The Lansing Makers Network fosters creativity and confidence by providing people with the skills, space, and tools to make their ideas real. They work with kids and adults of all experience levels, encourage safe and effective practices, and inspire people to tinker and build anything they can imagine.
In this charity spotlight, I spoke with the President of Lansing Makers Network, Brian Adams.
Origin Story
Once upon a time, Brian worked at the MSU machine shop. With a background in technical theatre, Brian spent a lot of time in the shop working with others and dabbling in robotics and computer programming. When he switched jobs, Brian started to miss the tools and environment that encouraged him to tinker.
In early 2012, Brian was inspired by the maker movement that was sweeping across the country. After meeting with members of a local electronics group, they decided to form a nonprofit and create a makerspace in Lansing.
After a year of planning and searching for space, they moved into the former Temple Club. This would be their home for the next two years while Lansing’s community of makers grew.
Big Wins
Since forming, the Lansing Maker Network’s community outreach has been a huge success. They have participated in Maker Faire Detroit, the MSU Science Festival, and a variety of grade school programs in the Lansing area. Their partnership with Impression 5 has also opened up more opportunities for kids —and parents— to learn how to make new things.
In 2015, the Lansing Makers Network moved to the Leaseway Building. The new space exists entirely on one floor of the building and has a large garage door. This not only improves the accessibility of the space, it also encourages collaboration. Brian likes that different types of makers and crafters (e.g. welders and knitters) can work together so easily.
Today
The Lansing Makers Network continues to work with schools and museums. They also offer classes that cover anything from jewelry-making to electronics. Their goals are to empower people to build and to teach people how to make things safely and more effectively.
The makerspace has shops for both woodworking and metalworking. For the tech-minded maker, there are stations for electronics, 3D printing, laser cutting, and coding. Crafters also have sewing machines, glass grinders, a kiln, and a jewelry station at their disposal.
The Lansing Makers Network is open to the public twice per week. For 24/7 access to the makerspace, memberships are also available. A complete list of the Lansing Makers Network services and equipment is available on their wiki.
Goals
The members of the Lansing Makers Network are always happy to help out wherever they can, but Brian thinks some reorganization is due. He would particularly like to give volunteers more specific roles. This would allow their organization to better focus on areas such as new classes, fundraising, and spreading the word.
Thinking really big, the group would also love to start a Capital City Maker Faire. There are many other groups in Lansing that would like to see this happen too, but coordination of this magnitude will be tricky.
For Nonprofits
According to Brian, the people forming the Lansing Makers Network were a bunch of geeks, nerds, and dorks who figured everything out on their own. Only later did they discover the Nonprofit Network and other great resources available around Lansing. If you’re starting a nonprofit, use these resources and save yourself the trouble of figuring it out on your own.
Brian also recommends writing a business plan as if you were starting a for-profit business. You will need to make money, the only difference is where that money will go.
For Donors
Nonprofits can’t operate if they don’t make money. Not only that, but they also have to be very effective with money in order to be successful. Try not to get caught up in the term “nonprofit.” Instead, think of nonprofits as social entrepreneurs who are using business concepts to solve social problems.
Get Involved
If you want to learn more about Lansing Makers Network, you can reach them by clicking one of the buttons below.