Maker Neighbors

Mr. Rogers with a robot

“Won’t you be our neighbor?”

The Maker Hub’s “Maker Neighbor” program is part of the Maker Hub’s efforts to engage with the diverse, talented community of non-Georgetown affiliated professionals, makers, and artists in the DC area, and connect Georgetown students with learning opportunities. 

Recognizing the finite resources of the Maker Hub, but also the invaluable contribution that experienced makers can provide, the Neighbor program outlines a clear commitment that participants make in return for well-defined access to the Maker Hub.

 

Current Maker Neighbors

Lauren Emeritz Pascal Girard Noah Martin
Lauren Emeritz profile picture
Pascal Girard profile
Noah Martin profile
Lauren Emeritz is a graphic designer, letterpress printer, and book artist. In 2016, the Library of Congress’ Rare Books and Special Collections Division acquired her book, “Hand Carved Alphabet.” She is the President and Creative Director of Abstract Orange, a graphic design firm in Washington, DC, and a letterpress associate at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Hyattsville, Maryland, where she teaches letterpress printing and design. You can see more of her work at abstractorange.com. Pascal Girard is the CEO of Maximum Entropy, former Chief Technology Evangelist, and former STIA adjunct faculty at Georgetown University. Pascal specializes in software, computing hardware, and all things tech. In the Maker Hub, Pascal has coached several teams to develop products that have spawned businesses. 

Noah Martin is a Senior Program Designer in the Red House. In his spare time, Noah is the founder and creative director of FM-31, a social goods company started in D.C that makes high quality, handcrafted creative tools inspired by social justice issues. Through this work, Noah both maintains an active cradle to grave printshop and teaches bookbinding workshops throughout D.C.

 

Maker Neighbor Program

Eligibility Requirements

A Maker Hub Neighbor is:

  • Not currently a Georgetown student, staff, or faculty.
    • May be an alum, parent, spouse, adult child of a GU staff, student, or faculty member, OR may have no affiliation with GU at all.
  • Has a skill or specialized knowledge that is of value to the Maker Hub Community.
  • A friendly person who works well with others and loves to share what they know.

Position Requirements

A Maker Hub Neighbor agrees to:

  • Volunteer for a weekly, scheduled 2-hour shift during the Maker Hub’s open hours, in which they will share their skills, mentor Maker Hub community members, and/or help with other duties as requested.
  • Document and share any other projects they develop in the Maker Hub outside of their scheduled shift.
  • Develop and lead at least one workshop per month, held during their scheduled shift.
  • Follow all Maker Hub rules and policies as presented on the Maker Hub website as well as the Maker Hub Volunteer Handbook.
  • Provide a Letter of Recommendation from someone who can speak to your skills, aptitudes, and ability to work in a collaborative setting.

Benefits

In return, a Maker Hub Neighbor will receive a personal keycode for accessing the Maker Hub during and outside of open hours. This allows a Neighbor to access the equipment and supplies in the Maker Hub whenever Lauinger Library is open. 

Please note that Neighbors are expected to use Maker Hub free consumable supplies only for one-offs and prototype development. Heavy use of consumables requires the purchase of personal supplies.

Application

Note

  • If an application is accepted, the Neighbor must submit to a background check (fee of $30-$100 to be paid by applicant) 
  • Successful applicants will be brought on for a 30 day trial period, after which membership may be extended
  • Maker Neighbors may re-apply to the program at the discretion of Maker Hub management.
  • Maker Hub Management reserves the right to discontinue a Maker Neighbor’s participation in the program at any time, for any reason.
  • Maker Neighbors may withdraw from the program at any time for any or no reason, with no penalty.

Maker Hub Priorities and Themes:

  • Georgetown University Curriculum engagement
  • Outreach (Getting off the Hill)
    •  Developing maker experiences that can be delivered outside the Maker Hub, in communities that need them.
  • “Making for Good”
    • Makerspaces and Maker activities for social impact, social justice, equality, peace, and global human development.
  • Sustainability and environmental technologies
  • Upcycling
  • Libraries, books, and print-making

Some of the Skills we are looking for:

  • Woodworking
  • Physical Computing with Arduino and Raspberry Pi
  • 3D Modelling and 3D Printing
  • Sewing, Serging, and Digital Embroidery
  • Print Making
  • Adobe Illustrator and Laser Cutting