Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Monroe.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My name is Lauren Monroe and I am a co-executive director to a maker space located in an old printing building in downtown Worcester. The facility stretches 13,000 sq. ft. and houses a wood shop, metal shop, digital fabrication shop, design studio, textile studio, glass studio, and 30 member rental bays. We are a membership based tool share. Members have access to the shops within our space after taking trainings and artisan classes we provide. We have 70 members, 7 shop stewards, 7 board members, and 15 interns and volunteers. This large cohort works together to sustain operations and programs.
I come to the position of co-executive director after helping Technocopia become the organization it is today by incorporating my educational center, Think Tank, founded in 2008, to create the core educational structure that exists in the space today. I share my role of executive director with Mike D’Angelo. Mike comes from a professional wood and metal shop, also of which merged to complete the Technocopia maker space.
Due to my background and experience, my primary focus within the space is youth and adult education. Technocopia is an all age space, with classes and services starting for kids ages 5. I mentor and recruit teachers and volunteers, host and administrate custom workshops and trainings, and run day-time, after school and school vacation week programming. I still teach, something I did a lot of in my former educational center, Worcester Think Tank. I teach biology and chemistry predominantly to homeschooling students who use the space as a resource, and partner teach with artist and good friend Jennifer Swan to create hands-on art-science workshops. I am most proud of our recent art/science hybrid Microbial Art. Students in this workshop used pigmented bacteria and agar to grow art on petri dishes.
Although education is a focus for my work at the Technocopia maker space, on any given day I might be: creating a system for maintaining tools, filling out accounting records, writing or fulfilling a grant, giving a tour, cleaning a shop, meeting with community partners for participating in local events, or any of the other tasks listed in the previous paragraph.
Maker spaces are complex, collaborative, and creative work spaces. They contribute a lot to the local community and when partnered with the right networks, local economy. Technocopia supports local hobbyists, trades people, business startups, students, families, and entrepreneurs. The multi-trade and open space community leads to innovations and connections that accelerate learning and the accessibility of new technologies.
Technocopia is on the 6th floor of the Printer’s Building in downtown Worcester and is a hub of creativity, entrepreneurship and community. We host an open to the public Open Hack and Crafts every Thursday night from 7-9pm. Please come by to visit our space and see what all the talk and action is about!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If it had been a smooth road to where I am now, I wouldn’t be as good at what I do now. Projects and methods in any venture like this and many others, must be an iterative process of experimenting, acting, evaluating, analyzing, and re-designing. At Technocopia I have to consider trends and new ideas in creative education and making, navigate colleague working relationships, and keep up to speed with forever changing technologies. A great education program curriculum may only last a few years before the technology or idea it was based off of has evolved or changed. Running a business in science education for nine years has seen some flops in class ideas, marketing promotions and investments in equipment or staff. I try to run the Technocopia maker space bravely but cautiously, and always with an open-mind that things never stay the same.
Speaking as a woman that has been in a STEM field for over ten years and is now at the head of a new STEM industry, I can’t help but make mention of some of the challenges that still exist for women in the work force. I sit on the shoulders of women of the past 60 years who have revolted and demanded a fair path to work career success. Without their work I wouldn’t have my position today. That said, and with maker spaces in the USA still being predominantly male (the Technocopia maker space has only a 10% female foot hold in our rental bay spaces) there still exists an underlying systemic sexism that I do feel on a regular basis. I have become even more aware of it as I have become a new mother. Maternity leave, working part time or full time to juggle the costs and energy of child care, while also holding a position in the STEM industry has been exhausting. The USA business work force is a grind designed in a way that asks people to devote 40-60 hours and sometimes off hours to their work. As a new mom, (my daughter will be 2 y/o soon), I cannot give that much anymore, even though it is sometimes still expected of me. Being heard is another struggle. I find myself explaining decisions I make 2-3 times more than my male counterparts. This is regardless of the business work experience I bring to the table that many of my male counterparts don’t have. This is certainly not happening in all avenues of my work, or all the time, but enough to make the already limited time I have to devote more limited
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Technocopia – what should we know?
We are a 24/7 facility, we are a youth and adult mixed use space, and we are closely linked with several schools, universities and colleges, and local public spaces.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Knowing when to be stubborn and persistent or flexible and adaptable. Knowing how to ask for help from others. Knowing how to learn from others. Perseverance.
Pricing:
- Memberships at Technocopia start at $75/month
Contact Info:
- Address: 44 Portland St. 6th Floor
Worcester, MA 01608 - Website: www.Technocopia.org.
- Phone: 774-420-2244
- Email: lauren.monroe@technocopia.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsgfZ2R1AdQ
Image Credit:
Lauren Monroe. Ian Anderson. Julia Trudeau. Julian Wade, Ben Cline, Tim Murray, Lauren Monroe, Ian Anderson, Mike D’Angelo, Kevin Harrington, Nick Bold, Joe Forjette, Adam Zelny, Shlya Matthews, Worcester Magazine
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