Community Engagement
Our Fab Lab is an advanced workshop space for rapid prototyping and computer-based design.
Our Engagement Mission
Our mission is to support and build youth-focused collaborative informal learning spaces that facilitate digital literacy and inclusion. We strive to build communities of fearless creators, problem solvers, and people who work within a fail-forward mindset. We hope to foster a drive to explore, tinker, and ultimately develop fluency and agency with design strategies.
Our work is community-driven. We believe that programming and research should grow out of the needs, passions, and interests of the community it is based in.
By developing long-term partnerships based in mutuality with community organizations, we build organizational capacity to foster richer learning opportunities, where youth can engage in project-based learning that is relevant to their experiences and interests.
Project Highlights
BRADLEY STEM CONFERENCE
Our Community Partners
Relationships with our community partners serve as the bedrock to our engagement work, allowing long-term, sustainable and consistent programing and services.
2012 - Present
Since 2012, the Fab Lab has been working with UNCC to provide after-school and summer STEAM programming for middle and high-school students. The 2018 UC2B Community Benefit Fund grant allowed the Fab Lab and UNCC to build out a maker space and recording studio in their Digital Learning Garage.
2013 - Present
Through staff assistance and IT help, the Fab Lab supports the Urbana Free Library’s Teen Open Lab, an after-school space where teens can freely explore music, art, sewing, games, and many other forms of making.
2017 - Present
Since working together on Project Maple, the Fab Lab and Urbana Middle School teachers partner together to offer engaging hands-on maker curriculum in the classrooms. Fab Lab staff help interested teachers in curriculum development, as well as run workshops during class time.
Past Community Partners
Southern Illinois Extension Unit 27
2014-2019
Grant-Illinois Extension and Outreach Initiative Digital Innovation
Tap In Leadership Academy
2014-2016
Grant- DCEC Ending the Digital Divide
Sally Jackson
Champaign Public Library
2014-2017
Grant-DCEC Ending the Digital Divide
Betsy Su, Sarah Butt, Emilie Butt, and Kathie Kading
Oakwood Public Library
2014-2018
Grant-Illinois Extension and Outreach Initiative Digital Innovation
Interested in Becoming a Community Partner?
We’d love to meet you. Let us know a bit about yourself and your organization.
60+
YOUTH
PROGRAMS
IN SPRING 2020
300+
TEEN PARTICIPATIONS
THIS YEAR
ROBUST
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
COMMUNITY PILLARS