MAKE a Better World
Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, Wash.
Innovation Synopsis
MAKE a Better World is a monthly compassionate maker project. Participants engage in interactive, skill-building activities that positively impact their community. Objects including cat toys, capes for children, fleece blankets, 3D-printed prosthetic hands and plastic sleeping mats for the homeless shelter were created and donated to community partners.
Challenge/Opportunity
Feedback from community members and library patrons indicated a strong desire to learn how they can better serve their community. There was particular interest surrounding the rise in people experiencing homelessness and how to make a positive impact on this issue. The library reached out to several community organizations working with this population for feedback and possible support. In the process, the library also discovered partnership opportunities to meet the needs of other organizations.
Key Elements of Innovation
Share, a local nonprofit providing a spectrum of services to local struggling families and individuals was very enthusiastic about partnering with us to create something that may be of use to their population. Together we identified the plastic sleeping mat project as one that any community member could learn to make and could be of use in emergency situations. Our experiential learning librarian led the program making mats and other useful donations to many nonprofits.
Achieved Outcomes
In Summer 2017, Make a Better World participants completed and donated 12 large mats using recycled materials to Share. Attendees felt empowered and took an interest in other issues surrounding homelessness. The library helped build community within the group which has bonded over the shared desire to serve others. The compassionate making program continued into the fall. A total attendance of 102 participants and dozens of projects were made for a variety of community partners.
