A Culture of Caring for Our Community, Space, and Tools
Membership at Technocopia goes beyond the tools– We encourage all of our members to join the space as community stewards, encouraged to engage with the space and our wider community. Technocopia works to extend our commitment beyond our makerspace, reaching out to empower our non-profit and mutual aid neighbors. With inclusivity, collaboration, and responsible stewardship at our core, we’re working towards a future where everyone has access to the tools, skill and community to create!
Technocopia’s Mission & History
Technocopia has been nurturing creative community in Central Massachusetts since 2013! Follow the link to learn about our journey to become the makerspace we are today.
Our Philosophies
Open Source and Open Support for All
Technocopia Makerspace works to nurture community by providing tools, instruction, and workspaces to create to our local community. We strive towards fulfilling our mission for all to have access to the tools, skills, and community to create by fostering:
Community Driven Stewardship
Our members are encouraged to take ownership of the space as a community, including cleaning and caring for the tools everyone uses, running events, and supporting staff in local community projects.
Cross Pollination & Collaboration
A goal for our Open Hack event is for them to encourage spontaneous collaborating between members. Our members often start up multi-disciplinary projects that they normally wouldn't be able to by themselves.
Open Source Learning With Support
We focus on teaching open source programs to use our tools when we can so you can continue making without Technocopia. Our culture of communal learning also encourages talking to peers to troubleshoot projects.
Leadership Transparency
As our organization grows, we strive to continue efforts to involve our community in our journey. We host quarterly member meetings for sharing larger organizational change, and newsletter emails about updates.
Local Community Engagement
A large part of our work is supporting and spreading our mission to our local community. We offer nonprofit memberships, provide financial aid, run public workshops, and table at community events to achieve this.
Community Driven Stewardship
How Can Members Take Ownership of Their Space?
We strive to provide a safe and equitable space for members and our local community to learn and gain new skills. Our members help us fulfill this goal by engaging with the community, treating each other with kindness and respect, and caring for the tools that give creative access to everyone. Here are some of the ways that you as a member can support Technocopia Makerspace!
Skill Share With Your Community
If you'd like to support Technocopia Makerspace, sharing your skillsets with your community is a big help! Instructors are contractors at Technocopia, paid per hour of classes they teach when students sign up for classes.
Get Connected To Our Network
We have a stable platform through our Eventbrite and email list, which provides a small but consistent pool of potential students.
Collaborate To Create Multi-Disciplinary Classes
Technocopia’s existing instructor pool is very close-knit, and we all work together to make classes better by mixing mediums. Teaching classes at Technocopia means that you can chat with other instructors, and brainstorm ways to incorporate each of your skillsets into a new class together.
Support The Space And Your Wallet!
Although the Volunteer Membership program is new, and not very glamorous, it has already provided a wonderful relief to our staff and instructors, which in turn makes it so more people are supported in Technocopia Makerspace. Volunteers sign up for two shifts per month, and pay a lower cost for membership.
The most common shift is for deskie work during our community events and classes, but if you have a special interest such as tool maintenance, social media support, joining our street team, tabling at events or running a club, we're happy to work with you to get you set up as a volunteer.
Your first month will be as a regular member, but after that you can sign up for our volunteer member orientation and sign up for shifts in your second month! To get started, learn how to become a member!
Guide the Strategic Direction of Our Makerspace By Joining The Board!
We are looking to expand our board of directors in order to ensure we are continuing to future proof our organization through board engagement. We’d love for you to be a part of it! If you are an engaged maker, community builder, or are involved in the arts & culture sector, we’d absolutely encourage you to apply to join as a board member. We also have an opening for the Treasurer position on our board!
To apply as a board member, send a resume and cover letter to [email protected]
Donate Equipment To Supply Your Community With More Tools
Beyond our wishlist, getting equipment that allows us to expand our offerings is extremely helpful! Many of the pieces of machinery we have in Technocopia were donated, and allows our community to expand the new skillsets they can learn.
If you have some equipment that you think we can use, please get in touch!
Our Community Leaders
Our organization benefits from the support from a talented and dedicated group of folks! From volunteers to staff, our community has helped and supported our mission to provide access to making. Say hi to our fantastic community leaders!
Board of Directors
Staff & Shop Stewards
Member-Led & Supported Projects
Our community does some amazing stuff in our wider community and as part of projects our Makerspace takes on!
Check out the events they’ve been in the the projects they’ve worked on on our blog
Our Friends
Technocopia works with other local community-focused organziations in Central Massachusetts, and everyone is doing very cool stuff! Please check out our friends at their sites, and see what we’ve made together!
Guardians of Tradition
Woo Fridge
Monano Arts
Panduh Productions
Casita Cultura Latina
Hector Reyes House
Latin American Health Alliance
Pride Worcester
Worcester Downtown BID
Worcester Public Library
Worcester Cultural Coalition
Earn a Bike
Crocodile River
WorcLabs
Arts Worcester
Shrewsbury Public Library
Our Supporters
We’re very grateful to our supporters, both from our grassroots donations from our neighbors to our supporters who have helped uplift Technocopia through grants. Thank you to everyone who has supported our mission to help everyone be a maker!
Our Members & Community
Massachusetts Cultural Coalition
Mass Development
United Way
Cornerstone Bank
