BB2C Epicenter Makerspace -We're In!!
Moved in December 27, Makerspace Coordinator started January 2, successfully pulled off our first event January 5! Welcome to 2018...
On her first day Jenny Bruce, our new Makerspace Coordinator, announced that she had an idea for an event to be held in conjunction with Marietta Main Street's First Friday....three days from now. Great, we say, let's do it! The ideas from Jenny continued to come about every 5 minutes. This is the kind of person that a makerspace needs. She comes to us with a wealth of experience in a variety of fields, namely the health field, and has already applied what she knows to the work that has been required. While most of the work this week has focused on organizing and cleaning, she has also made contact with multiple local businesses to see how we can work together. Jenny also has a strong desire to help youth achieve success, which is the heart of the Building Bridges to Careers organization.
The event was called "A Makerspace Welcome", with a Fire and Ice theme. Jenny coordinated two activities that had visitors making stuff: making ice cream in a bag, and making leather bracelets with local artist Rebekah Williamson. Rebekah demonstrated leather and wood burning, and visitors could burn designs of their own into the leather bracelets that they purchased. To our surprise, 45 people stopped in to visit! We don't even have equipment in our makerspaces yet, so they got to see virtually empty spaces. This is why we also had visitors complete our Epicenter Expansion survey so they can tell us what they want in their community makerspace.
All of us are thrilled with our new location, and are very excited to see what we will be able to accomplish this year. This new location not only provides room for makerspaces, it also has more offices for small business incubation. There are 4 offices left (2 small and 2 large), so interested people should contact Pamela Lankford right away. Also, the career development and exploration possibilities for youth are endless....we are already talking about GIS, coding, basic electronics, welding, alternative energy, wood burning, 3D technology, classes for teachers to make student connections, starting a business....I am sure Jenny will help us get it all figured out ;)
Please donate...the Marietta Community Foundation is still matching donations $1 for $1 up to $15,000 for the Epicenter Expansion. You can do this one of two ways: 1) write a check to the Marietta Community Foundation with BB2C Epicenter in the memo. Drop off at 100 Putnam Street, or mail to PO Box 77, Marietta OH 45750; or 2) donate online directly to the Marietta Community Foundation and dedicate it to the BB2C Epicenter.
Cheers to 2018...