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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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. UFL has an outstanding combination media-maker hybrid space sponsored by the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Informatics and the Fab Lab. Available activities include AV production, basic frabrication, digital art, games and more. It is open to teens (ages 11-18) several days a week. Check their calendar for more details. |
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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. Tap In has a mini lab with 2 electronic cutters and a computer lab with open source (Fab Lab compatible) design tools. |
Home School GroupThe Fab Lab Makers (Youth Council) helps to host a group of homeschoolers who visit the Fab Lab for special events. |
Other Community Connections
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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. |
Urbana Neighborhood Connections CenterUrbana Neighborhood Connections Center's vision is for a healthy,
compassionate, progressive community where all children and families
have access to services and supports that empowers successful
development. To bring that vision into reality, UNCC provides quality
educational, social-emotional, spiritual and recreational enrichments to
youth and their families within the context of a safe, structured and
nurturing environment. Janice Mitchell is the Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator Liason who began the efforts to establish the UNCC. |
Events with Community Groups
We've also worked on events with groups like SPLASH, Stratton Elementary, University High School, Upward Bound, Out of the Mouths of Babes, the Urbana Makerspace, Python Users Group, EnLIST (Matt Schroyer), Flatland Woodturners, UI Living Learning Communities and more.