Category: Community

All things to do with the greater makerspace hacker space community as well as our local community

Introduction Ace Booking v1

Ace Booking is the custom open-source software we developed to support us operating in a COVID safe way. This software supports:

  • Occupancy limits in each room
  • Members booking the time they need
  • Occupancy Tracking in case of exposures
  • Remote staffing

We couldn’t ethically consider re-opening without it.

What’s New

There are many upgrades and changes to how the software looks and works.

  • You can now book in 15 min. increments! You no longer have to book by the hour
  • The user interface is very different, now choose your start and end time and the system can tell you about availability
  • The user interface now has a calendar view. If your desired booking isn’t available you can check and see the next closest availability.
  • The late check-in window changed to accommodate the new 15 min. windows.
    • You can check-in 5 min. before your booking (if space is available)
    • You are considered late at the 5 min. after your booking mark and will start to get notifications.
    • You are considered as ghosting at the 15 min. mark after your booking, if you haven’t checked in, and your reservation will be canceled and the space made available for others. (you can always do a new reservation.
    • You will get a notification via email and slack reminding you to check out starting 5 min. before your expected check out times.
  • New remote staffing controls include
    • The ability to book spaces for maintenance without having to make personal bookings.
    • The ability to cancel user reservations for maintenance blocks
    • The ability to remote checkout people who didn’t check out
    • The ability to make bookings for members on maintenance crews
    • Reports on use trends

What to do if things break for users

While the team did our best to anticipate how folks could use or break this software there may still be a glitch or two. And we know our members are some darn creative users. If our members have trouble or the system doesn’t’ behave as anticipated they report the issue on slack and include photos if at all possible. Report on #general or #amt-software

Affordable Anti-Racist Workshops for Makers in January

We are doing our Anti Racist Workshop Series for Makers again. After our successful October pilot, we are excited about offering the series again.

All Workshop courses are priced at a sliding scale of $5-20. Scholarships are available upon request. See below for information on the courses. We hope to see you there!

Schema of Makers

Saturday January 9th, 2021   |   11:00AM – 12:30PM PST

$5-20 sliding scale   |   Tickets

Who defines what a legitimate maker is? Explore how different types of makers are valued and have an influence on how the community is shaped.

Communities are like ecosystems — living things that change and evolve over time. We will unpack different maker identities and the dynamics of those identities and their influence on how our maker space community has evolved… for good or for ill. This workshop will explore both what the identity of makers has been as well as explore what it could and should be.

Makers Say What

Sunday January 10th, 2021   |   11:00AM – 12:30PM PST

$5-20 sliding scale   |   Tickets

How the language we use to share maker knowledge interacts with race and inclusion.

When it’s easy to lean into jargon as a way to communicate intelligence and experience, one can quickly conflate the words we use with who belongs and who doesn’t. And when it comes to talking about issues of race and gender, there is often a fear of saying the wrong thing. This workshop will explore how to be inclusive with Maker speak, as well as how to avoid the pitfalls of inaction by the fear of talking about race imperfectly.

You’re Too Comfortable

Saturday January 16th, 2021   |   11:00AM – 12:30PM PST

$5-20 sliding scale   |   Tickets

Recognizing when comfort is an indicator of white supremacy manifesting itself. Explore how to take action when it does.

One way white supremacy protects itself is by eliminating stressors of those who are in proximity to it. Things are easier, quicker, more accessible, more abundant, less risky, and more. This workshop will examine how comfortable you are and explore where your own discomfort might be putting up barriers to equity and inclusivity. This examination also includes a critical examination of biased systems we might be participating in. Then we’ll talk about what can be done about it. We will uncover what actions can be taken when we discover white supremacy manifesting itself.

Taking Care of the New Guy

Sunday January 17th, 2021   |   11:00AM – 12:30PM PST

$5-20 sliding scale   |   Tickets

Taking care of the new guy when the new maker isn’t white or a guy.

How then do we take care of new individuals when they are not like us or having a much different experience in the world. How can we support and include black, indigenous, and other POC people in majority-white spaces? Being successful at either can be complex and confusing. We will explore all the ways we can practice harm reduction as well as examine how our own biases and fears may be holding us back. This workshop will leave participants with skills to do just that including positive accountability.

About our Facilitator

crafty rachel photoRachel “Crafty” Sadd
She/Her/Hers

Rachel is a Bay Area based artist, activist, and maker. When she is not making she is the Executive Director at Ace Makerspace. She leads program development for equity and social good projects. Participating in rapid response to the COVID-19 public health crisis has been her main focus since March 2020. She is equally engaged by beauty and utility and she creates projects which span genres and challenge ideas about art, craft, and culture.

Learn More about Rachel’s DEI work

ace makerspace banner

Anti-Racist Education for Makers

Ace is thrilled to introduce 4 workshops in October that explore how to be anti-racist in our maker communities. Working with an amazing peace activist and facilitator, Emily Bowen, these workshops have been crafted to be broadly relevant to the maker community and Ace Makerspace specifically. 

Schema of Makers

Sunday, October 4th  |   Noon – 1pm PST

$5-20 sliding scale  |  Tickets

Who defines what a legitimate maker is? Explore how different types of makers are valued and have influence in how the community is shaped.

Communities are like ecosystems — living things that change and evolve over time. We will unpack different maker identities and the dynamics of those identities and their influence on how our makerspace community has evolved… for good or for ill. This workshop will explore both what the identity of makers have been as well as explore what it could and should be.

Maker Say What

Sunday, October 11th  |   Noon – 1pm PST

$5-20 sliding scale  |   Tickets

How the language we use to share maker knowledge interacts with race.

When it’s easy to lean into jargon as a way to communicate intelligence and experience, one can quickly conflate the words we use with who belongs and who doesn’t. And when it comes to talking about issues of race and gender, there is often a fear of saying the wrong thing. This workshop will explore how to be inclusive with Maker speak, as well as how to avoid the pitfalls of inaction by the fear of talking about race imperfectly.

Taking Care of the New Guy

Sunday, October 18th  |   Noon – 1pm PST

$5-20 sliding scale  |   Tickets

When the new guy isn’t white or a guy. We will explore where there is an opportunity to connect with people different than ourselves. 

Black people, and other people of color as well as Indigenous individuals, generally experience trauma because of microaggressions or just a lack of welcome in majority-white spaces. So to do female, femme, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming folx in majority male spaces. How then do we take care of new individuals when they are not like us or having a much different experience in the world.  This workshop will leave participants with a checklist to do just that including positive accountability.

You’re Too Comfortable

Sunday, October 25th  |   Noon – 1pm PST

$5-20 sliding scale  |   Tickets

Recognizing when comfort is an indicator of white supremacy manifesting itself. Explore how to take action when it does.

One way whiteness protects itself is by eliminating stressors of those who are in proximity to it. Things are easier, quicker, more accessible, more abundant, less risky, and more. This workshop will examine how comfortable you are and explore where your own discomfort might be putting up barriers to equity and inclusivity. Then we’ll talk about what can be done about it. We will uncover what actions can be taken when we discover white supremacy manifesting itself.

 

About our facilitator

Emily BowenEmily Bowen, MA ABS  (they /them)
The Peace Nerd

Emily trained as a psychotherapist, as well as earning a graduate degree in leadership and organizational development from Bastyr University (LIOS) in 2009. Since then they have worked as a Holistic Leadership Consultant and Educator. Emily is a founding member of the Peace Innovation Network (a collaboration between Stanford’s Peace Innovation Lab and The Hague). They studied Racial Equity for Adaptive Leadership at Leadership Eastside with Nikum Pon. And they are certified in Gracious Space – a framework for courageous conversations that was developed by the Center for Ethical Leadership.

Emily likes to help the people they’ve partnered with to seek a better understanding of their challenges and to find creative, equitable, and sustainable solutions. They possess an easy, natural confidence, insatiable curiosity, and a sense of humor that can be useful in guiding people in their growth and success. They bring essential skills in adult education, facilitation, coaching, innovation, and communication.

festival mask

Hack your mask with valves

The “dirt-bike” or sports dust masks are really popular. A lot of folks know them from using them at events like Burning Man and Coachella. The issue with a lot of “dirt bike” style masks is the exhalation valves which are totally unfiltered. This makes these masks pretty useless for COVID-19 safety. You can read more about what the CDC says about masks with valves.

Everything I used for this 2-min hack:

  • CLUX Mesh Black Face Mask with Black Carbon Filter by Continental Luxury (amazon)
  • small (not tiny) rubber bands – one for each valve
  • Scissors
  • Non-Woven Polypropylene Fabric (woven fabric will work too)

I assembled the mask according to manufacturers’ directions. I cut the filter fabric to go over the valve with a very generous overlap – you can always cut off the excess. Then I slipped the rubber band over 2 layers of filter fabric to secure it to the Valve. This covers the valve and any leaky spots around the opening.

sport mask disassembled
Sport mask as it comes all disassembled. Most of these require assembly.
value hole on mesh part of the mask
The valve hole in the mask without the “hardware”
fabric, mask, and rubber band
Assembled mask with quick filter materials
filtered valve
the filter “value-cover” takes about 3 seconds to put on.
filtered valve close up
the “valve-cover” close up
respirator and tools

Respirator Hack for Covid

So the issue with a lot of respirators and dust masks is the exhalation valve which is totally unfiltered. This makes them pretty useless for COVID-19 safety. You can read more about what the CDC says about masks with valves.

Everything I used for this 5-min hack:

  • 3M Rugged Comfort Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator 6502QL (Medium)
  • Electrical tape
  • Scissors
  • Non-Woven Polypropylene Fabric (woven fabric will work too)

Check out the gallery below to see how I added a filter to my valve. I specifically added it to the outside so it would last longer before getting moist and so others could see it. I used two layers of material for the filter.

tool bucket

New Habits for Keeping Safe

The new reality around COVID-19 safety has us all scrambling to create new habits while we go about the business of making things. We are currently trying and experiment with tool caddy’s. The idea is:

  • Come into the shop, and pick up a caddy
  • As you use hand tools put them in the bucket
  • Once you are done sanitize them and but them back

This way you don’t have to stop and sanitize with every tool and we avoid cross-contamination. Each bucket also has a small spray bottle of surface sanitizer and a personal pump bottle of hand sanitizer.

We are not sure if it will take all the sting out of the needed cleaning. We will see where the experiment leads!

Win Six Months of Membership at Ace Makerspace: Logo Needed

We have the name… Now we need the look!

Ace Monster Toys has recently rebranded as Ace Makerspace, and we are looking for a new logo to drive our new identity! Submit your logo idea to us. Winner will receive 6 months of membership at Ace Makerspace.

Guidelines:
  • What are we looking for? We need a logo that is clean, readable at many scales, and easy to produce in black & white or color. Think good for laser, good for clothing, works with stickers, printed materials, websites, etc. This logo should represent our personality of “Playful, Approachable, Curious, Open, Welcoming, Community”
  • Does it have to be perfect? Absolutely not! We are looking for a great design. Napkin-sketches are fine if they convey a great idea. We don’t require a production-quality image/files for you to submit an entry.
  • Who owns the artwork? We respect that your work is your work. By submitting an entry, you are agreeing to give the design to Ace only if it is selected as the winner.  You retain ownership of any designs not selected.
  • Who can submit an entry? This contest is open to everyone, both current Ace Makerspace members and the public.
  • Can I submit more than one entry? Sure!
  • If I win, can I gift the membership to another person? Yes, this can be arranged.
  • Will I get recognition? Of course – you will be celebrated in our newsletter and an announcement on our website.
  • Why aren’t you contracting with a designer to do this work? We would love to, are you a designer who wants to barter for membership? If so, send us a quote for the logo development and a link to your portfolio.

Please submit your entry through the form. The deadline to enter is June 30. Winner will be announced by July 5th assuming something works out.

Submit an entry

Relief Fund Update: More than $50,000 Raised 

As of June 2,

Donations received to date: $53,932.34

Money disbursed to date: $33,740.53

Funds available currently: $20,191.81


Access the full dashboard here

Mask, with instructions

Thank you to everyone who’s donated to our efforts, especially our friends and community members who’ve shared the proceeds of their crowdfunding campaigns! As of today, we’ve collected nearly $54,000. 

At Ace, we’ve kitted 1250+ face shields and over 1100 masks have gone out from the space so far. Another 250 masks are going out this week! 

If you have feedback or suggestions, please connect with [email protected].

Relief Fund Update: Over $20,000 Raised 

As of April 21,

Donations received to date: $21,038.25

Money disbursed to date: $17,543.28 

Funds available currently: $3,494.97


Access the full dashboard here

Thank you to everyone who’s supported our efforts! As of today, we’ve collected over $21,000 and we’ve already distributed more than 80% of those donations to makers hacking solutions to the COVID-19 crisis. 

This first update on our progress will explain how to read our dashboard and review public information that we’re sharing on our work. Future updates will be focused on stories from makers and those impacted by the generosity of our donors. 

shows key figures on dashboard

Our dashboard is hosted on Google Data Studio, which allows us to share key data while linking to optional data that some stakeholders might find interesting. In the image below, the fields circled in purple convey the most important information and the areas highlighted in pink help direct the reader to more information. 

shows where to click to access optional data

Additional data like money pending with GoFundMe or how projects have split out their support between materials, travel costs, etc. are available within Google Data Studio. The link in the lower-left side of the dashboard connects to a sheet with really detailed reports about where this money has been paid out. We love transparency!

shows optional data

If you have feedback or suggestions, please connect with [email protected].

AMT Members in Action with Covid-19 Relief efforts

We are slowly learning in a community that this thing will be a marathon not a sprint. So we are setting ourselves up with safer workspace practices to continuously offer the best most immediate help we can. We are also learning to celebrate everyone’s efforts even when is just nibbling at the problems.

Without further ado here are just a few snapshots of AMT members in action while we work to help people directly and in partnership with our fellow makerspace and non-profits.