Brightmoor Maker Space
What if we could teach 200 kids how to design and build furniture?
Or build solar-powered lamps to make neighborhood streets safer?
Or start a t-shirt-making business, using handmade screen prints?
What if people in the Brightmoor neighborhood — kids, teenagers and adults — had free access to 3D printers, welding equipment, cameras, editing programs, art supplies, art classes, business workshops, design seminars and more?
What if one of Detroit’s more isolated neighborhoods had a maker space?
Working with Brightmoor community partners and Detroit Community Schools, Stamps envisions the Brightmoor Maker Space at Detroit Community Schools as a place for residents, particularly young people, to improve their making skills, develop intergenerational connections, and nurture community revitalization. The space will also help youth explore paths to college and/or a profession.
It’s an important project, and one that needs your support.
The project has been honored to receive a $100k matching grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. However, given the terms of the grant, the School has until September 30, 2015 to raise $50,000 in matching funds with an additional $50,000 by September 30, 2016.
The Brightmoor Maker Space at Detroit Community Schools project will help an often neglected Detroit neighborhood become more active and engaged.
– Patronicity co-founder Ebrahim Varachia (LSA 2012)
There are a number of ways you can give. You can make a direct gift at any time. Or you can be part of a crowdfunding campaign through Patronicity, a Detroit-based crowdfunding platform focusing exclusively on projects in Michigan. The Brightmoor Maker Space at Detroit Community Schools attracted the attention of Patronicity co-founder and U-M alum Ebrahim Varachia (LSA 2012) because “at Patronicity, we strive to build vibrant communities and the Stamps School’s Brightmoor Maker Space project will help an often neglected Detroit neighborhood become more active and engaged.” Varachia thought Patronicity could help with fundraising.
On June 1st, the Stamps School is launching a Patronicity campaign to raise $25,000 from Stamps alumni, friends, family and donors. Look for the launch announcement on email, the Stamps’ website, and social media.
Patronicity has developed a partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to match, dollar for dollar, the “Public Spaces, Community Places” campaigns on the Patronicity site that 1) activate space as their mission and 2) reach their stated fundraising goal within a set time period. Stamps should hear very soon if the Maker Space qualifies for these matching funds. With an MEDC match, a successful $25,000 Patronicity campaign would yield $50,000, and launch the project.
In addition to the enticement of the MEDC match, Patronicity also allows donations made offline to count toward campaign goals. Direct gifts can be made at any time.
The Patronicity campaign runs from June 1st - June 30th, 2015. Our campaign goal is $25,000. Give here.
If you would like to learn more about the Maker Space, to make a direct gift, or have questions, please contact Eric Schramm at (734) 647-0650 or [email protected].
To learn more about Patronicity, please visit patronicity.com.
To learn more about the Knight Foundation’s Art Challenge grants, please visit knightfoundation.org.