The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
Help us identify Champions who are expanding access to the tools, spaces, and mentors that help more students, entrepreneurs and adults connect to the Maker Movement.
In June 2014, President Obama hosted the first-ever White House Maker Faire and launched the Nation of Makers initiative, an all-hands-on-deck call to make sure more students, entrepreneurs, and Americans of all backgrounds have access to a new class of technologies—such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and desktop machine tools—that are enabling more Americans to design, build, and manufacture just about anything. These new tools are fostering a “maker mindset”—dispositions and skills such as curiosity, collaborative problem-solving, and creative confidence that are vital to the modern innovation economy.
Building on the momentum from 2014, last year the White House expanded the celebration by announcing the 2015 National Week of Making. Additionally, the work of thinkers and makers have been celebrated at numerous other White House events and meetings, such as the yearly White House Science Fair, White House Demo Day, and the President’s Computer Science for All initiative to name a few.
The Administration is continuing to take steps to create a Nation of Makers by celebrating the 2016 National Week of Making (June 17-23). Help us celebrate that week by sharing stories of the countless leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and educators who work daily within their local communities across the country. Today, we are calling on your help to identify Champions of Change who are working to make advances in technology, platforms, educational opportunities, or spaces that empower even more Americans to become tinkerers, inventors, and entrepreneurs.
Click the link below to nominate a Champion of Change for Making by Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 11:59 PM ET. Select “Making” as your theme of service.
Nominees may include:
- Individuals who have been local leaders in creating spaces for making in their community;
- Individuals within organizations or companies who have created effective educational programs or platforms to inspire and teach about making;
- Individuals within organizations who have had a special focus on connecting underserved communities to opportunities for learning, workforce development, or job placement in the tech or maker community;
- Individuals within organizations or companies who have developed innovative technologies or platforms which support making; and,
- Citizens who advocated for policy changes and other supports that led to increased opportunities for engagement with and participation in making.
In addition, tell us about the commitments you are ready to make. What new, measurable steps are you taking to support the #NationofMakers? Share your story by May 18th.
