We recently connected with Madysen Coates and have shared our conversation below.

Madysen , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea for GraySpace Wellness actually came to me in one of those new-mom moments. I was driving with my one-week-old son in the backseat, and as I passed by a country club, I thought “why isn’t there a place like this, but for enlightenment?”. A space that feels luxurious in spirit, but is inclusive, healing, and free. At the same time, I kept thinking about my grandmother, who was a Black Panther. Her legacy taught me that community care and liberation have to go hand in hand. So I wanted to blend those two ideas; her revolutionary spirit with a holistic, modern aesthetic. That’s what sparked my philanthropic journey: the realization that we deserve spaces where wellness, empowerment, and future generations can grow together.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Madysen Coates, I’m 23 years old and originally from Southside Jamaica Ave. in Queens, New York. Growing up, life always felt like a stage; not to perform, but to practice living with authenticity, kindness, and grace. At 16, I graduated high school and moved to Atlanta to study at the Atlanta Institute of Music. While I loved the music business, I realized my true calling was creating something that healed and inspired people on a deeper level. That’s what led me into the nonprofit space.

Today, I lead GraySpace Wellness, servicing the RDU area of North Carolina. We center our work on four core services: hydroponic farming, therapy, youth development, and workshops, because I believe these are the pillars that keep the world in balance. So far, we’ve grown over 100 pounds of produce, hosted youth fundraisers, and even taught classes on helping others to start nonprofits of their own.

What sets us apart is our belief that true communal care should be accessible and inclusive. I didn’t let being young stop me from building this vision. I jumped in, got certified, and started networking immediately. At GraySpace Wellness, we believe that filling someone else’s cup is how you fill your own, and that’s the legacy we’re building for generations to come.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One moment that really tested my resilience was when I hosted my very first GraySpace Wellness event. I had planned everything down to the last detail, but the morning of, almost half of my volunteers canceled, and I was left scrambling. For a split second, I thought about postponing, but then I reminded myself that the people showing up needed this space, and I couldn’t let them down. So, with my anxiety high and no real backup plan, I rolled up my sleeves and did everything from setting up chairs to greeting guests myself.

By the end of the day, not only did the event go smoothly, but it ended up being one of our most impactful, attendees told me how much they needed what we provided. That experience taught me that resilience isn’t about having everything go perfectly, it’s about finding the strength to show up fully even when things fall apart. It proved to me that GraySpace Wellness wasn’t just an idea, it was a mission worth fighting for.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Funding GraySpace Wellness started in the most personal way. As a new single mom, money was always tight, but I made a promise to myself. I would put aside whatever I could, even if it was just $5 or $10 from my grocery money, into an envelope labeled ‘GraySpace.’ It felt small at the time, but those little sacrifices slowly became my seed fund. That discipline and love for my son pushed me to file the paperwork and launch my first programs. For me, resilience looked like choosing long-term purpose over short-term comfort, and building this nonprofit dollar by dollar because I knew it was bigger than me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://grayspacewellness.org
• Instagram: grayspace.wellness