Welcoming new Monster Corps Cohorts is temporarily suspended. Please check back in November for updates.
Application Prerequisite
Please come for a tour* before applying to the Monster Corps Volunteer Program or making any appointments to discuss the program. Please, also note the date of the Cohort Kick-off meeting. If you can’t make that meeting, please wait to apply in the next month. Thank you.
Monster Corp Openings
As of June 27, 2023
First Friday Staff. Making is for everyone and you can help Ace reach the amazing diverse people of Oakland and the East Bay by working the Ace Booth at our most meaningful outreach event, Oakland First Fridays. This key staff person works two out of three shifts on the day of the event for a total of 3.5 hours, helping with either Set Up + First Shift or First Shift + Strike. In addition to working the event you will also help with preparation or reset tasks not on the day of the event. If you love talking to people this is the role for you! Greeting, Button Making, and acting as the street team is a must in this role. You’ll also get to enjoy delicious tacos at the event on Ace as well as opportunities to be sponsored for Ace classes.
Shop Tool Maintenance. Good tool care is the way to keep amazing resources available to the community. Recent woodworking experience is required. The first focus of this role is to participate in or even lead the monthly Air Quality maintenance cleaning. This 4-hour cleaning happens on the 3rd Thursday of the money in the evening/afternoon. The second focus of this role is basic tool maintenance, for which we provide training. It would be best to be available to regularly participate in your training or immersive experience (classes we pay for) monthly. We are looking for 3 people for this role.
Textiles Teaching Assistants. We are seeking folks to assist instructors during project-based workshops. These workshops include sewing, textiles, and leatherworking. Some experience with these practices is required, but expert-level skills are optional. Must be comfortable teaching others basic skills in these areas. Most workshops happen on Weekends and evenings during the week. Workshops are between 2 and 4 hours long and have a 3-Min. Set up time prior. Some additional kit-making opportunities are available to support classes. This TA makes it possible for disabled teachers to provide instruction as a mobility accommodation, so the ability to stand for a bit and lift 30 lbs is best. Please review the Ace calendar before applying. It is important that your availability is compatible with when we scheduled classes.
Sewcial Night Host. We are seeking a regular host for our Sewcial Night event every 3rd Friday of the month from 6pm to 9/9:30pm. Comfortablity hosting and creating an inclusive social environment is a must. Enthusiasm for sewing and textiles is helpful. Training and orientation to the Ace Textiles Studio are provided so you can have a great time hosting with confidence. Commitment in 90-day sprints desired after the first 30 days.
Woodworking Teaching Assistants. We are seeking folks to assist instructors during project-based workshops. These workshops include projects like cutting boards, spice racks, knife blocks, etc. Comfortability with tools such as routers, drill presses, and saws needed. Requires two 3 to 4-hour commitments a month spent teaching adults in small groups. TAs are expected to complete training, including diversity equity and inclusion skills, as opportunities occur. Previous woodworking and teaching experience would be best. Availability after work (6:30-10 pm) during the week or on weekends. Please review the Ace calendar before applying. It is important that your availability is compatible with when we scheduled classes.
Laser Maintence Teacher/Tech. Teach one 3-hour basic laser maintenance class a month, during the course of the class complete the basic maintenance on the laser. The class would be no more than 4 students. Training is provided for the core basic maintenance and Ace culture needed for training others. Additional duties include making sure to inventory cleaning and maintenance supplies and request things that are low, cleaning up the shelves as they get messy, and making sure the cleaning stuff stays organized.
Media Distributor. Pick up flyers and then post them at various locations in Berkeley, North Oakland, and West Oakland. This requires approx. 4 hours 2x per month
DEI Workshop Facilitator. Do you have a passion for inclusion and equity? Enjoy facilitating a great discussion. We are looking for folks to help give workshops that center around supported community conversations and diversity, equity, and inclusion topics. This includes the New Member Workshop and more.
*Please note the tour you took should be no more than 3 months prior to applying to the program. Ace is always iterating and improving and a tour two years ago won’t give you the relevant info you need to join the program.
Next Monster Corps Cohort Onboarding
Welcoming new Monster Corps Cohorts is temporarily suspended. Please check back in November for updates.
How to join Monster Corps
Every month we onboard one cohort of applicants into the Monster Corps program.*
- Come for a Tour of the space
- Choose the current opening that works for you and your skillset
- Check the schedule for when the monthly Cohort starts (see above)
- Fill out the application below. Only apply for posted roles, one role per application.
- Once accepted, you will receive an invitation to join a monthly cohort kick-off
Who can be in Monster Corps
Anybody can be in Monster Corps… Well, anybody who normally qualifies for membership. Formal Monster Corps members are folks who completed the application process.
If you are an Ace member outside the Corps who would like to benefit from the program, please message on the #monster-corps channel on Slack.
Ace Makerspace is committed to creating an inclusive environment and is proud to intentionally create a diverse community.
*We can currently only offer one onboarding per month and cannot offer individual program onboarding. We hope when we can afford more support staff that, we can offer weeknight or 1:1 options.
What Monster Corps does for Ace and the Oakland community
Ace Makerspace is all about making access possible yet we are also volunteer-run which means we always need resources. Often time and effort are as valuable, if not more valuable, than cold hard cash. Monster Corps is the program we use to organize the group of awesome folks who give us 8 hours of their time on operational tasks a month. In order for folks to be successful volunteers, they are provided with membership.