Facilitating Community Projects Through Technocopia
By: Riley Pettit
Technocopia Acts As A Force Multiplier for Community Organizers and Artists
Technocopia is committed to supporting our neighbors while also taking care of our staff, volunteers, and members. To do that sustainably we use a structured system to manage community projects and partnerships. This system helps us say yes to cool ideas without overextending our limited capacity.
We generally support community projects through three pathways:
Staff-Supported Community Projects
We offer limited staff-supported community projects through a quarterly application process. Think of this as a micro-grant style program where we focus on supporting a small number of projects well rather than offering weak support for many projects.
- Each quarter, we set aside a fixed amount of staff time and a (very) small budget
- Projects are selected based on alignment with our mission, feasibility, and available capacity
- Approved projects have a clear scope and limited duration
Because staff capacity is limited:
- Not all applications can be approved
- Projects may be deferred to a future quarter
- Scope must stay within agreed limits
Board-Led Community Initiatives
Many of our community collaborations are led by Technocopia board members. Board members are expected to actively support community engagement by leading initiatives they are passionate about, such as:
- Public workshops or events
- Repair cafes or skill shares
- Regular clubs / special interest groups
- Member gatherings or potlucks
- Fundraising events
- Collaborations with other organizations
These projects are championed and organized by board members, with minimal staff involvement.
If an organization is interested in a deeper or ongoing collaboration, one pathway is to work with (or join!) the Technocopia Board and lead that collaboration internally.
Member And Partner-Led Projects
Some projects are organized independently by members or partner organizations using our space. With this you need to bring your own capacity to lead the project but one of the core benefits of joining Technocopia is the creative (and helpful) community of makers here in Worcester!
These projects:
- Are self organized
- Follow our safety and space policies
- Do not require ongoing staff time
Nonprofit collaborations are particularly encouraged via a heavily discounted Nonprofit Membership option. This allows Technocopia to function as a force multiplier for other groups doing good work beyond the limited capacity of our staff.
Other Projects and Programs
Ongoing Collaborations
We also have ongoing programmatic projects with community partners after establishing a working relationship (ex: Making Recovery Program). These programs require coordination beyond the scope of the project-based system outlined here, but starting with a short term project is a great way to establish that relationship!
Ongoing programs involve deeper discussions to establish mutual intent, roles, capacity expectations, and sustainability before any commitments are made. They are often focused around collaborative grants to support the work.
Paid Jobs
Technocopia Staff and Members occasionally take on Job Shop Requests and Group Workshops. These projects require payment to cover time and materials and can range from a quick lasercut display to larger workshops or professionally made awards. We still might have to turn down a job based on capacity limitations.
Interested in Working With Us?
Staff-Supported Projects
Apply through our quarterly community project application for staff support, and we’ll get in touch with you to go over the project
Board-Supported Projects
Contact us to connect with a board member who may be interested in championing your project, or to ask about how to join our board of directors!
Use Our Facility & Get Training
If you would like to utilize Technocopia’s resources of our tools & community, request use of the facility while bringing your own capacity with a membership!
