MISSION STATEMENT: Creative confidence, complex problem solving, and community through making.

VISION STATEMENT: High school graduates supremely prepared to begin the life of their choosing.

CORE PRINCIPLES:

OUR PURPOSE

We want to work towards two separate but equally important goals:

Provide a resource for kids to learn the principles of STE(A)M education.

Teach kids how to use their hands and imagination to Make

There is no secondary education institution that can remedy the technical and trade skill shortfall our country is facing. No bachelor's degree, Masters, or Ph.D. that will qualify your son or daughter to take on these careers. What is needed? Hands-on training in skills and trades that have existed for centuries: electricians, plumbers, carpenters, artists, builders, and Makers.

In spite of the stark statistics, shop class is dead in almost every school system in America. Why? Well, I don't really know. Fear of liability, I suppose, is one.

The lack of skilled tradesmen and women is expected to only grow worse with time.

I would like to propose a possible solution: a mobile maker space designed specifically for children where they can learn the skills they need to excel in school as well as the blue and white collar world.

A STE(A)M Truck Spark Day

This exposure and these skills apply to everyday life in addition to career success. Complex problem-solving, critical thinking, good decision making, bias awareness, and just how their world works in general.

Our mobile Maker space will travel to public schools, private schools, Boy and Girl Scout Troop events, social outreach programs, Maker Faire, after school events, private events, and others. It will open its doors and unpack a complete maker space in the parking lot, campground, yard, or exhibition space.

A STE(AM) Truck Spark Day

To this end, I ask for your assistance. We want to create a 501(c)3 mobile maker space inside of a truck and trailer to serve schools and neighborhoods where a brick-and-mortar maker space would never exist otherwise. To create a skill-building, STE(A)M-based curriculum for each age group and/ or school grade that will progressively build on the previous year’s curriculum.

The end result will be young men and women who graduate high school equipped to design, build, and make to the highest of their abilities. They will be ready to enter the workforce and excel as no other before them. If they so choose, they will be ready to fill those 1.4 million open tradecraft positions that are waiting for them. Unemployment and poverty will no longer be a fear they have to confront.

To make this dream a reality we need partners: tool manufacturers, vehicle manufacturers, business mentors, financial institutions, investors, teachers, Makers, builders, and artists.

What are my qualifications to attempt this venture? I am a husband, father, United States Marine, "disabled" Iraq War Veteran, and a Maker. I am a blue-collar worker: a municipal Police Officer of almost a decade. I am a member of the Alabama Woodworkers Guild and of Southern Woodworkers. I have previously owned and operated a successful private business. My family operates several successful private businesses. Lastly, and I feel most importantly, I have a deep-rooted passion for ensuring the future of America is FILLED with builders, artists, designers, creators, experimenters, and Makers of all kinds.

THE PILOT PROGRAM

The pilot program will serve the public school systems Jefferson & Shelby County, Alabama. As of the 2010 Census numbers there were approximately 200,000 residents under the age of 18 in these counties. Currently there are no Maker spaces available to kids in either county, and no Maker space of any kind in Shelby County.

The pilot program will receive oversight from a supervisory board consisting of three Program Mentors. The mentors will provide guidance and oversight to the staff. In addition to the Board there will be a Program Director, an Operations Manager, a curriculum working group, and the instructional staff.

We Make Makers is teaming up with STE(A)M Truck and Community Guilds to provide a research-based, real-world-tested, and results-proven curriculum that incorporates all aspects of STE(A)M education: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. They have operated in central Georgia for more than three years with amazing success.

Our mobile Maker space will offer several options to schools administrators. Some of these will include one, three, and five-day builds, and a STE(A)M Day - think field day but more fun! We will also offer a year-long program. With this curriculum, we will meet with the same students on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis teaching new and progressive skills over the entire school year.

In addition to the curriculum for public school system, we will offer opportunities for community access such as appearances at area libraries and museums such as McWane Science Center. Weekend mornings at local events such as Pepper Place Farmer's Market. Weekend afternoons at local family spaces such as Railroad Park. Local festivals, celebrations, and other events.

We also plan to offer monthly small group meetings with instruction - think Boy and Girl Scouts but no tents!

Looking for a Summer camp for your young Maker? We'll have you covered with week-long day camps!

This pilot program will not serve all schools, social organizations, and municipalities in the county, but will afford us the opportunity to establish ourselves and the program. Once you wonderful people see what an impact can be made, we can add more trucks!