In the Community
Thu, 08/02/2012 - 11:20 — Geph
To better serve and invest in our local community the Fab Lab has partnered with several anchor institutions to help introduce people (especially kids) to the process of making. We are helping them to set up their own maker spaces as well as coordinating a variety of collaborations, including workshops, outreach events and consultation. We also continue to retain connections to the global and national Fab Lab community.
Community Partners
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Tap In Leadership AcademyTap In Academy is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing one-on-one mentor-tutoring and scholar-centered enrichment activities that encourage academic achievement, leadership skills and cultural awareness. By providing scholars with equitable opportunities for intellectual, social, and emotional growth, Tap In fosters the kinds of competencies and lifestyles that land students in to four year universities. Status: The Fab Lab worked in conjunction with Tap In over the Summer of 2012 to run a six week program series. Nearly 40 scholars and mentors learned about the Fab Lab process, how to design and modify graphics in Inkscape, and print stickers on a Silhouette Cameo as well as engrave designs with our Epilog Laser. More recently, Tap In has returned with learners and administrators from the nearby Arcola school system for a pair of workshops to further engage with the Fab Lab. Tap In was officially the first community anchor to have fully installed their Silhouette Cameo electronic cutters (they have two!) and deployment cart into their preexisting multimedia lab. We look forward to hearing more about their in-house programming and use. We will be working with Tap In again this summer to run a summer workshop series. |
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Urbana Free LibraryNamed one of "America's best public libraries" in national rating surveys published by The American Library Association, The Urbana Free Library has earned a reputation for the quality of its collections and for outstanding service to patrons of all ages. The library is the very heart of community life in Urbana and continues a longstanding tradition of provision of public computing and digital information access. Status: Recently public libraries have begun to venture into the world of information and materials production and the Urbana Free Library has implemented Fab Lab equipment as part of their youth programming and volunteer tech services in the spring of 2012. Three days a week dozens of youth are invited to make use of a variety of fab and media production workstations in the auditorium (assembled on-site), including a Silhouette Cameo electronic cutter, UP!3D printer, still and video cameras for stop motion and movie making and over a dozen laptops for design with tools like Adobe Photoshop and the Spore Creature Creator. The Fab Lab has now trained half a dozen library tech volunteers and helps people referred to the lab by the library. Our efforts are also complemented by the Urbana Makerspace, who has run a series of electronics workshops, helping kids to solder, create LED robots, instruments out of PVC and more. |
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Stratton Elementary SchoolStratton Elementary is a progressive learning environment that recognizes, respects, and supports the gifts, talents and diversity of students and community. They value and promote genuine collaborative relationships, social justice, and life-long learning for the success and enrichment of all. The Stratton Leadership Magnet School has a unique MicroSociety® curriculum that includes six strands: (1) Technology, (2) Academy, (3) Humanities & Art, (4) Citizenship & Government, (5) Economy and (6) HEART (giving back to society). Status: Over the summer of 2012 we began consulting with Stratton in preparation for a minilab deployment. After initial meetings, half a dozen teachers came out to visit us and learn what the lab is all about. A dedicated volunteer has helped to deploy an electronic cutter and cart as part of their computer lab. They currently need help convincing teachers to make use of the Silhouette in their lesson plans! |
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Don Moyer Boys and Girls ClubThey Boys and Girls Club provides a safe place to learn and grow, ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals, life-enhancing programs and character development experiences and, most of all, hope and opportunity for local youth from underprivileged backgrounds. Status: We have run a number of workshops helping B&G participants to learn the basics of the Fab Lab process. Recently two of our volunteers have been going to their main site to help train some of the older learners to then teach the other kids for future workshops. |