Community Partners
We learn from our partners what is best for their organization and community, then team up to support their vision.
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.
2022 - Present
The Fab Lab has partnered with several instructors within the Champaign Unit 4 School District in the areas of curriculum development and support for middle school STEAM classes as well as professional development courses for STEAM instructors.
2022 - Present
The Fab Lab has been partnering with Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 to provide fun and enriching summer camps for elementary school students.
2021 - Present
Through funding grants and collaboration with the Urbana Arts and Culture program, the Fab Lab has been able to work with partner sites and develop a variety of different community based projects over the years such as Teen Art in CU - in which local teens created murals for their schools and hosted an art show showcasing their artwork - and the CCC Maker-In-Residence Program.
Past Community Partners
DREAAM
Programming and instruction of makerspace tools and software
Champaign Public Library
Grant-DCEC Ending the Digital Divide
Betsy Su, Sarah Butt, Emilie Butt, and Kathie Kading
Southern Illinois Extension Unit 27
Grant-Illinois Extension and Outreach Initiative Digital Innovation
Oakwood Public Library
Grant-Illinois Extension and Outreach Initiative Digital Innovation
Tap In Leadership Academy
Grant- DCEC Ending the Digital Divide
Sally Jackson
Interested in Becoming a Community Partner?
We’d love to meet you. Let us know a bit about yourself and your organization and the goals you’re looking to achieve.