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I3_detroit

About this project

You may have heard of it, but never asked about it. We are i3 Detroit...part of the Maker/Hackerspace movement.

What is a Hackerspace, you ask? We are students of technology and teachers of trades. We are your next door neighbor, your co-worker, the person standing in line behind you at the grocery store. Some of us love to teach and all of us love to learn. Some of us geek it out over computers, paint on canvas, build robots, draw cell phone art, or make circuit boards.

What do we do? We build things, we take things apart. We learn everything we can, and teach anyone who's interested. We circumvent limitations. We think outside the box, and encourage others to do the same. We work together to pool resources and provide an environment with tools and materials and energy that none of us had on our own. We offer classes, workshops, and an open shop for anyone to use.

We've proven that we're good at this.

We moved into our building back in September 2009. We spent lots of our personal money (and blood, sweat, and tears) on paint, lumber, tools, and supplies to renovate the building and create a community workshop. For several months, things were great. We taught a bunch of classes, met a ton of interesting people, and took on some big projects.

But then we hit a snag. The city has required that certain preexisting items in our building be brought up to code. Things the previous tenant got away with -- apparently notoriety has a cost! The price tag for those renovations is simply untenable. And at the same time, we have simply outgrown our space.

It is time to move to a bigger space. But we don't have the cash to do it all over again -- a new space means a new down payment, another build-out -- money we pulled from personal savings the first time around.

We can make it, with your help.

Your money will go towards paint, lumber, flooring, drywall, and even nails and screws. It will help us build mobile tables and electronics benches. It will help us expand our craft area and create more classrooms. It will give us the raw materials to physically build our vision of a better community for all.

We need your help so that we can continue doing projects, offering tools, and teaching everyone about the things that fascinate us.


Project location: Royal Oak, MI

93
Backers
$6,343
pledged of $5,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding Successful

This project successfully raised its funding goal on April 4.

Pledge $13 or more

We would like to give you a hug. But those are hard to mail, so how about a Thank-You card signed by every member? You will also get a very cool i3 Detroit sticker. Sticking it on your forehead is acceptable and totally recommended. PLUS, one free class of your choice. Of course, if you swing by the shop sometime, hugs are available free of charge. (Along with all the imagination, innovation, and inspiration you can handle!)

Backer 19 BACKERs

Pledge $25 or more

A very cool i3 Detroit sticker, an i3 Detroit button and, of course, a thank you card. PLUS, one free class of your choice.

Backer 15 BACKERs

Pledge $50 or more

An i3 Detroit T shirt (you lucky person!), an i3 Detroit sticker as well as the button, and the Thank you card. As always, one free class of your choice. Aren't you smart.

Backer 19 BACKERs

Pledge $100 or more

A fully customized Scrabble keychain, i3 Detroit T-shirt, i3 Detroit sticker, i3 Detroit button and a Thank You card. Our 'WTF' Scrabble keychains were a huge hit at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair. You choose the letters or we can surprise you. PLUS, two free classes of your choice. Your name will also be commemorated in the space on our Sponsors Wall.

Backer 11 BACKERs

Pledge $500 or more

FREE classes for a year! We have had some really cool classes - Lock picking, Bob Ross Paint-a-Long, Web Marketing, Screen Printing, Cross Stitching Mario Brothers Characters, etc. OR, a scholarship can be set up in your name to sponsor one unemployed person as a member of i3 Detroit for six months. We will also send you a Customized Scrabble Keychain, i3 Detroit T-shirt, i3 Detroit sticker, i3 Detroit button and a Thank You card. Your name will be commemorated in the space on our Sponsors Wall.

Backer 1 BACKER

Pledge $1,000 or more

You will be our hero. Period. Seriously. Rent a member for a day. (Not kidding.) OR Get a free membership for a year. OR this donation will sponsor one unemployed, deserving person for membership for one year. We will send you a Blinky Bug Kit, Customized Scrabble Keychain, i3 Detroit T-shirt, sticker, button, and a Thank You card. Listed as 'A Hero Sponsor' on our Sponsor Wall.

Backer 0 BACKERs

Project By

I3_iphone_icon

i3 Detroit

Straightpin Royal Oak, MI

i3 Detroit is a collaborative environment for people to explore the balance between technology, art and culture. We feel the best way to create this environment is to bring like-minded people together that share a common passion for technology, art and culture.

We are a community resource, hosting various classes including but not limited to electronics, programming, crafts, lock-picking and all other skills that members or others are willing to share. We want to create an environment that promotes learning in a fun non-traditional format.

We built a 100% electric Cupcake Car in the Motor City...and Royal Oak asked us to put it in the Holiday Parade. It was also featured in Metro Times. We hosted two FIRST Robotics teams this winter. We teach classes for the community on everything from electronics to screen printing to lock picking. We are going to be a part of Maker Faire 2010. Our current space has super tools that we will only be adding to. We have a totally open guest policy. And our members, well, they are awesomely talented.

We don't have a paid staff, so we don't have normal hours. Our space is open any time there's a member in it. To communicate this to the world, we constructed a twitterbot. This allows any member to signal when the space is open for guests.

What does i3 stand for: Imagine, Innovate & Inspire

How we finance the project:

We finance the project through Membership fees, Sponsorships, Fundraisers and Donations. All proceeds will go towards paying the rent on our space for collaboration, tools, parts and space renovations. All financial decisions are voted on by its members.

Purpose:

* Build and maintain physical spaces suitable for technical, art and social collaboration.
* Collaborate on all forms of technology, art and culture in new and interesting ways.
* Apply the results of its work to specific cultural, charitable and scientific causes.
* Freely share its research and discoveries, using what is learned to teach others.
* Recruit and develop talented members dedicated to these purposes.

Resources and tools are available to our members and supporters:

Woodworking – Band saw, table saw, router table, scroll saw, drill press, hand tools, nail guns, planer, jointer, miter saw, belt sander, disc sander, lots of clamps.

Metalworking – Table top lathe, drill press, table top mill, layout tools, gauges and indicators, sheet metal brake/shear, angle grinder, bench grinder, oxyacetylene welder, anvil.

Electronics – analog and digital oscilloscopes, function generators, various power supplies, breadboards, soldering and desoldering stations, circuit board etching and plating supplies, broad stock of components.

Crafting - Cricut cutting machine, Cuttlebug embosser, Yudu silk screen machine, industrial sewing machine, vinyl cutter, basic supplies and tools.

Chemistry Lab – Scales, hot plates and stirrers, various (safe) chemicals, beakers, pipettes, Kjeldahl bulbs, various glass jars and bottles, water traps, milligram balance, and much more.

Podcast Studio – 4 quality microphones, pop screens, 1 Mackie mixing board, recording software, compressors, gates and limiters, per-channel monitor headphones.

Library and Lounge – Two comfy couches, semi-secluded space, reference books on any subject, ideal atmosphere for programming or collaboration.