A Triad makerspace facilitator and consultant will hold a “technology tailgate party” to debut a new mobile makerspace unit he plans to take to rural and underserved communities of North Carolina to demonstrate available careers in advanced manufacturing and bring companies and prospective employees together.
Joel Leonard, who was instrumental in the development of The Forge Greensboro, will introduce Makersboro USA in Asheboro’s Bicentennial Park. The 15-foot trailer is filled with equipment for hands-on learning to operate a CNC (computer numerical control) mill, router, laser cutter and 3-D printer. Combining food, fun and education, the event will be held March 14-17 from 1 to 5 p.m. and March 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Activities will include learning how to make and fly a drone, a scavenger hunt to learn to read a blueprint, learning how to use a 3-D printer and using a CNC machine to make a laptop desk.
The goal is to provide experiences with advanced manufacturing machinery and to provide local employers to express their current and future employment needs in each community.
Makersboro USA is the result of collaboration between Leonard; Forest Scientific Corp., a company based in Arizona and Pennsylvania; and Maker Depot, a non-profit makerspace from New Jersey. Matterhackers, a California manufacturer of 3-D printers, has provided printers for the trailer.
“Our hope is that students will see manufacturing as a viable and lucrative career path, particularly for those who do not want to go to college,” Leonard said. “They can learn the basics through the classes we will hold and then they can go to their local community college to get additional training and certification for a job.”
In 2019, Leonard drove more than 120,000 miles in 35 states visiting more than 100 makerspaces. He shares best practices; provides financial consulting; and facilitates connections with local economic development teams, media and manufacturing companies. Although Covid-19 curtailed his travels, he worked with communities via remote meetings.
With Makersboro USA, Leonard is ready to hit the road again. Many of the unfilled jobs in the Triad use the equipment that will be demonstrated on stage and in the trailer. Classes will be offered to teens and adults to learn how to use the machinery. Area employers will be on hand to share information about the vacant positions. ldeally, employers will be able to find local talent to hire for current positions during the events.
Pending success of the program, Forest Scientific, Maker Depot and Leonard hope to expand to other states.
Leonard said Makersboro USA requires donations to ensure its success. “We are dependent upon financial help to pay for supplies that will be used in demonstrations and classes,” Leonard said. “I will be taking the Makersboro USA trailer to area schools, events and towns to introduce this type of equipment and lucrative jobs right here in our own back yard, so we need financial help for supplies.”
For more information about the Technology Tailgate Parties or how to help, call Leonard at 336-338-1011.
