Author: GeneratorVt

  • Generator and SEABA Launch Artist-In-Residence Partnership

    Generator and SEABA Launch Artist-In-Residence Partnership

    A New Collaboration

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    Generator and the South End Arts and Business Association (SEABA) are proud to announce a new partnership to support a collaborative Artist-In-Residence program.

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    About the Program

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    The Generator Artist-in-Residence program first began in 2014. Founded with the organization, the program is an active example of Generator’s long-standing support of developing artists in Vermont. by offering professional development in technical skills within a collaborative community space. 

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    Generator is thrilled to collaborate with SEABA to continue supporting Vermont artists in Burlington’s South End Arts District. “Partnering with Christy Mitchell at SEABA is a no brainer. Providing access to our tools and the opportunity to develop technical skills can significantly accelerate an artist’s career. Partnering with SEABA allows both of our organizations to expand our networks while increasing our impact and role in the arts”, says Meg Hammond, Executive Director of Generator. 

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    Through the Artist-In-Residence program, Generator will host four artists annually, offering each resident four months of free Generator membership, 3 months of free Generator studio rental, and a combined $900 in the form of tool training credits and a material stipend. 

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    The Perfect Partnership

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    The Artist-In-Residence partnership is an exciting culmination of years of collaboration between Generator and SEABA. As a nonprofit in Burlington’s South End, Generator has long been a member of SEABA and has participated in many South End Art Hop events run by the association. “The partnership with Generator meshes perfectly,” says SEABA’s Executive Director, Christy Mitchell. “Many artists benefit from tools that expedite their process or allow them to create works that would be impossible by hand. Conversely, makers often need the inspiration of art and other visual minds to create aesthetically rich pieces.” 

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    Generator and SEABA are also connected through leadership: Christy was also Generator’s first Executive Director. “Both organizations lift up our creative community by giving unique access to tools and training,” she says. “By SEABA and Generator collaborating on the Artist-In-Residence program, it allows us to support the artist and maker community in ways that our organizations would not be able to do alone.”

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    The application for our Winter and Spring 2024 residencies is open now. Are you our next Artist-In-Residence? Apply here.

  • Meet Kristen McCole, Founder of Compliment Coins

    Meet Kristen McCole, Founder of Compliment Coins

    Meet Kristen

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    Kristen McCole began making what are now known as Compliment Coins about four years ago, as a very small endeavor. Now, with help from Generator’s laser cutter, Kristen has expanded her unique business to sell at Burlington’s Thirty-Odd gift shop and other local markets.

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    Path to Generator

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    Kristen began her creative journey at Generator about a year and a half ago, when she began to seek ways to speed up her coin-making process. Kristen’s compliments coins are wooden tokens engraved on each side with an adorable animal character and a heart-warming compliment. “When I was first making the coins, I was hand burning each individual one, which was taking a very long time to do,” she says. Looking to expand her business, Kristen was suggested to try out a laser cutter. Not long after, Kristen became a Generator member. “I had a mind-blown moment where I realized that I could really take what I was making to the next level. And it has worked out that way, which is very exciting.”

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    Kristen is now a studio member, and often comes to Generator early in the morning to work on one of our three Epilog lasers.

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    Inspiration and Human Connection

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    Kristen enjoys finding beauty  in many different places. “The thing that I hold most dear is the art of connecting people – with each other and even with themselves, says Kristen. “I think that the true creative moment is when somebody finds a piece that they want to give to somebody and it feels perfect for them, or I’ve had people buy a coin and put it in their pocket for themselves.” Kristen draws inspiration from cute and quirky pieces of art, such as Richard Scarry. She also appreciates the whimsy of children’s books.

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    Advice to Makers

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    In addition to Compliment Coins, Kristen is excited to explore other Generator workshops, such as the jewelry studio. “I think sometimes just exposing yourself to different mediums can unlock something that you didn’t know you had inside of you, which is something that makes the Generator so wonderful,” she says. “If you’re a member, you can tinker around with all these different possibilities.”

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    Kristen’s advice to new members? “I would say don’t pigeonhole yourself into only one thing. I’ve had people come up to me and say ‘ I love what you make, but I would love to do something like this.I am just not creative’ My advice is to try different things and see if anything really resonates with you.”

  • Meet Marcus Bretto, Violin Luthier

    Meet Marcus Bretto, Violin Luthier

    Meet Marcus

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    Marcus Bretto is a violin luthier, blacksmith, and artist. In his Generator studio, he crafts beautiful violins by drawing inspiration all over the makerspace – from the work of his knifemaker studiomate to the filament assemblies on the 3D printers.

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    Path to Generator

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    Marcus grew up in Hingham, Massachusetts and started making things from a very young age. Inspired by his musician father, Marcus remembers making cardboard guitars with rubber band strings as a child. He enjoyed playing instruments too – he learned to play the violin in sixth grade and soon picked up the drums and the keyboard. 

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    In high school, Marcus realized he could pursue making instruments as a career. He went on to attend North Bennet Street School in Boston, where he trained one-on-one with a professional violin luthier for three years.

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    Marcus moved to Burlington in 2018. Looking for a studio space to continue his violin-making practice, he found Generator. “I had always been looking for a space where I could share ideas with other people and artists and have access to all these neat tools,” he says. “I was on the lookout when I moved here, and that’s when I just popped in. I was like ‘What!? I didn’t know this kind of space actually existed. This is amazing!’ I got a membership as soon as possible after that.” 

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    Inspiration and Experimentation in the Makerspace

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    The collaboration and inspiration at Generator has been especially exciting for Marcus. He shares a studio with one of his best friends, professional knife maker Mats Thureson. The two started blacksmithing together, partially for fun, and partially to help Marcus gain a better understanding of metalworking. Marcus believes this collaboration has helped elevate his craft. He also credits inspiration to his studio neighbor, Leslie McCurdy, a fellow luthier who makes electric bass guitars. “Leslie is in the studio right next to me, and I get to peer over the wall and see what he does over there all the time, he says. “I’m like, ‘Oh, this is pretty cool. He’s got the cool stuff.’”

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    Marcus also appreciates the creative exploration that Generator allows. “Almost every single time I make an instrument for myself, there is some experimentation going on, even if they’re just small adjustments in the process of making templates or, you know, how would I make this little section easier?”  Watching other makers create in other shops helps Marcus think outside the box. “There’s almost always some sort of example that’s coming from around here completely unrelated. I’m like, ‘Oh, I saw some way that somebody assembled something in the 3D printing area or like how people are doing laminations with the vinyl. I think ‘Okay, I can take ideas from this and make little adjustments to my process in that way.” The experimental and collaborative atmosphere at Generator help make Marcus’ violins unique.

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    Advice to New Makers

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    To new makers, Marcus says, “Don’t judge where you are in the process too early. I see so many people get discouraged about these grand ideas where they think they’re supposed to be. There’s so much that’s in front of you already, so much that you’ve made progress on and improved upon, and it might speak to people in ways that you don’t expect. Somebody will find something to like about your work. And what you do is just keep doing it.”

  • Generator Launches New VT MakerSchools Program

    Generator Launches New VT MakerSchools Program

    Meeting a Critical Need

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    Generator is proud to announce the launch of our new VT MakerSchools program.

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    Supported by a $365,000 grant from the US Department of Education, this program will guide the buildout of six makerspaces in rural Vermont secondary schools, as well as provide makerspace professional development to Vermont educators and establish a dedicated classroom at Generator to serve as a model learning space for both efforts.

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    “Vermont has a critical need to expand opportunities in STEAM education and workforce development in manufacturing, prototyping, and innovative technologies. This program represents a significant investment in Vermont’s future,” says Meg Hammond, Executive Director of Generator. “We’re extremely thankful to the US Department of Education for supporting this critical work, and for former Senator Leahy and his office for advocating for our project in Congress.”

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    Six Schools, Three Years of Support

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    The VT MakerSchools program is a three-year initiative to support selected schools across the state to develop, implement, and sustain makerspace programs to meet the following goals: (1) increase access to emerging technologies and STEAM education; (2) provide professional development training for Vermont educators on makerspace tech; (3) build pathways to post-secondary opportunities for high school graduates; and (4) provide greater access for rural communities to high-paying jobs in technical fields.

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    The first phase of the project outfitted and established a dedicated makerspace classroom at the Generator facility, complete with laser cutters, 3D printers, a CNC router, a vinyl cutter, and a computer lab with advanced 3D design software. This space will serve as a model classroom and will support ongoing professional development for Vermont educators.

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    Generator launched the program this spring with six partner schools:

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    • Bellows Falls Union High School
    • Harwood Union Middle High School
    • Hazen Union School
    • Main Street Middle School
    • White River Valley Middle School
    • Williston Central School

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    “Access to a makerspace creates opportunities to develop a student’s skills and experience, spark a personal interest, and even foster a desire to explore career pathways previously not considered,” says Angela Selvaggio, a teacher from Harwood Union Middle High School. “Teachers are already having conversations about how a makerspace within a school building can shift and elevate the learning experiences for our students. We look forward to working with the experts at Generator to make this happen.”

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    Fostering a MakerSchool Community

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    On June 22 MakerSchool partners convened at Generator to connect with fellow colleagues, explore the makerspace, and establish a learning community made up of educators, principals, superintendents, and school board members. 

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    “We all understand that makerspaces build a community of learners that share knowledge, think critically about complex problems, and design creative solutions through experimentation. We’re excited to be able to foster this community of like-minded learners from across the state,” says Veronica Newton, Generator Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships.

  • Meet Krista Jones, Owner of Whimsically You

    Meet Krista Jones, Owner of Whimsically You

    Meet Krista

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    Krista Jones is the founder of Whimsically You, a local wedding experience company. Krista is an artisan of many talents who has experience on a wide range of equipment at Generator. She spends the most time working with our laser cutters and in the woodshop; though, she is also well versed in the electronic studio and with the 3D printers.

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    From a Veterinarian to a Maker

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    Krista is originally from Concord, Massachusetts and comes from a scientific background. Her journey as a maker began with her work as an ecologist and veterinarian. Throughout her career, Krista specialized in a range of areas from wildlife health and behavior to exotic pets and veterinary medicine. “I would have to craft radio-collars or jerry rig little parts to make things work out in the field,” she says. Krista’s need to make and repurpose equipment expanded her creative thinking and sharpened her problem-solving abilities. She continued to develop these important skills as she worked all around the world, spending time in California, Louisiana, Vermont, Norway, and Australia. Though she didn’t know it at the time, these endeavors as a scientist and budding maker helped prepare her to create Whimsically You.

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    Path to Generator

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    Whimsically You was born from Krista’s experience planning her own wedding. “When we first started, I knew that there were a lot of things that we wanted to be very personalized and unique. I liked the idea of making things myself and having that as part of the wedding,” she says. Krista began searching for local makerspaces. That’s when she found Generator. “I was really impressed,” she says. “As someone coming in with basically no experience, and as a woman in what we sometimes think of as a male-dominated space, I was really happy with how welcoming it was here. Everyone is always happy to help. I always feel super comfortable and supported. It was just a really nice environment off the bat.” By the time her wedding rolled around, she knew she wanted to continue this work. “When we finished that process, I realized how much I loved it and also how much there was a gap in the market. That’s when we decided to launch Whimsically You.”

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    JumpStart

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    After deciding to launch the business, Krista applied for JumpStart – Generator’s 12-week entrepreneurial program that pairs group learning and one-on-one support to guide new entrepreneurs through the process.  Krista especially appreciates the community she found through Jumpstart. “We get this cohort of other new entrepreneurs who are local, who we can have that connection with for support and for bouncing ideas off of. Even though JumpStart ended back in May, our cohort is still meeting every two weeks to continue to support each other and talk through stuff. That’s been fantastic.” Krista is also grateful to have presented her work at the program’s culmination, JumpStart Expo Night. “We got some business out of that night, as well as just getting some word of mouth out there, which at the beginning is so important.” Krista encourages anyone who is thinking about starting a business to apply for JumpStart.

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    Advice to New Makers

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    For new makers, Krista emphasized the importance of experimentation and flexibility. “The biggest thing I would say is to just go try and play around. Be prepared for the fact that a lot of things aren’t going to work, she says. “You’re going to need a lot more materials than you think to begin with because things will mess up.” Krista recommends Reddit and YouTube to help new makers learn. You can get support and information, ask questions, and get tips and answers,” she says. More specific to Generator, she recommended, “Come and take the tool trainings here! That will get you everything you need to just get started. From there, it’s really just up to you to figure out what you want to make and try and make it. It’s a fun process, and I encourage people just to give it a try.”

     

  • Meet Leslie McCurdy, Electric Bass Maker

    Meet Leslie McCurdy, Electric Bass Maker

    Meet Leslie

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    Leslie McCurdy is a craft luthier who makes electric basses completely by hand. Prior to becoming an instrument-maker, he spent much of his life as a professional musician playing the electric bass. For the past 12 years, Leslie has honed his craft and artistry, building basses across the northern United States before joining Generator. He hopes to expand his sources of inspiration in our makerspace by taking jewelry or even 3D printer classes.

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    Lesley was born in South America and grew up in the Caribbean, parts of Canada, and the United States. He eventually landed in Austin, Texas, where he spent several years playing with a heavy metal country rock band. 

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    When he decided to move away from the band scene, instrument-making felt like a natural transition., “I got a little older and I just wanted to continue being involved in music, and what I know is bass. So I took some classes and started making instruments,: he says.

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    Inspired by the likes of Leo Fender –“a semi hemi deity,” as Leslie calls him – Leslie dove headfirst into the world of bass making. He took classes in Michigan for six months before being hired by one of his other great inspirations, Roger Sadowsky.  Working with Sadowsky, Leslie learned to appreciate the art of hand-crafting instruments.  “I want the basses  to have the hand of the maker in them,” he says. “I want you to pick them up and go, ‘Okay, this was not made on a lathe or whatever, but this neck feels like somebody’s hand.’ That’s what I’m striving for.” Due to his handcrafted approach, each of Leslie’s basses are unique. “They’re all different. They have a basic template. But from there I just kind of go, ‘Oh, the grain is going this way. I think I’ll cut this, man.’ Or I’ll say, ‘This one is chipping here, so I’m going to do this here.’” 

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    After working with Sadowsky for about a year and a half, Leslie opened up his own shop in Beacon, New York, where he worked for five years. Later though, having lived in Vermont earlier in life, Leslie realized he “never should have left,” and moved back to Burlington, where he found Generator.

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    Inspiration in the Makerspace

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    Leslie has been at Generator for less than a year, but has already felt inspired by other makers in the space. He worked closely with makers in the space, such as woodworkers Alex Brumlik and Juju Lobo.“There’s a lot of the social aspect of being here that’s very helpful, ” Leslie says.“ He also mentioned how the spaces around him at Generator spark interest, drive curiosity, and inspire ideas he hopes to implement into his work. “I’ve just been watching other people and seeing what they do,putting it in the back of my head,” he says.“The jewelry department definitely does know how to decorate things and make them look better. At the end of the day, you just want to make it look pretty.”

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    Advice to New Makers

    To new makers, Leslie says, “You have to decide early on whether you want to be ‘a craftsman’ or ‘an artist.’ If you want to be a craftsman, you have to consider starting to make things with more machines, making more of them, figuring out a way to market them more.I fall into the artist category. I want to do what I do, as much of it as I can, for the people who like it.”

  • Meet Menghan Wang, Artist-In-Residence 2023

    Meet Menghan Wang, Artist-In-Residence 2023

    Meet Menghan

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    Menghan Wang is Generator’s Summer 2023 Artist-In-Residence. 

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    Menghan is a Beijing-born, previously Berlin-based, and currently Vermont-based interdisciplinary artist, musician, and DJ.

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    Beijing to Berlin

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    Menghan was an active experimental musician in Beijing’s subcultural scenes and independent art communities. She performed at many China’s major electronic music venues, including The Shelter, Oil, Zhao Dai, and Yugong Yishan, as well as festivals including Audi Urban Electronics, Prajnasonic’s T.A.U.M, and BEME (Beijing Electronic Music Encounter). She was also a key member of Sinotronics label, supporting and promoting local musicians.

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    In 2018, Menghan moved to Berlin, Germany to study Sound Studies and Sonic Arts at Universität der Künste Berlin. She started to realize her works in more interdisciplinary ways, gaining experience in poetry, photography, videography, and installation. She exhibited and performed works including the 8-channel sound installation Gate (2019) at Berlin ACUD Macht Neu, multimedia live act Now is the Place, Here is the Time (2021) as part of Climate Care Festival at Floating University Berlin, and sound installation Silver Ripples (2022) across 6 secluded places in Berlin and 1 location at Sound Studies and Sonic Arts Master Exhibition at Collegium Hungaricum Berlin. She then moved to Vermont in late 2022.

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    Woodworking, Electronics, And Soon Sewing

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    Menghan came to Generator excited to work in a synergetic creative community. “I look forward to participating in a collaborative environment where I can exchange knowledge and ideas with other makers,” she says.

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    Menghan has a fundamental understanding of woodwork, metalwork, and electronics, however she is eager to expand her skill set at Generator. Menghan is especially excited about the tool training in our sewing studio, as she hopes to incorporate textile elements into her work. 

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    A Place-Based Proiect

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    During her residency, Menghan will continue a series she calls “Sounding Presentness: Resonating with the Otherworld.” 

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    Menghan describes Sounding Presentness as a “multidisciplinary place-based project” that draws on reflections from the recent pandemic, psychogeographical wandering, instrument design, and sound art installation. The project will address sustainability, community, and healing, and will invite our local communities to listen and share their experiences.

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    “As I embark on this new journey, I am eager to absorb fresh perspectives and gain knowledge from the diverse array of resources available here,” Menghan says. “Ultimately, I anticipate that this experience will infuse my work with new dimensions of meaning and depth.” 

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    Don’t miss Menghan’s installation of Sounding Presentness at Art Hop, September 8-9, 2023 at Generator.

  • Meet Meagan Downey, Founder of Shiki Wrap

    Meet Meagan Downey, Founder of Shiki Wrap

    Meet Meagan

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    For Meagan Downey, joining a makerspace was not about being a maker. It was about being a problem-solver.

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    While volunteering for a holiday fundraiser at her daughter’s school, Meagan noticed a serious lack of options for sustainable gift wrapping. She saw a gap – and wanted to fill it with an easily accessible, affordable alternative to the throw-away stuff. Her vision for Shiki Wrap, her now nationally acclaimed business, started to take shape. 

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    JumpStart

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    In 2021, Meagan applied to Generator’s JumpStart program, a 10-week entrepreneurial program for product-based startups, and was accepted. “I did not know how to sew a stitch or what the GSM of fabric was,” she says. What she did have though, was determination. “I had a real sense of urgency around solving a problem for myself and my customers and needed help figuring it out.”

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    Through JumpStart, Meagan gained access to our sewing studio and five other technical workshops to prototype her product. Meagan worked not only with her JumpStart coach and fellow cohort members during this time, but also with advisors from the greater Generator community. In collaboration with her new network, Meagan iterated and advanced her prototype significantly in our facility. She arrived at Shiki Wrap: reusable gift wrap made of soft, stretchy fabric derived from recycled plastic.

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    Shiki Wrap

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    Shiki Wrap was largely inspired by traditional Japanese furoshiki, in which gift-givers wrapped their present with fabric, intending to give the wrapping as a part of their offering. In keeping with this tradition, Shiki Wrap is beautifully designed. The product comes in many colorful patterns dreamed up by experienced graphic designers, illustrators, and creative directors. The product requires no ribbons or bows – customers can easily tie the fabric around their gift with a clean, simple knot, saving time and money, not to mention additional waste. And it’s machine-washable!

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    With the Shiki Wrap prototype ready, Meagan graduated from JumpStart and was accepted to LaunchVT, a business acceleration service-provider and long-time partner of Generator. Meagan excelled in the program and proceeded to win the LaunchVT Demo Night Grand Prize. Since then, Shiki Wrap has garnered both local and national recognition. This past holiday season, the product was featured in the Style section of New York Times. 

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    Keeping it in the Community

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    Meagan now works at our neighbor coworking space Hula, but stays connected with our Generator community in many ways. “I love supporting other founders and creators I meet through Generator,” she says. “It was the best place to launch my business. I remain forever grateful to the awesome staff and Generator community for supporting me on my journey.”

  • Meet the JumpStart 2023 Cohort

    Meet the JumpStart 2023 Cohort

    [vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Ahead of our upcoming JumpStart Expo Night, we are excited to introduce our next cohort of Generator entrepreneurs, the JumpStart 2023 cohort!

    These nine talented makers were specially selected to participate in JumpStart 2023, our 12-week startup development program, facilitated by business coach Emily Eley. This amazing crew has been meeting weekly since early March, setting goals, crafting prototypes, and fine tuning their business models. 

    Don’t miss JumpStart Expo Night on May 24 to hear each entrepreneur pitch their new business and share a bit about their journey.

    Sponsored by M&T Bank.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”60″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][image_with_animation image_url=”13049″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]

    Alex Bunten, Jack Jump Collaborative

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“A jack jumper is a single ski with a raised bench seat on it that is used for ridiculously fun, fast and easy downhill travel in snow.  No fancy equipment is required to use it, just typical winter attire. There is a tight knit community of jack jump riders in Vermont, and pretty much every time we go to a ski hill, someone asks us where we can buy one. There are no commercially available jack jumpers available in the US. Most riders just make their own. My business would be solving that problem.”[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][image_with_animation image_url=”13055″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]

    Krista Jones, Whimsically You

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“We help thoughtful couples have unforgettably personalized celebrations through rentable experiences such as a bespoke photo booth or a custom wedding-themed escape box, and custom crafted items such as puzzle games or decor. We believe that a traditional wedding doesn’t suit all couples, and everyone deserves to have a truly customized, unique experience crafted around their love and story to truly celebrate who they are. We want to help other couples to celebrate in their own unique and playful way. The world could use a bit more celebration of love of all kinds!”[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][image_with_animation image_url=”13053″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]

    Justin Heininger, Beneath the Mountains

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“I create silver jewelry using my hand drawn, non-traditional, Celtic knot designs. My products are meant to be worn works of art made in silver. Through my jewelry, I seek to enhance individual beauty in order to help people feel more confident about themselves. I feel jewelry allows people to enhance their personality in a way that is not permanent like a tattoo.”[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][image_with_animation image_url=”13054″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]

    Kelsey McWilliams, Point of Shift

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“Point of Shift makes funky, well-designed, unique toilet seats that bring design, whimsy, and beauty to the bathroom. The toilet seat for western toilets has been the same shapes, colors, and aesthetics since the first flush toilets were invented. As a society, we have distanced ourselves from the toilet and our waste, which has caused us to forget that that waste is a valuable resource. Our waste can be transformed into nutrients for the soil, energy, water, or animal feed. By bringing attention, whimsy, and delight back to the toilet with funky toilet seats, Point of Shift is helping to bring back respect, dignity, connection, and understanding to our waste systems – which need our attention more than ever.”[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][image_with_animation image_url=”13058″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]

    Jay Burstein, HempTone

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“My product is a great-sounding, rugged, small-scale guitar that is crafted from raw hemp fiber and is ideal for travel and adventure. While being eco-friendly, sustainable, and carbon-negative, the HempTone guitar is designed and constructed to withstand temperature and moisture extremes that traditional guitars cannot; it can even be submerged in water. In addition, it is much tougher than most and can take abuse that would destroy a traditional guitar. It is the perfect guitar for travel and outdoor adventures. The guitar is also a beacon for hemp awareness, and its many uses that can help combat climate change.” [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][image_with_animation image_url=”13051″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]

    Sara Everest, Fortune Fire Starters

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“A Fortune Fire Starter is a fire starter made from 100% discarded materials including egg cartons, dryer lint, wood chips, and candle stubs, wrapped in an origami newspaper pyramid, topped with a ‘fortune.’ My product is used to help start fires in a fire pit, a fireplace, or a woodstove. It burns for about 10 minutes, so the user has plenty of time to arrange larger pieces of wood around it and get their fire going. Fortune Fire Starters are made from 100% discarded materials and help folks start fires easily indoors or outdoors. Fortune Fire Starters help to reduce landfill and increase happiness.”[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][image_with_animation image_url=”13052″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]

    Ben Burns, Ben’s Bag Co.

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“My product is a machine sewn bicycle bag made of recycled fabrics. The bag attaches to a bike via Velcro and features pockets and storage space that are designed to carry things like extra food, water, repair tools, clothing,and more. While some bag designs can be produced uniformly, others can be tailored to work with specific frame geometry quite easily. I believe that having access to fun, local, and sustainable products that allow you to carry the things you need on your bike help get folks excited about where their bike can take them, and help them bring along all of the things they need to get there.”[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][image_with_animation image_url=”13056″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]

    Miranda Peters, ditto historical

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“ditto historical recovers the forgotten stories of individuals from the American Revolution through beautiful and affordable jewelry and souvenirs. Museum stores across the country have faced fluctuating retail stock due to supply chain issues with overseas manufacturers. While increasingly diverse narratives and topics are being explored at museums, shelves are lined with products that feature George Washington or the other usual suspects. I think we can do better. My business will provide easy-to-access purchase touchpoints for museums of all sizes at wholesale costs still affordable for museum-goers.”[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][image_with_animation image_url=”13059″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]

    Pike Porter

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“My product is a bike lock shaped to be used as handlebar extension while riding. While riding, most conventional bike locks are dead weight. This bike lock allows riders to increase efficiency and speed by positioning their bodies further over the front wheel like aerobar handlebars. This lock is actually useful when riding, not just useful when the bike is locked up. An accessory bag can be attached to the lock in the handlebar position providing more storage. The brackets can also hold a cell phone if the rider so chooses.”[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Introducing STEEAM

    Introducing STEEAM

    STEEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Arts, and Math

    [divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]By this point, most of us have heard of STEM: the acronym coined by the National Science Foundation in the early 2000s to refer to science, technology, engineering, and math. 

    The original intent behind integrating a STEM education into schools was to provide students with the critical thinking skills needed to make them better creative problem solvers, as their multidisciplinary background would allow for problem solving from a variety of angles. 

    Since the inception of STEM, however, both the approach to a multidisciplinary education – and the acronym have grown. Most schools and organizations now use the acronym STEAM rather than STEM, an approach inclusive of the arts in a well-rounded education. 

    At Generator, we are taking it one step further. We exist at the intersection of art, science, technology, and entrepreneurship. Our cross-disciplinary approach incorporates much more than just STEM. Thus, at Generator, STEEAM was born: Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Arts, and Math. 

    To understand the significance of this new acronym, it helps to understand more of the its history. [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]

    STEM’s Roots

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]As previously mentioned, STEM was introduced by the National Science Foundation in 2001. But what happened after that? 

    The acronym largely remained dormant until President Obama launched the “Education to Innovate” campaign in 2009, an effort to increase nationwide achievement for students in science and math. 

    “Reaffirming and strengthening America’s role as the world’s engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation is essential to meeting the challenges of this century,” said President Obama. “That’s why I am committed to making the improvement of STEM education over the next decade a national priority.” 

    And he did, announcing initiatives including the annual White House science fair; commitments from high profile leaders, including Sally Ride, to support STEM education; and creating media partnerships set to inspire over ten million students.

    Then, in 2013, STEM became STEAM. John Maeda, former president of Rhode Island School of Art and Design, wrote an op-ed for Seattle Times championing the importance of the arts in education. “There is great power in these fields [design and technology] taken separately, and even more when they are put together,” he wrote.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]

    Why STEEAM?

    [/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]So, why the progression of the acronym from STEAM to STEEAM? 

    As Marilyn Reznick, Chair of The Bay & Paul Foundation, said at a recent event at Generator, “it is Generator’s entrepreneurial spirit, rooted in practical reality, that enables it to not only create effective educational programs but contribute to community development as well.” 

    This entrepreneurial spirit is a combination of resourcefulness, forward-thinking, persistence, and collaboration. Entrepreneurism, at its core, is the act of bringing ideas into realities – which, when you think about it, is a lot like the act of making.

    At Generator, we believe that entrepreneurial skills are invaluable in today’s world, equally important as the mathematical, artistic, and other skills reflected in the STEAM acronym. The entrepreneurial skill set isn’t just relevant to those who plan on starting their own business – financial literacy, problem solving, critical thinking, and the ability to take risks are desirable qualities in any field. Entrepreneurs excel in initiative, collaboration, and perseverance. They are the type of worker that employers seek.

    That’s why we see entrepreneurship as integral to our education philosophy, our culture and our programs. 

    Everyone has good ideas, and good ideas can change the world. An entrepreneur will make those good ideas happen.[/vc_column_text]