- January 15, 2024
- Posted by: KBCF
- Category: Press Release
Key Biscayne, FL (January 15, 2024) – Fab Lab Miami is expanding its STEAM programming into southern Miami-Dade County by opening a technology makerspace lab for children and teens at the Phichol Williams Community Center in Homestead. This expansion will be celebrated with a launch event on Wednesday, January 17, at 10:30 a.m. Guests and media will have the opportunity to visit the lab and observe a group of students on a field trip participating in STEAM activities.
Fab Lab Miami has ignited a passion for STEAM by providing a hands-on, maker-driven experience in digital fabrication and STEAM activities. Its first makerspace at the Belafonte TACOLCY Center in Liberty City opened its doors in 2020 and has served approximately 500 students through partnerships with local schools, community centers, and afterschool programs.
With a focus on digital fabrication, Fab Lab Miami – South Dade emphasizes locally relevant programming, including agro-technology and green and blue tech. This unique approach will deepen students’ understanding of the agricultural and environmental industries in their area, equipping them with the skills needed to bridge the technology workforce gap prevalent in Miami-Dade County.
The South Dade makerspace lab has been generously funded by a Funders’ Collaborative that is comprised of the following entities: The Children’s Trust, Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, The Kirk Foundation, Key Biscayne Community Foundation, and Ocean Reef Community Foundation. The Key Biscayne Community Foundation also serves as Fab Lab Miami’s fiscal sponsor.
“The South Dade Fab Lab exemplifies our commitment to fostering creativity and real-world education for our youth,” emphasized James Haj, President and CEO of The Children’s Trust. “A community that invests in hands-on, career-focused education not only nurtures individual potential but also fosters a culture of innovation, where new ideas flourish, and make our entire community more vibrant.”
Gang Alternative operates the Phichol Williams Community Center and will serve as the site and program partner for Fab Lab Miami’s South Dade location. Fab Lab Miami – South Dade will support students from Gang Alternative and extend its programming to include participants from local schools and afterschool programs. Gang Alternative President and CEO Michael J. Nozile, Sr. stresses the importance of, “helping young people empower their minds through
STEAM, shaping a future where innovation knows no bounds.”
Florida International University (FIU) will lead the curriculum development and daily instruction of students at the makerspace lab. FIU will also play a pivotal role in training Gang Alternative partner staff to use the equipment and manage the lab. “I am excited that our CARTA School of Architecture’s Robotics and Digital Fabrication Lab and our CARTA Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator are collaborating with the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, The Children’s Trust, and Fab Lab Miami to inspire and nurture careers in STEAM through hands-on experiences with digital fabrication and robotics activities. This is the kind of program that helps inspire young people to solve problems and create the future,” said FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell.
For more information, please visit fablabmiami.org.
Launch Event Details:
Location: Phichol Williams Community Center, 951 SW 4th Street, Homestead, FL 33030
Date: January 17, 2024
Time: 10:30 a.m.
A videographer and photographer will be present at the event, and B-roll and photographs will be available for post-event coverage.
About Fab Lab Miami:
Fab Lab Miami aims to inspire and nurture the pursuit of coursework and careers in STEAM through a maker-driven, hands-on experience with digital fabrication and STEAM activities. Fab Lab Miami’s makerspaces offer engaging programming in Miami’s underserved communities around digital fabrication and other STEAM-related activities so youth can play, create, learn, mentor and invent.
About Florida International University:
FIU is a top-tier public research university that offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and is one of South Florida’s anchor institutions. FIU is one of the top 10 largest universities in the county and is dedicated to enriching the lives of the local and global community.
About Gang Alternative, Inc:
Gang Alternative, Inc. (GA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build character that lasts in children and families through positive alternatives to crime, violence, dependency and delinquency by offering a holistic approach to their academic, physical, social, economic and spiritual development. Please visit www.myga.org for more information about GA.