Our first email, reaching out to community leaders to discuss our idea, was on September 29, 2017. Sometimes it seems like progress is painfully slow, but when you look at what we’ve done together, it’s pretty remarkable. Check it out:
- October 15, 2017: Domain name registered, website launched, Facebook page started.
- November 18, 2017: First blog post.
- November 23, 2017: Name changed from “The Brickyard Project” to “The Brickyard Collaborative”.
- December 3, 2017: Work started on filing for 501(c)3 Non-Profit status
- December 23, 2017: Application for Urban Agenda grant filed.
- December 30, 2017: “Meet and Greet” at Land of a Thousand Hills draws over 50 interested people.
- January 18, 2018: The Brickyard Stakeholders Meeting
The January 18th meeting at the Lynn Museum was a chance for us to pull together leaders from all over the North Shore to tell about our project and vision. It was attended by over 75 of the region’s government, educational, arts and workforce leaders, as well as interested makers and artists. Among others, here’s a short list of people who attended:
Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development: *Charles Gaeta, *Jeff Weeden, Mayor: *Tom McGee, Lynn EDIC: *Jim Cowdell, Lynn Department of Community Development: *James Marsh, EforAll: Kevin Moforte, Impact Lynn: *Norm Cole, Lynn Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary’s Board of Directors: Glenn Morris, Beyond Walls (Community Mural Project): Al Wilson, Amanda Hill, *Pedro Soto, Lynn Arts/Lynn Museum: *Drew Russo, MassDevelopment: Joe Mulligan, Lynn School Committee: *Michael A. Satterwhite, The Haven Project: Gini Mazman, North Shore Community College President Dr. Patricia Gentile ,Montserrat College of Art President Steve Immerman, KIPP Academy: Hugo Carvajal, Jay Galbraith, Representative *Brendan Crighton, Representative *Dan Cahill.
*Lynn residents
See the video here:
- February 25, 2018: Pop-Up Classes announced.
- March 3, 2018: The Brickyard “UpCycle Central” announced.
- March 9, 2018: The Brickyard joins the Northeast Massachusetts Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (NEM STEM) conference at North Shore Community College
- March 10, 2018: Pop-Up class registration at Land of a Thousand Hills: Meet, Greet and Sign Up! Over 60 people attended, with over 45 signups.
- March 13, 2018: BioTech Hacker/Makerspace announced.
- March 25, 2018: We receive our EIN number from the IRS, appoint our Board, and join the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce Workforce and Economic Development Committee. Also this week was the HUD CDBG Community Advisory Committee hearing, where we presented supporting our application.
- April 5, 2018: We launch our “BrickStarter” drive, raising over $3500 in 30 days.
- April 6, 2018: We do an initial inventory and valuation of the equipment we have in storage, ready for use. The total valuation is over $16,000, at “used” pricing, including wood, metal, automotive, bicycle and motorcycle shops, along with imaging, sound and video studio equipment.
- April 18, 2018: The Brickyard Collaborative teams with the Lynn Public Library and their QuaranTEEN makerspace program.
- April 22, 2018: First workshops announced.
- May 7, 2018: The Brickyard (FREE) Bike Project announced.
- May 10, 2018: Our Board is finalized with the addition of Karen Chacon.
- May 18, 2018: We reach out to potential members to build a list of space and needs requirements. Over a dozen potential full members respond.
- June 16, 2018: The Brickyard hosts BattleBots teams Overhaul and Brutus, from the Discovery Channel’s BattleBots series’ third season, in collaboration with the Lynn Public Library “Libraries Rock” summer reading launch. Over 150 people attend the event.
This event in particular demonstrates the power of collaboration and cooperation. Take a look at the video of the day’s events here:
Not bad for less than a year’s work, right?
There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s great to see how much has been accomplished in a short period of time. Our key focus now? Finding a space!
As always, stay tuned, and…
Keep making stuff. Take care of people, play nice and clean up after yourselves.
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