lectures, workshops, a cosplay competition, and more. There are different areas for games, reading, photos, and a room full of teenage vendors selling their creations.
Tell me more about JLM Spark. How did it start? What else happens there?
Cohen: The JLM SPARK Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center is a home for innovation and entrepreneurship for Jerusalem’s youth. Here, we help the city’s young people acquire skills in innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and career development.
This is all with the aim of creating the next generation who will lead the city.
The center also has additional youth communities, including a community of online content creators and a gaming community.
What other community spaces are there in the city?
Cohen: JLM SPARK is part of the municipality’s network of youth centers. It is a unique center that provides a space for young residents of the city for social activism, art, music, and more.
As Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said, ‘Jerusalem believes in its youth, not only as learners but as creators and leaders. Geek Space is an impressive example of youth who take responsibility, plan, initiate, and produce a whole world of content on their own.’ ■