Sixteen Host Sites Broaden the Impact of Maker-Centered Learning in Communities Across the United States
“The most rewarding part of my experience hosting an AmeriCorps Maker Fellow was the expansion of our capacity to engage with our community.”
Since 2020, the Makers & Mentors Network has developed 30+ partnerships with host sites across the U.S. Through a competitive application process, prospective host sites are asked to:
Demonstrate a community need
Prove a level of internal expertise and capacity to provide an outstanding service year experience
Identify new or existing maker-centered learning programming that could benefit from a short-term infusion of a national service member to create long-term sustainability.
Once selected, host sites oversee AmeriCorps Maker Fellow(s) (AMF) during their one-year term of service, focusing on capacity-building projects (community outreach, partnership development, program design) all in an effort to create more equitable access to maker-centered learning for K-12 and post-secondary students and ultimately provide workforce and entrepreneurship pathways.
Each site identifies a dedicated supervisor and team with whom the Fellow will work closely with throughout the year and a dedicated space on-site where the Fellow is able to do this work.
We’re excited to announce our 2022-2023 Host Sites, below:
CALIFORNIA
Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center Foundation - Downey, CA
Folsom Lake College Innovation Center - Folsom, CA
NEW - Rediscover Center Inc. - Los Angeles, CA
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
University of the District of Columbia’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) - Washington, DC
MASSACHUSETTS
NEW - Cambridge Public Schools - Cambridge, MA
NEW - The Hive at Cambridge Public Library - Cambridge, MA
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley (BoSTEM) - Boston, MA
MARYLAND
Morgan State University - Baltimore, MD
NORTH CAROLINA
National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) - Cary, NC
North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Fab Lab - Durham, NC
OHIO
Montgomery County Educational Service Center (Dayton Regional STEM Center) - Dayton, OH
Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) - Dayton, OH
PENNSYLVANIA
NEW - Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Science Center - Pittsburgh, PA
TEXAS
BakerRipley, Fab Lab - Houston, TX
UTeach Maker - Austin, TX
As part of the program, AMFs will deepen their expertise in specific areas most needed by their host sites and share this knowledge with colleagues and community partners. Notable host sites include goals to:
Identify and support stronger programs for conducting K-12 and undergraduate STEM education and outreach efforts.
Build collaborative partnership of STEM-focused organizations dedicated to addressing and prioritizing STEM talent in the US.
Broaden STEM literacy and develop a diverse and agile workforce with technical excellence.
Promote increased participation of underserved groups.
Interested in learning more about the experience of our AMFs and how you can get involved? Check out the information and job listings on our website. We are currently recruiting for our 2022-2023 cohort, with service set to begin in August of 2022!