Unplugged Spaces

The Unplugged Spaces pathway equips small business owners and organizers to revitalize their community’s lost Third Spaces. With our year-round tools, playbooks, and hands-on GDU Team support, Village Leaders transform bars, cafés, bookstores, community gardens, and more back into hubs where people naturally build connection and belonging through weekly or monthly unplugged activations.

Build Your Village

Learn more about Unplugged Village®

  • Small business owners, Gen Z and Millennial organizers, local leaders, etc.

  • Participants are community members seeking accessible connection, belonging, and purpose.

  • Unplugged Spaces gives you practical, ready-to-use ways to reduce digital distraction without disrupting your business model. Our approach is flexible, hospitality-friendly, and rooted in community-building.

    • Wifi-Free Coffee Hour

    • Unplugged Happy Hour

    • Music-driven or analog-friendly nights

    • Craft actvities and hands-on experiences (journaling, simple art prompts, paper games, tabletop puzzles).

    • Community Tables (conversation starters)

  • Gatherings typically take place in low-cost or free communal spaces such as cafés, bars, bookstores, boutiques, libraries, museums, parks, pubs, music venues, etc.

    (we’ll meet you wherever your community comes together!)

See it in Action

  • Unplugged Spaces: Dining
  • Laptop Free Dining
  • Unplugged Dining
  • Unplugged Coffee Grounds
  • Unplugged Spaces: Library
  • Unplugged Coffee Grounds
  • Unplugged Storefront
  • Fox point farms
  • Unplugged Coffee Cafe
  • Unplugged Spaces: Mall
  • Unplugged Spaces: Dance Studio
  • Unplugged Spaces: Wine Bar
  • Unplugged Spaces Wine Bar
  • Atl
UV City Pages

How It Works

Join: Sign up for the Unplugged Village Membership and gain access to hands-on support, resources, and inspiration.

  • $0 Spark – Starting Your Village.

  • $120 Ember – Building Your Village.

Start Small: Host your first unplugged gathering focused on your community's unique needs.

Grow Collaborations: Expand your reach by partnering with other local leaders, small businesses, or organizations.

Celebrate Together: Unite your community each March around the Annual GDU.

What You Get

Each member tier gains access to a dashboard with the resources, tools, and hands-on support needed for any Village Pathway.

    • Gatherer Playbooks (Ember)→ Step-by-step strategic planning tips for growing your Village and hosting unplugged gatherings (Schools & Youth, Third Spaces, and Farmers Market).

    • Gatherer Guides (Spark) → General guidance for hosting gatherings and building a Village (Schools & Youth, Third Spaces, Farmers Markets).

    • Resource Library → Collection of downloadable tools, signs, and digital well-being activities (Ember has access to customizable templates).

    • UV City Page (Ember) → Showcases your gatherings and activities, collaborations, and community connection metrics (regularly updated).

    • In-Kind Partner Resources (Ember) → Access our partner network for in-kind donations like snacks, drinks, discounts, and memorable activation tools to elevate your gatherings.

    • Strategy Sessions ($50) → 1:1 strategy calls and follow-up with a GDU specialist. (1 free session upon sign up).

    • Village Kit ($50) → UV stickers, pins, custom UV city decals, coasters, partnered goodies, and 25 Smartphone Nap-Sacks. (Ember Perk: option to order 1 free kit).

    • Smartphone Nap-Sacks ($1 ea.) → A quiet pouch for your Villagers’ loud little rectangle.s

Build Your Village