Human Interest San Francisco Carpenter Inspires Others While Achieving Her Own Dreams Katie Gong's goal is to create a safe space for other artists to set up shop By Erin Hill Erin Hill Twitter Senior News Editor, PEOPLE People Editorial Guidelines Published on January 31, 2017 02:25 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Episode 7 of AMERICAN DOERS, a new 12-part video series featuring original thinkers, innovators, craftspeople, risk-takers and artisans across the United States. San Francisco carpenter Katie Gong wants to create a safe space for other artists to set up shop. The longtime woodworker wants to expand her studio space into a community — a family of artists. But she feels the pressure every month to come up with the rent on her 4,000-square-foot space. For more American Doers, go to americandoers.people.com. Gong applied for a grant from the city to help furnish her space with lights, paint and security. Happy Marshall Productions “We just want to offer affordable spaces to people who are getting forced out of San Francisco,” she says.