Join the Stern Center and Generator for a free screening of the Vermont documentary film Gone Guys, followed by light refreshments and a group discussion lead by youth and community educators Shaun Stephens, Stern Center Speech Language Pathologist, and Mason Merriam, Generator Director of Facilities & Operations.
About the film:
Gone Guys explores a “quiet crisis” in our communities, hidden in plain sight: the increasing disengagement and isolation of boys and young men. Set in rural Vermont, this documentary brings national data to life highlighting the struggles faced by boys and young men and sets the stage for a meaningful conversation.
Details
What: Gone Guys Film Screening Date: Thursday, May 14th Time: 5-7pm Cost: FREE Location: Generator Makerspace, 40 Sears Ln (Map) Movie Trailer:Gone Guys Film
Adobe Illustrator is a powerful design program that is ideal for creating and manipulating vector graphics for laser and vinyl cutting, plasma cutting, and many other manufacturing and digital fabrication applications.
Unlike raster-based programs that store images as pixels, Illustrator works with mathematical paths and curves, meaning designs can be scaled to any size without losing quality or sharpness — a critical advantage when precision is required.
Illustrator’s robust set of tools allows designers and fabricators to create clean, exact outlines, intricate patterns, and complex shapes that translate directly into machine-readable files.
Features like the Pen tool, PathFinder operations, and node editing give users precise control over every anchor point and curve in a design. And other tools make it relatively easy to convert art made via more traditional methods into digital formats ready for high volume reproduction. Illustator supports industry-standard file formats such as .SVG, .DXF, .EPS, and .AI, which are widely accepted by laser cutters, vinyl plotters, plasma tables, CNC routers, and waterjet machines.
Here at Generator we offer regular Illustrator workshops to help anyone learn the fundamentals of vector design and get the most out of Adobe Illustrator for their making, fabrication, and design projects.
Whether you’re new to the software, looking to sharpen existing skills, or seeking help with a specific project or challenge, our offerings have you covered.
Illustrator Skills Workshop – $75
The first option is an introductory skills workshop for never-evers, or users who are relatively new to Illustrator. The goal of the intro workshop is for participants to leave with a strong foundation in essential Illustrator tools/skills/shortcuts so they can efficiently create or modify designs for use with Generator’s laser, vinyl, and plasma CNC machines. We’ll slowly step through the entire interface touching on best practices and the most common tools. If there is time at the end we can dig into project specific questions.
Illustrator Project Support – $20
The second option is a project support workshop where individuals can receive help working through specific challenges or processes. This option is great if you’re wrestling with a tricky vector, trying to clean up a design for cutting, or just want another set of eyes on your work.
Join some of Burlington’s favorite organizations at Zero Gravity for a fun, FREE, hands-on, community powered Bike & Gear Repair Series on the following dates:
Tuesday, April 28th from 4-8pm
Wednesday, May 20th from 4-8pm
Thursday, June 18th from 4-8pm
Got a bike that needs some love? A jacket with a battle scar? A pack that’s held together by hope and one good strap… We’re here to help you fix it!
In a world that’s quick to throw things away, choosing to repair is a small act with a real impact. Every stitch, patch, and tune-up keeps good gear out of the landfill and removes it from the endless cycle of replacement. Rather than extracting additional resources to make something new, let’s focus on extracting as much life as possible from what we already have!
So, clear your schedule, round up your broken stuff, and meet us at Zero Gravity on Tuesday, April 28th, Wednesday, May 20th, and Thursday, June 18th!
FREE Bike Repair
Volunteer mechanics from Generator, Local Motion, Old Spokes Home, Champlain College, and VMBA will be providing basic tune-ups (safety checks, brakes, shifting, etc). Think of it as a wellness visit for your wheels. We won’t have spare parts on hand, so it’s more spa day than surgery, but we’ll do our best to get you rolling smoothly.
Generator will be showing up again with sewing machines, scrap fabric, and other supplies. Torn jacket? Busted buckle? Fraying pack straps? Drag it all in. We’ll be offering basic repairs like patches, snaps, and stitches for free.
The Sandbox will also be on-site offering simple repairs and hi-vis safety patching! They’ll fix what they can, and can help make arrangements for more complex repairs outside of the event.
NOTICE: More complex fixes likely won’t be free, but anything coming through this event will receive a discount at The Sandbox.
Hang Out & Hydrate
All of this goes down at Zero Gravity, home to some of the best beer and food in Burlington. Come for the repairs, stay for the pint and good company.
Special Note:Green State For Good is a program created by Zero Gravity to help protect the landscape and the proactive environmental organizations that serve as the background of our community.
As part of this program, during the month of May, $1.00 from every Green State Lager sold will be donated to Local Motion. So, if you join us at our May event you know which beverage to order 😉
Bike Maintenance Workshops @ Generator
And don’t miss out on our low cost Bike Maintenance Workshops at Generator. These are 2.5 hour sessions where we teach you how to take care of common maintenance and repair tasks on your own. We currently have sessions scheduled on Monday, May 11th, Tuesday, June 2nd, and Wednesday, July 1st from 5:30-8pm, $20/non-members & free/members.
Ahead of our upcoming JumpStart Expo & Pitch Night, we are excited to introduce our newest cohort of Generator entrepreneurs!
These nine talented makers were selected to participate in 2026 JumpStart Business Bootcamp, a 13-week entrepreneurship program facilitated by business coach Emily Eley. This incredible crew has been meeting weekly since mid January, setting goals, crafting prototypes, and fine-tuning their business models.
Don’t miss the JumpStart Expo & Pitch Night coming up on Wednesday, April 8th where you can listen to each entrepreneur pitch their business and share a bit about their journey. Click Here to RSVP!
This program is made possible with support from M&T Bank.
Gioia
Sophie Bodnar & Liv Fauver
Gioia is a chair designed to honor the full experience of feeding your baby. Be it nursing, pumping or bottle feeding, each form asks something different of a parent’s body, and no chair on the market truly supports the ideal postures for all three. Gioia is our answer to that. A chair that supports the forward lean posture pumping requires, while also meeting the full range of feeding positions a new parent moves through and is beautiful enough to grow with your family long after your pumping days are behind you.
Lunch Brake Bike Bags
Josephine Bunnell
I design, sew, and sell bike bags out of Burlington, VT. Lunch Brake bags balance durability and functional construction with dreamy, playful colors. They are made to spend all day on the bike with you, everywhere you go. It can be tricky to find a bag that will stand up to real use and dirty riding while also having some style. Lunch Brake is a locally made option to fill this gap, selling products made and tested by a cyclist for cyclists.
I make bold and colorful bags and accessories handcrafted using fabric scraps and upcycled materials. I’ve been developing waxed canvas outerwear as a natural alternative to plastic fabrics and forever chemicals common in outdoor gear. Everything I make is expressive and playful, designed to last, be repaired, and slow the cycle of buying and discarding.
Stix-N-Bitz is a wooden construction set for young engineers to construct strong, complex open-ended designs. Other construction sets break easily under the rigorous structural testing which kids put them through. Stix-N-Bitz constructions are strong, sturdy and durable.
The Neon Brain
Ciaran Gilmore
I hand draw and design SILENT and discreet fidgets with a focus on function, feel, and aesthetics. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, my fidgets are a take everywhere tool to focus the mind and can even be used as a visual guide for box breathing.
Chord Blocks turn music theory into something you can hold in your hands. Stack blocks to form chords, sequence them into songs, and discover how harmony works — one block at a time.
Keldi
Jon Roberts
Keldi makes physical interfaces that communicate through motion and form. One product in development is a kinetic flower you “water” with your good habits. It keeps your progress visible at a glance, without pulling you back into an app through constant notifications.
Upcycled Plant Hangers, Simply Designed. A modern way to display your plants. Made from upcycled leather or vinyl deadstock, these hangers are lightweight yet sturdy, holding plants securely while adding a refined, architectural element to your space.
Community is built through action, and Generator has two upcoming opportunities for you to show up, connect with neighbors, and make a real difference.
#1 – Whistle Packing Party: Tuesday, March 3 from 4-7pm
Generator has been busy 3D printing thousands of safety whistles to distribute across Vermont, helping communities stay protected. Now we need your help! Please consider volunteering with us to tie strings on whistles, fold instructional zines, and package everything up for mass distribution.
The finished whistle packs will go to African Americans Living in Vermont (AALV), Vermont Professionals of Color (VT-POC), and other organizations in Burlington, Montpelier, and throughout the state.
It’s simple, meaningful work — and a great chance to connect with our community and take care of our neighbors.
Drop in anytime and stay as long as you’d like. Everyone and all ages are welcome.
#2 – Whistles + Sign Making: Saturday, March 21 from 9am-Noon
On Saturday, March 21st, ahead of the No Kings Protest on March 28th, we will be gathering again to build as many whistle packages as we can.
This time, in addition to the whistle packaging work, we will also have a sign-making station to help everyone gear up for the No Kings Protest the following weekend. Please plan on bringing your own cardboard and any extra paint you might have! Generator will have paint, markers, stencils, and more on hand, and staff to assist with the laser and vinyl cutters if you interested in taking your poster to the next level!
Whether you’re coming to package whistles, make a sign, or both, you’re welcome here.
If you aren’t able to attend, but would like to support this effort please consider making at donation to our Makers-In-Action Fund to help cover the cost of supplies.
This five-workshop series invites you to slow down and reconnect with the meditative rhythm of hand carving. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have some woodworking experience, you’ll learn to create beautiful, functional kitchen utensils from locally sourced wood, guided by Barbara’s expert instruction and deep appreciation for the craft.
Each workshop focuses on a different essential kitchen tool, building your skills as you master the fundamental techniques of wood carving—from initial shaping and hollowing to finishing touches that bring out the wood’s natural beauty. You’ll work with traditional carving knives and hook tools, learning proper hand positioning, grain direction, and the satisfaction of creating something useful and lasting with your own hands. Take one, or take them all… It’s up to you!
Each piece you create will become a treasured kitchen companion and a reminder of the craft tradition you’re now part of.
All skill levels welcome. Tools and materials provided. Leave with a finished piece and the knowledge to continue carving at home. Individual workshops do not depend on each other, take any one, or any combination of workshops that make sense for you.
Join us at Generator for two evenings of sharing, learning, and making! Whether you’re curious about how things are made or passionate about fixing what’s broken, these community gatherings are designed to celebrate and share the knowledge, skills, and creativity contained within our maker community.
A big thank you to Sophia DiLibero for helping us plan and host these events!
Make & Mend – Thursday, March 19
Bring your broken items and DIY gift ideas to our Make & Mend community gathering! This event is another experiment in coming together, connecting with each other, and exchanging ideas.
The plan is to meet in the Great Hall and connect people with broken items to individuals with appropriate repair skills. This event is also an opportunity to show off previous fix-it victories, and share ideas and examples of projects that would make useful or meaningful gifts for friends and family.
Whether you’re patching jeans, reviving electronics, or brainstorming your next homemade creation, this is your chance to learn from fellow makers and show off your repair wins. Come ready to share what you know and leave with new skills and inspiration.
What: Make & Mend Repair & DIY Gift Event Where: Generator Great hall When: Thursday, March 19 Time: 6-9pm Cost: Free
If you are planning to attend, you can just show up, but we’d prefer if you RSVP’d below. This will help us gauge whether this is a good idea or not and ensure we are properly prepared. Please also consider bringing some snacks to share.
Ever wondered how different people approach certain tasks or projects? Methods & Means is a show-and-tell type of event where our community members are invited to pull back the curtain on their approach to a particular process.
This is an experiment, and there are no rules or expectations on what should be shared, or how to share it. Take us through some slides, set up a demo, do an interpretive dance… It’s your choice!
No Topic Is Off Limits Tell us about how you approach using 3D printing to create molds for slip casting ceramics… Walk us through the steps and ingredients necessary to make the most awesome cup of hot chocolate… Or explain the theory and reasoning behind how you organize files on your computer.
The Format Is Simple Share your methods, reveal your means, and give us a little glimpse of your inner-nerd so we can appreciate the passion behind the maker/doer! Each person will have ~20 minutes to use however you want. We’re planning for 10-15 minute presentations followed by discussion… But please don’t let our lack of creativity limit your plan.
Interested in Sharing? We are currently seeking ~6 community members interested in presenting. If you have a thing you’re passionate about—be it practical, whimsical, or anywhere in between—we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact Sophia at [email protected] to share your theme and reserve a spot.
Current Lineup
Greg Maino – The Perfect Oreo Dunk
Patrick Fahey – A Simpleton’s Guide to Sharpening Tools
Bjorn Peterson – Design Rabbit Holes
Neil Shah – Oru Woodstove Monitor
Jim Hodson – Developing Agreement via App
Sam Francis – Papier Mache Masks
Lux – Creativity Through Spontaneity
Aurora Calderon – Craft Switching Thru The Seasons
Greg Maino – The Art of Making Good Bad Decisions
What: Methods & Means Show & Tell Event Where: Generator Conference Room When: Thursday, February 26 Time: 6-9pm Want To Present: Contact [email protected] Cost: Free
If you are planning to attend, you can just show up, but we’d prefer if you RSVP’d below… even if you are presenting. This will help us gauge whether this is a good idea or not and ensure we are properly prepared. Please also consider bringing some snacks to share.
Come help the Generator community fabricate shower bags for the UVM Medical Center Oncology Unit!
Join us for a two-day community sewing event to support breast cancer patients recovering from surgery. Shower bags allow patients to shower hands-free while managing post-surgical drains—a small comfort that makes a meaningful difference.
Dates: Saturday, December 13 & Sunday, December 14 Time: 10:00am–2:00pm Cost: FREE
Basic sewing experience is helpful but not required—there are tasks for everyone. We have limited sewing machines, so please bring one if you can.
This project was inspired by Lyn Coupal, a two-time breast cancer survivor. “After my second surgery, the hospital gave me a shower bag so I could bathe safely and independently,” Lyn shared. “These small items make a big difference—but they’re not always available.”
Drop in anytime! We need volunteers to help sew, cut fabric, iron, assemble, and package bags.
Active Generator members can earn free membership by referring new and returning members during the months of November and December.
Benefits:
Current Members: 2 weeks of free membership per referral
New Members: $40 off their first month
How to Participate:
Current Members Email [email protected] to request your personalized referral code. Share it with potential members throughout November and December. We’ll track code usage and apply your rewards during the first week of January.
New Members Use a referral code when signing up to save $40 off your first month. Only one code per person is allowed.
Eligibility Requirements:
Current members must maintain continuous membership through the promotional period to receive rewards. Memberships that expire or lapse during November-December are not eligible for rewards.
Any non-member can use a referral code whether they are a new member, or a returning member.
Referral discount can only be used in conjunction with our standard monthly membership. Student memberships, volunteer memberships, and rental products are not eligible.
Email [email protected] to request your personalized referral code today!
At Generator Makerspace, our community is at the core of everything we do. As we continue to grow and evolve, we want to make sure we’re providing the tools, resources, and programs that matter most to you—our members, visitors, and the wider maker community.
That’s why we’re reaching out today to ask for your help.
Why Your Input Matters
Generator exists to serve the diverse needs of makers, artists, entrepreneurs, hobbyists, and curious minds throughout our community. Whether you spend multiple hours each week at our facility, are someone who drops in occasionally for a specific project, or are a curious neighbor who’s been thinking about exploring what we offer—your perspective is invaluable.
Your feedback will help us understand:
Which tools and equipment are most essential to your projects
What types of classes and trainings you’d like to see offered
How we can better support your creative and professional goals
What barriers might be preventing you from using the space more fully
What new programs or resources would enhance your maker journey
Take Our Brief Community Survey
We’ve created a short survey that should only take a few minutes to complete. You’re welcome to fill it out anonymously if you prefer, but we hope you’ll consider sharing your contact information because we’re offering some fantastic prizes as a thank you for your time.
Enter to Win Amazing Prizes
Everyone who provides basic contact information will be automatically entered into our raffle to win the prizes listed below:
(1) Six Months of FREE Generator Membership
(2) Three Months of FREE Generator Membership
(1) Free Generator Tool Training
(1) Free Generator Workshop
(1) PinBox 3000: DIY Cardboard Pinball Game
Our survey period ends Sunday, October 19th. Prizes will be awarded shortly thereafter.
Thank you for being part of the Generator community. We can’t wait to hear your ideas so we can make this space even better.If you have questions about the survey or want to share additional feedback please rreach out to us at [email protected].
