Circular Economy Initiatives

I have developed social enterprise initiatives that leverage the resources of the makerspace for skill training to improve lives and expand career pathways for adults who have experienced hardships.

Knight Cities Foundation awarded the City of Boulder, Colorado $200,000 in 2016 to expand job training and economic opportunity for members of the community experiencing homelessness and interested in gaining new skills by transforming tree debris from Emerald Ash Borer diseased wood into furniture and art through a robust apprenticeship program. Apprentices learned traditional methods and digital fabrication to transform the EAB lumber into high end products which they sold at regional markets. All proceeds were re-invested into the program to support the next cohort of apprentices. Apprentices also developed leadership and teaching skills to lead public workshops using the EAB material to fabricate make-and-take projects in community.

Skills included: lumber milling, forestry basics, advanced woodworking and design (tablesaw, router, bandsaw, drum sander, hand tools, finishing work), digital fabrication (laser cutting and vinyl cutting), public speaking, and more.

The following videos capture the impact of this program.

Adults in the Ready-to-Work program

City of Boulder (Department of Parks and Recreation, Forestry, Library BLDG 61 Makerspace), Ready-to-Work nonprofit, Bridge House

Co-lead: partnership liaison, furniture designer, lead facilitator, developed and delivered apprenticeship

2 month apprenticeships, 2016-2018

People and Products

Bryce's Story

Milling Ash

Inside Boulder News

News Feature