The Iowa City Fab Lab is a Non Profit corporation, and as all non profits try to do, we are here to support and help our community. With some non profits, it is easy to see the good being done right away. Animal Shelters, Food Pantries, Housing… all of these and more are essential and good services that need support from the public and donating to them is unambiguous. You know where your money, time, or goods are going, and that they are doing amazing things.
We have heard more than a few people ask what it is we do to bring good into the community, because at first glance, a place that gives training in tools, a space to create, and access to technology is great for individuals, but does not seem to have the same direct mission. In a lot of ways, the Iowa City Fab Lab can do things that no one else does, and so can help in ways that few others can.
Accessibility for everyone
The programs and workshops you offer not only enrich the lives of Artists at [Systems Unlimited], but also contribute to our Iowa City artistic community. It’s inspiring to see how you create a welcoming environment where everyone can explore their creativity.
Background support
The Iowa City Fab Lab has a long history of helping all types of organizations, but because for many of our projects we are the builders, the supporters, and the providers of space or projects, we are much more in the background, and a supporting role. Whether it is helping a High School robotics team with their robots and the space to practice in, or creating small runs of products for promotions or auctions to enhance another nonprofit’s mission.
We also provide outreach to different groups in the Creative Corridor of Iowa City, including the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Theater groups. Whether its providing a place for the Scouts to create their cars for the annual Pinewood Derby races, creating whole programs to earn Badges for the Girl Scouts, or helping local theater groups with set pieces and props, the Iowa City Fab Lab donates time, space, experience, and resources to improve the culture and connections in our community.
Technical help and tools
“I had the pleasure of working with Kirk and Fab Lab when I was the set designer for Elf (2022). For a Theater company like City Circle to have access to a service as professional and community minded as Fab Lab raises the bar for what we can produce.”
Mark Tracey
City Circle Theater
Boy Scout Troop Leader
“The Fab Lab has allowed Scouts to use their tools and facilities to create the infamous pinewood derby cars which is a great resource for Scouting families that may not have the abilities to do woodworking at home.
I have also sent my children to multiple Fab Lab summer camps where they enjoyed learning and making projects in a safe and enriching environment.“
Girl Scout troop posing after completing their woodworking badge by building birdhouses in our woodshop, 2016.
Supporting Inclusion
Unitarian Universalist Church of Iowa City
“Over the course of the Fab Lab’s 11 years, we have had the pleasure of working with them and receiving their generosity on many occasions…They made sure we had everything we needed, including giving us space to work as a team. We are excited for the Iowa City Fab Lab to grow and we can wait to see what they do with their new space. Whatever the future holds, we are confident that the Fab Lab will continue to support our community in exciting and creative ways.“
Rev. Diana Smith, Minister
Nic Kaplan, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
Be a force for good
Not only does the Fab Lab provide services, space, and tools, we have also provided outreach for groups as they begin, grow, and start new outreach efforts. The Fab Lab sponsored the Corridor Community Action Network as the umbrella organization as they got started. We provide a space for donation drop off of clothing, as well as helping to convert the RV used for their mobile clothing closet and providing the parking space for it to live at our facility. We also provided space for the toy redistribution program, which has grown into its own separate project over that last few years.
Corridor Community Action Network
“[They] … helped customize our mobile clothing closet, personally designing and making specialized wooden hooks. These were created using tools that would have been impossible for us to access elsewhere, further demonstrating the Fab Lab’s importance to organizations like ours.
Over the past several years, the Iowa City Fab Lab has been an indispensable partner in our efforts. As our fiscal sponsor, they have provided invaluable support, helping with banking, receiving donations, and setting up a dedicated drop-off station for us inside their space. This has allowed us to streamline operations and serve the community more efficiently.“
Toy Redistribution
“I am used to having to convince community partners of “what’s in it for them”, or “why this is so important”, but not Kirk. He heard a need in his community and knew just how to support that need. Donators reported an ease in the donation process and on our end, Kirk made it incredibly easy to pick up and sort donations.
It [The Fab Lab] provides creative spaces for burgeoning artists and imaginators, something Iowa City is known for and I am sure would like to continue to support. The public classes offer a safe way for folks to step outside of their comfort zone and begin to channel their own inner creative energy.”
Taking care of our planet
The Fab Lab has lots of technology, with the cutting edge tools for the future, but we also know that upcycling, recycling, and taking care of our planet is both important and necessary. We work with the Iowa City, Johnson and Linn County, and Iowa Recycling programs to help divert products from the landfill for special projects and events. We don’t have any juicy quotes from them because policy dictates they can not write letters of support, but you will have to trust us on this one. We also work with environmentally conscious groups such as Backyard Abundance to create a better planet where we can.
Backyard Abundance
We believe that supporting the Fab Lab aligns with goals of fostering education, innovation, and community well-being. Their proven track record assures us of their ability to continue making positive contributions to our city.
Our organizations have collaborated on several meaningful projects that highlight the Fab Lab’s commitment to community development:
• Raised Bed Class: We taught community members how to build raised garden beds, promoting sustainable living and local food production. One of these beds proudly resides in the Children’s Discovery Garden at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, serving as a hands-on educational tool for children and families.
• Summer Camps: We continue to co-host summer camps that combine outdoor skills with technological creativity, providing children with learning experiences that foster a love for nature and innovation.
Supporting Cultural and Indigenous programs
We were very excited earlier in the year to partner with The House of Dotł’izhi The University of Iowa College of Education and College of Anthropology to create a program called “The Future is Indigenous“
This program took a year to plan and a dedicated team to pull off. Countless hours of volunteering, and support from a grant from the University of Iowa’s Office of the Vice President for Research, as part of their community-engaged scholars program as well as a grant from Sparkfun, who helped with the technical gadgets when we got out of our depth of experience.
The Capstone for the project was held at the historic Englert Theater in Iowa City
Englert Theater
“Over 100 community members experienced the work these students and families had put in to create unique garments that spoke to their heritage, desires, and dreams, all while combining the technical lessons they had learned at the Fab Lab. The positive impact on the students was evident. The positive impact on the attendees was evident. And possibly most importantly, the positive impact on our community was apparent. Iowa City is at its strongest when we collaborate and partner, learn from one another, and support each other. This partnership furthered our mission and allowed us to extend our values of connection, diversity, openness, and stewardship. We would be honored to host this event in the future and partner with the Iowa City Fab Lab as it continues its work in our community.”
Building our future with Education
Our newest partnership is a wonderful ongoing collaboration with Tate High School, Houses into Homes, and the Antelope Lending Library‘s Little Free Library program.
In collaboration with the students and teachers at Tate High School, we will be helping the students to design and build needed furniture pieces for the families who benefit from Houses into Homes (located in Coralville, IA). The students will spend class time at school and travel to the Fab Lab to create these pieces, with the guidance of their teachers and Fab Lab staff and volunteers. The students will do all of the work; Design, prototype, adjust, build, and deliver a finished product. During this project, we will also be creating a few temporary replacement libraries for the Little Free Library program. Once built, we will be bringing in little free libraries to be repaired and refurbished, so the books housed in them are dry, safe, and wasp free.
Tate High School
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with an organization as forward-thinking and community-centered as the Fab Lab. Their commitment to education and community service aligns closely with our mission at Tate High School and we look forward to continuing this valuable partnership for the benefit of our students and the families in our community.“
Antelope Lending Library
The Fab Lab has been so willing to assist with refurbishing Little Free Libraries. It has made a significant impact in our community by providing clean, dry, accessible places to share literature within neighborhoods.
The Fab Lab is more than just a facility; it is a vital hub of knowledge, creativity, and community engagement. We are happy to partner with them and excited to see what they can accomplish with their growth.
