By Kyra Zylstra, Director of Initiatives and Partnerships, Madjax Maker Force—
MUNCIE, IN—What are you passionately curious about? What skills or designs would you like to share? Join the Madjax team in creating new opportunities for curiosity, connection, and purpose.
Madjax is currently accepting applications for the 2023 Maker Cohorts including Makers in Residence, Educator Makers in Residence and Fab Lab Fellows. These year-long fellowships provide the opportunity for makers, artists, students, and educators to contribute to the Madjax Maker Force community by leading workshops and developing artistic and placemaking projects. The fellowships provide membership access to the Design and Fabrication spaces at Madjax, a stipend, and access to training and networking opportunities.
- Maker in Residence– A year-long fellowship providing a dedicated opportunity for makers, artists, and entrepreneurs to explore new creative pursuits of their craft, learn and apply new skills in the Madjax Fab Lab, collaborate with other makers and educators, and build the Maker Force community through public-engaging workshops and projects.
- Educator Maker in Residence– A year-long fellowship program for professional educators to collaborate with other educators, students and workforce partners. You will be asked to share your best practices, learn from other professionals, and explore together new strategies to apply a maker mindset in your classroom.
- Fab Lab Fellow– A year-long fellowship for experienced maker industry professionals or higher education faculty to engage in applied research and community education with a focus on environmental justice. Fellows will develop and lead educational experiences that foster self-determined learning, support staff and makers in the Fab Lab, and create a Maker Force community benefit project.
“We are very excited to see the maker community at Madjax grow and diversify through these fellowship opportunities,” said Kyra Zylstra, Director of Initiatives and Partnerships at Madjax. “As we expand membership options in our Design and Fabrication Lab, the maker cohort will have first access to new equipment, spaces, and resources to share their skills and passions through our seasonal workshop series.”
Here’s what our current Makers and Educators have to say:
“Through my workshops I get to share my woodworking skills with at-risk youth, people with special needs, and the community in general. I never would have had this opportunity without Madjax. Running these workshops and just rolling up my sleeves and helping where I can gives me a sense of being part of something that is bigger than all of us. These life opportunities have a big impact on my running my business in a way that I did not know was possible” —Tom Steiner, Owner of Wild Cricket Woodworking and current Maker in Residence
“I love having access to the newest technology so I can plan projects that I can then take back into my classroom.” —Meghan Anacker, teacher at Alexandria-Monroe Jr/Sr High School and current Educator Maker in Residence.
“This experience has allowed me to stretch myself as well as provide an amazing experience for my apprentice as well. I am really pleased at how well things are going and what I have learned about myself along the way.” —Jenifer Pierce, teacher at Northside Middle School and current Educator Maker in Residence.
To apply visit www.madjax.org/fellowships.
