Monster Corps Volunteering

Application Prerequisite

Please come for a tour* before applying to the Monster Corps Volunteer Program or making any appointments to discuss the program. Thank you.

Monster Corp Openings

As of March 8th, 2023

First Friday Staff. Making is for everyone and you can help ACE with outreach at Oakland First Fridays… the best street event to reach the amazing diverse people of Oakland and the East Bay. This key staff person helps prepare the Thursday before the event, Helps set up and staff the first shift of the event, and helps restore order the Saturday after the event. There are free tacos involved as well as opportunities to be sponsored for ACE classes so you can speak knowledgeably about ACE when staffing the booth.

Office/Administrative. Do you love a well-crafted spreadsheet? Do you like to make pretty google doc charts? Then we have just the opportunity. Help run month end numbers from the first to the 9th for about 4 hours. Then take on other administrative tasks such as filing, organizing photos, and web page updates (easy WordPress stuff) for an additional 4 hours a month. Basic task training is provided. Good skills with spreadsheets, documents, and google drive are needed.

Woodworking Teaching Assistants. We are seeking folks to assist instructors during project-based workshops. These workshops may have a craft or art focus to them. Requires two, 3 to 4-hour commitments a month spent teaching adults in small groups. An 8-hour per month commitment is asked. 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 make sure to indicate your area of interest in your application

Art Program Support. Art… and craft and fabrication. It is a great new program at Ace where we formalize many things we have been doing for years and expand our capabilities. Folks looking to participate in this role should have a general affinity for art, drawing, painting o similar. This lived experience will be the foundation for knowing how to care for art supplies and equipment. Keeping supplies stocked, well organized, and easy to find is part of the duties. The other duties include being a Teaching Assistant to Art events and co-hosting our Friday Night Art social event on the last Friday of each month from 6:30 to 9:30pm.

Media Distributor. Pick up flyers and then post them to 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.

Wiki content generator. Spend 8 hours a month updating and creating wiki content about the tools in the space. This requires both on-site research and photo capture plus the ability to google basic tool information. Collaboration with tool stewards and subject matter experts is also part of the content generated. Each month a report out in the monthly newsletter of new or updated wiki entries is required. WordPress training available.

*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.

How to join Monster Corps

Every month we onboard one cohort of applicants into the Monster corps program. This is is a Saturday class and onboarding event*. 

  1. Come for a Tour of the space
  2. Choose the current opening that works for you
  3. Check the schedule for when the monthly Cohort starts
  4. Fill out the application below
  5. Once accepted join a monthly cohort.

Monster Corps FAQ

What Monster Corps does for Ace

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. 

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 be intentionally creating a diverse community.

*If you cannot make a Saturday class, this means you will be ineligible for the program as we don’t currently have staff to offer 1:1 training.