Maker Faires are great coming-together celebrations of the maker movement so when a new one comes on the radar I want to be supportive and share what I know. In addition to bringing the latest Maker Faire to SoCal, Vocademy is both a new makerspace and a new variation on maker education. Package the promise of all this into one visit and I’m there!
My primary reason for stopping by was to share the story of SDMMF, the inaugural San Diego Mini Maker Faire which I produced. We covered lots of material, I shared many a war story, I provided lots of links to resources and we promised to stay in touch. I plan to volunteer at their event to help ensure their success since the first time is so challenging.
They’re nicely positioned to produce a Mini Maker Faire in many ways. They have ample outdoor space (70,000 sq ft) which will cost them nothing to use. With cooperation from neighboring businesses they’ll have plenty of parking too. There are enough indoor spaces that exhibitors needing dark or temperature control will have options. Since it can get hot in Riverside they’re planning their event for October when conditions should be perfect.
Gene Sherman is a businessman-maker with ambitions for his vision. What sets him apart is his focus on education. He’s out to bring industrial arts back into schools so people can learn how to do things with their hands. He’ll partner with high schools to bring back shop class, community colleges to bring back vocational training, and universities to produce professionals who again know how make things. With success he’ll replicate the model.
I like what he’s doing and I’ll do what I can to help him succeed.
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