We were going through old files on our computers the other day, and found this note dated March 20th, 2013.
For context, the MakerBus originally started as a shared project between Kim Martin, Beth Compton, and Ryan Hunt. We all studied (and still do study) a field called the “digital humanities” – a discipline that blends traditional subjects like literature, history, archaeology, and geography with contemporary idea like cloud computing, big data, and data visualization. Wanting to combine our love of learning with our shared passion for educational outreach, we decided to create a Digital Humanities Maker Bus and now, nearly two years after that note was written, our dream has become a reality.
As we enter the third year of our project, we’ve have some exciting news to share. The MakerBus project has officially become The MakerBus Collaborative – a small business operating under a social enterprise model, dedicated to bringing access to technology and education to everyone in our community.
What’s a social enterprise you might ask? Social enterprises are defined as,
“… businesses that trade to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment. They make their money from selling goods and services in the open market, but they reinvest their profits back into the business or the local community.”
By following this model we can grow the MakerBus to help more people, connect with more amazing people and organizations in London, and continue our goal of making a tangible difference in our community.
To kick off the beginning of our Year 3 of the MakerBus in style, we’ve made a new website. Check out www.makerbus.ca to see our new design. This new design is still under construction, so we’d love your feedback.
As always, the MakerBus would be nowhere without our amazing community. We thank Londoners for their continued support and look forward to another amazing year of making cool stuff.
– The MakerBus team
The MakerBus 