Make For All Launches National Call to Action to Expand Support for Maker-Centered Learning for All Students
Partnerships and Commitments to be Announced in June 2019 at Nation of Makers Conference
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2018 - BOSTON, MA - Today, Make For All, a national coalition of leading education organizations, is issuing a 2019 call to action for K-12 schools, colleges, companies, makerspaces, museums, libraries, local governments, agencies and non-profit organizations across the country to work together and expand their efforts to support maker-centered learning, and build a strong focus on equity that reaches all students.
Make For All is focused on ensuring children of all backgrounds have the opportunity to have access to the tools, mentors and spaces to become the next generation of problem solvers, inventors, engineers, designers and entrepreneurs. Make For All is led by the national non-profit, Citizen Schools, with support from Schmidt Futures, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and Arconic Foundation in collaboration with an advisory council that includes Digital Promise, Maker Ed, Nation of Makers and Reimagine America’s Schools.
“Schmidt Futures is excited to support Make For All, and its all-hands-on-deck campaign to bring maker-centered learning to every child,” said Tom Kalil, Chief Innovation Officer of Schmidt Futures. “This is essential if we want to democratize technology and innovation – and inspire more of our children to become inventors, designers, and problem-solvers.”
Over the next six months, Make For All will work with organizations to design partnerships that expand access in several major ways:
Increasing access to youth-oriented makerspaces, both in schools and in community spaces such as rec centers
Creating more opportunities for high-quality mentoring by technologists and STEM professionals
Giving students the opportunity to solve real local, national and global challenges
Supporting educators, administrators and programs in schools and informal learning spaces
Growing the research agenda around maker-centered learning
The first cohort of partnerships and new commitments will be announced and celebrated at NOMCON 2019 (June 14-16, 2019), the national conference that brings together leaders and advocates in the Maker community hosted by Nation of Makers.
“Nation of Makers is looking forward to announcing the new actions and partnerships that organizations are undertaking to engage more youth and families in making in their communities at our annual convening, NOMCON. We are thrilled to collaborate with the organizations that have committed to the Make For All initiative, and that are committed to making the Maker Movement more inclusive,” said Dorothy Jones-Davis, Executive Director of Nation of Makers.
“We know that students engaged in mentorship and maker-centered learning are more likely to develop the mindsets, skills and experiences they need to be inspired and prepared for the jobs of the future,” Emily McCann, CEO of Citizen Schools. “We are excited to partner with organizations across the country to create more opportunities for mentorship and making - for all children.”
Make For All is also partnering with the National League of Cities and the Association of Science-Technology Centers to engage their members, many of whom are already supporting and leading these efforts in their communities.
Maker-centered learning, also known as maker education, enables students to engage in hands-on learning through designing, building, prototyping and experimenting with the use of tools, technologies and spaces that facilitate these experiences. Students who are engaged in maker-centered learning develop the mindset, skills and experiences that are critical to inspiring their interests in STEM and preparing them for the jobs of the future.
To make a commitment or learn more about the initiative, please visit makeforall.org.
About Citizen Schools
Citizen Schools is a national nonprofit working to ensure that every adolescent has the skills, mindsets and networks needed to inspire them as lifelong learners and position them to thrive in the 21st century. This includes Citizen Schools’ US2020, a network of 22 local coalitions that provide hands-on STEM education and maker-centered learning across the country. Learn more at: citizenschools.org
About Nation of Makers
Nation of Makers is a national nonprofit which supports the full range of organizations that impact makers by encouraging connections, broadly sharing resources, facilitating funding opportunities, engaging in policy development, and advocating for the maker movement. We help maker organizations amplify the passion, innovation, creativity, and diversity of the maker community, to maximize both local and global impact. For more information, visit www.nationofmakers.us and follow @NationOfMakers.
About Schmidt Futures
Schmidt Futures is a philanthropic initiative, founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, that seeks to improve societal outcomes through the thoughtful development of emerging science and technologies that can benefit humanity. To realize this vision, Schmidt Futures uses a broad set of tools — including gifts, grants, investments, and startup activity — for charitable, educational, and commercial efforts with a public purpose. The initiative brings together the efforts of various charitable and non-charitable entities to improve our potential impact by making diverse types of capital available to the efforts they support. Learn more at https://schmidtfutures.com/our-method/faq/.
MEDIA CONTACT: Stephanie Santoso, Citizen Schools, stephaniesantoso@citizenschools.org