ChallengeDesigning a Sustainable, Multigenerational Maker Space at Bayview Towers
The core challenge of the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) Multi-Gen Makers project lies in designing a sustainable, multigenerational maker space that addresses the diverse needs of residents in a low-income housing community and fosters meaningful STEM learning and career development.
Bayview Towers, a 200-unit affordable housing complex in Connecticut, presents Janos with the unique challenge of creating a collaborative space that bridges generational gaps, incorporates hands-on learning, and supports residents in developing the skills and dispositions necessary for a STEM career trajectory.
The diverse nature of the community, with varying levels of prior exposure to making and STEM education, adds complexity to designing a universally engaging and effective program.
ProcessCollaborative, Iterative Approach to Co-Designing the Bayview Towers Maker Space
To address these challenges, the project will follow a design-based research approach, utilizing iterative cycles of co-design in partnership with Bayview Towers residents. By working alongside community members, the project will ensure that the program model genuinely reflects their needs, aspirations, and available resources.
The collaborative process will involve regular check-ins with stakeholders and CAST to assess progress, refine strategies, and ensure alignment with community goals. Activities will be structured around four-week workshops exploring various modes of making and STEM principles, emphasizing social learning, community-building, and cross-generational interaction. The iterative process will focus on creating a fun, safe, and empowering environment where residents develop technical and social skills through shared experiences.
SolutionDeveloping a Multi-Gen Maker Playbook for Sustainability and Replication
The solution was a robust Multi-Gen Maker Playbook, which would serve as both an educational guide and a program model. The playbook would be assembled from the teaching and learning of developing the Bayview Towers maker space. Specifically, The playbook will be a key tool for fostering sustainable, thriving maker communities and will include guidelines for leadership structures, marketing, and community engagement initiatives.
Additionally, it will offer strategies for embedding sustainability through ongoing connections between established maker structures and local community networks. Ultimately, the playbook would provide a flexible framework for replicating the project in other affordable housing communities. It would provide detailed instructions for designing and running similar multigenerational maker spaces and strategies for promoting agency, risk-taking, troubleshooting, and participant collaboration.
learningsKey Insights and Strategies for Engaging, Sustaining, and Empowering Community Makers
Throughout the development and execution of the Multi-Gen Makers project, a series of key learnings emerged. These included insights into effectively engaging diverse community members in STEM-focused maker activities, fostering a safe and supportive space for risk-taking and creativity, and the value of cross-generational learning in bridging knowledge gaps.
The project also yielded valuable strategies for building leadership and organizational structures that are flexible and adaptable to the varied needs of a low-income makerspace community. Moreover, lessons learned about sustainability, community ownership, and creating meaningful connections will help guide future efforts in similar contexts. Through continuous reflection and feedback from participants, the project will evolve, refining approaches and deepening the impact on the Bayview Towers community.