project leader
Dan C
location
640 West Huron St.
(Pontiac West Side)
latest update rss
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the project

The Webster Community Center is a former school building in Pontiac that has been vacant since 2007. Nonprofit Mica 6 Community is turning the formerly dilapidated building into a vibrant, mixed-use community center that will be home to nonprofits, small businesses, our new STEM maker space and local FIRST Robotics teams!

We’re working to secure a sponsorship from General Motors, who has agreed to start and sustain a maker space that is designed to foster creative thinking, problem-solving and collaboration in elementary school students. We're raising money to help complete the buildout and furnishings of the maker space to ensure kids across Pontiac have access to fun and impactful STEM programs!

 

the steps

The Webster Community Center renovations are underway and the building is scheduled to open in 2025. Until then we will:

  • Secure all fundraising dollars from individual donations and corporate sponsors (now through Dec 2023)
  • Work with a FIRST Robotics alum and designer to develop a maker space to foster innovation, creativity, and teamwork in young students (Jan - Mar 2024)
  • Secure commitments from other Pontiac-based programs to use the space throughout the year to ensure we're building out the space to fit the needs of all programs (Jan - Sep 2024)
  • Complete the maker space buildout (Apr - Sep 2024)
  • Furnish the maker space (Oct - Dec 2024)
  • Open the maker space and start a FIRST Robotics LEGO League in Pontiac! (Spring 2025)

why we're doing it

Pontiac youth don’t always have access to educational opportunities that spark fun, creativity, and innovation. As a First Robotics coach of nine years, I am working alongside the community to bring the STEM maker space and FIRST LEGO League to the Webster Community Center in Pontiac. 

This year, a FIRST LEGO League I coach in Bloomfield Hills received a U.S. Patent for the technology we created through the program. We know that kids in Pontiac, next door to Bloomfield Hills, have the same talent and creativity and we're excited to see what the new maker space can spark in these students!

With this community center and maker space, we're excited to bring bringing kids together to learn, ideate, grow, have fun, and see what they can create right here in Michigan!

budget

Rent: $9000/year

Room Build Out - $10,000

  • Interior design to foster STEM creativity in elementary school kids 
  • Robot table & field kid
  • Storage closet, shelves & cabinets

 Furniture - $6,000

  • Tables & chairs
  • Dry erase board
  • Power strips
  • Monitors

 



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED $26,000.00
ioby Fiscal Sponsorship Fee 8% N/A
ioby Donation Processing Fee 4% $1,083.33
TOTAL TO RAISE $27,083.33
Donation processing fees apply to donations only. 100% of match funding goes to projects. Please note, fees are estimated here and final numbers may change based on the final amount raised and amount of match funding applied to this campaign.

updates

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photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Anonymous
  • Tracey and Marcy
  • Sarah
  • Jeff R
  • Melanie P.
  • Kevin K.
  • David and Sharon White
  • Ted M.
  • Michelle L.
  • Ken B.