Nov 2, 2018   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Two Bit Circus Foundation and LA Makerspace Host Innovation Event To Help Bring Technology to Low Income Communities

Two Bit Circus Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization designed to cultivate the next generation of inventors, and LA Makerspace, a parent-founded STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) education nonprofit that works with community partners such as churches and the Los Angeles City and County public library systems to tackle unequal access to science and technology skills, are hosting an Equality in Innovation Make-a-Thon at Two Bit Circus Micro Amusement Park™ on Sunday, November 4th.

   

What:

The Equality in Innovation Make-a-Thon event brings together Los Angeles makers, hackers, engineers, and designers as part of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation’s InnovateLA initiative: a two-week, countywide spotlight on the best of LA’s invention and creation.

 
The goal of the Make-a-Thon is to design projects for schools and libraries that give all kids in L.A. the opportunity to learn skills like working with electronics and coding, no matter what their parents or schools can afford.
 
During a 10-hour marathon brainstorm session, attendees can work with volunteer talent to develop new, low-cost STEAM education projects for use in underserved communities. See schedule below.
 

When:

Sunday, November 4
1PM – 11PM
 

Where:

Two Bit Circus Micro Amusement Park
Downtown LA Arts District
634 Mateo Street
Los Angeles, CA 90021
 

Who:

Any makers, hackers, engineers, and designers interested in a hands-on workshop utilizing STEAM-based principles.
 

How:

Interested participants can RSVP at the LA Makerspace website: http://lamakerspace.org/makeathon/.

 

Schedule:

1:00 pm:             Doors open

1:15 – 1:45pm:   Welcome, getting to know each other’s superpowers

1:45 – 2:15pm:   Educators + Hackers Small Group Brainstorm

2:15 – 2:30pm:   Share-out and finalize Design Brief

2:30 – 4:00pm:   Hack Session #1

4:00 – 5:00pm:   Share-out + Feedback

5:00 – 6:00pm:   Dinner Break (food available to purchase onsite)

6:00 – 6:30pm:   Voting and Round 1 Awards

6:30 – 7:00pm:   Session #2 Educators + Hackers Small Group Brainstorm

7:00 – 8:30pm:   Hack Session

8:30 – 9:00pm:   Voting and Round 2 Awards

9:00 – 10:00pm:  Public share-out—make videos, social media, etc.

 

The two organizations are well-known for driving innovation in the sector. LA Makerspace has a history of designing cutting-edge projects that make learning about the latest in tech accessible to all, like a $6 Arduino kit (normally $30+), a Hands-on AI workshop that teaches kids how machine vision works—using an egg carton—and a program which teaches coding in churches.

Two Bit Circus Foundation has diverted 520 tons of cast-off materials from of landfills to date in its quest to provide supplies for hands-on STEAM projects for education.

About LA Makerspace

LA Makerspace is based in Maker culture: Taking hands-on creativity a step beyond do-it-yourself, we believe that Makers are at their best working in community, where ideas and resources can be shared. Our mission is to make sure all youth in L.A. have the opportunity to learn STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) skills. LA Makerspace works in primary partnership with the Los Angeles Public Library System and County of Los Angeles Library (160 branches total), sharing our STEAM-based curriculum with library staffers enabling them to become Makerspace leaders. Founded in 2012 by Tara “Tiger” Brown, a technology expert; and led by Malik Ducard, global head of learning, social impact, family, film & Tv at Google/YouTube with a mission to provide experiential learning—not just for children, but for people of all ages.

About Two Bit Circus Foundation

TwoBitCircus.org is a nonprofit educational organization designed to cultivate the next generation of inventors, advance environmental stewardship and spur community engagement. Combining the inspiration of Two Bit Circus with castoff material from hundreds of manufacturers, our programs help students learn STEAM education and innovation skills while inspiring critical and creative thinking. Based in Los Angeles, more information can be found at www.twobitcircus.org or follow us on Instagram and Twitter @twobitcircusorg.