Abstract
Assemble employs a “pay-what-you-can” revenue model in an attempt to reduce financial barriers for youth in Pittsburgh's East End to attend maker activities in the space. Assemble is a community-based makerspace centered on developing high levels of self-efficacy around making in youth served by the space. Assemble runs a number of different after-school programs at its main location and at various schools around Pittsburgh as well. Staff in the space consists of contract teachers and high-school interns all trained to help build learning communities by connecting students. Youth in the space are encouraged to help teach each other through specific learning activities embedded in the course offerings. The space is well known for their building of the Burrito Cat robot, a project completed by female students. Assemble relies on a cadre of contract teaching artists to provide programming. Since these teachers have a great deal of autonomy, it presents a unique set of challenges especially providing a consistent learning experience for the students. This chapter explores Assemble.
TopOrganization Background
Assemble is located in Pittsburgh’s East End where the Friendship, Garfield, and Bloomfield neighborhoods converge. Like other neighborhoods in the area, by the mid-70s these neighborhoods suffered from long-term decay and began a decades-long rebound to lift up the residents of the communities (Fanzo, 1993). Founded by Nina Barbuto in April 2011, this community-based makerspace was created to foster confidence for making. While open to makers of all ages, the space primarily caters to youth. Assemble relocated in 2016 to its current home on the ground level of the newly built Penn Mathilda Apartments. The apartments were developed by ACTION-Housing and have 39 living units in the building. The management company provides housing preferences to U.S. veterans for half of the units. The ground floor includes 6,000 ft2 (557 m2) dedicated to neighborhood-oriented commercial spaces. Currently, Assemble occupies roughly 1,500 ft2 (139 m2) of the commercial space.
According to Barbuto, the old building had its share of challenges therefore, staff members were very happy when the new space, which is more accessible, became available. However, during the lag between moving out of the old building and moving into the new building, Assemble had no home. Staff moved out on June, 2016 and started camps on June 20, 2016 but did not have an official new space until July 1, 2016 so they moved the equipment and supplies into Barbuto’s house.
Assemble is located in a relatively small physical space with a prominent work area located in the front section of the room with one wall being made of windows like a typical storefront. There is also a special area for youth to relax and chill, called the “chillax zone”, which contains books and games as seen in Figure 1. This area has a wall painted a different color that demarcates the zone as a special place for youth.
Every month the space hosts a different art exhibition as part of Penn Avenue’s First Friday Unblurred Gallery Crawl featuring different Pittsburgh artists, technologists, and makers. There is a homework bar for youth, and they are to complete their homework as they arrive during the after-school programs. The space is laid out with the less dangerous items closer to the main work area. Deeper into the space is an increased level of tool sophistication. For example, pencils are located close to the workroom so that youth can grab them easily, but scissors are further back because, of course, youth tend to run when they are excited. Also, further back is “messy art stuff.” Another area is the “snack land” where healthy snacks are stored. The next area has sewing materials and other dangerous/messy art supplies, like glitter. Separated by a door is the danger room that contains the laser cutter and other tools. The danger room is not available to students unless they are trained on the laser cutter and 3D printer. Table 1 lists the tools and equipment in the space.
Table 1. | General workshop equipment | Vacuum
2 saw horses
6 folding tables
2 folding work tables |
| General Hand tools (powered) | Various tools |
| Metalwork | Soldering equipment |
| Fabrics | 3 sewing machines |
| Painting and graphic arts | Painting supplies |
| Science, Synthetic Bio, Chemistry | Microscopes |
| Computing | Chromebooks
Microsoft Surfaces
iPads |
| Digital fabrication | (3) 3D printers |
| Electronics | Soldering irons |
Key Terms in this Chapter
Rosalind Franklin: A female scientists who contributed to the understanding of molecular structures.
Pay-What-You-Can Model: A payment model that allows patrons to pay only the amount they can afford to participate in the program.
Henrietta Lacks: Doctors and scientists used her cell line called the HeLa for many medical treatments.
Homago: Hanging out and geeking out.
Assemble: A makerspace in the East End section of Pittsburgh, PA.
Chillax Zone: A special area for youth to relax and chill.
Robot Biomimetics: Robots that borrow characteristics and abilities of insects, birds, and other animals.
Penn Avenue’s First Friday Unblurred Gallery Crawl: A rotating art event where people from all over the East End neighborhood visit Penn Avenue between the 4800 and 5500 blocks to meet with artists and local business owners.
After-School: Informal education programs that are conducted outside of the formal school day.
Pittsburgh’s East End: Area of Pittsburgh, PA where the Friendship, Garfield, and Bloomfield neighborhoods converge.