2018 CIIP Program Book CIIP Booklet 2018 | Page 43

Community Partner: Open Works
Intern: Toby Harris
Site Supervisor: Theresa “Nacho” Montiel
What is Open Works?
At Open Works, we believe everyone is a maker. We’ve built a place where anyone can build nearly
anything–that’s where you come in. Our mission is to make tools, technology, and the knowledge
to use them accessible to all.
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This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Open Works, a place that strives to make their equipment
and “maker spaces” accessible to all. Open Works is trying to be interactive with the surrounding areas and
Baltimore neighborhoods at large, striving to be community oriented, focused, and based. My main task in-
volved working with Theresa “Nacho” Montiel’s summer “Teen Maker” programming for ten youth involved
with a community group and further employed by the city YouthWorks program.
We spent several weeks organizing, preparing, and finalizing details for the summer curricula. Amongst oth-
er tasks, this involved creating different lesson and action plans, meeting with shop technicians and special-
ists trained on the industrial laser cutter machines and 3D printers, arranging guest speakers and planning
field trips. I sat in on teen and senior classes, getting trained in the wood and textiles studios, in addition
to becoming certified to use the laser cutter. I experienced the uplifting effects of “making,” working with
personable Open Works staff members to take home a variety of items over the summer. I was pleasantly
surprised by how much I have enjoyed working with the teens too, assisting and building along with the
group members in the shops and helping to run professional development workshops. Learning along with
them in many moments, I found it moving to see the teens produce various works and to hear them talk in
our Friday presentation series.
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Organized curricula, planned with
technicians at Open Works and pre-
pared relevant materials for the “Teen
Makers:” summer programming
involving ten teenagers from different
high schools in Baltimore city
Completed workshops and trainings
in assorted technical and mechanical
studios at Open Works, including tex-
tiles, wood, 3D and laser cutting
Assisted with the implementation of
the Teen Makers summer program-
ming and technical projects--helping
the participants realize educational
goals and expand individual maker
capabilities in the textiles and wood
studios, with additional instruction
and guidance provided for projects
using the industrial 3D printers and
BOSS lasers
Assisted with administrative duties,
like helping organize time cards, and
served as a direct contact point for
the teens when anything arose
After calling attention at the beginning of programming that some hurtful language a few of the teens
had used was upsetting, I was nervous the teens and my relationship would be negatively impacted and I
wouldn’t be as readily welcomed in group dynamics this summer. My assumptions were misguided and I
feel quite privileged to have worked with such funny, determined, and friendly teens. I appreciated being
included in their honest chatting and feel like I have gotten to know them on a more personal level. Still, I
enjoyed answering some of the teen’s more technical questions and chatting about student’s projects and
ideas. In the textiles shop, one of the young women asked if I was going to make my own pajama pants and
work on my own projects with them that summer. The thought hadn’t occurred to me and I appreciated her
consideration. We didn’t have enough material for pants so I ended up making a pair of hemmed orange
and grey, Open Works colors, flannel pajama shorts. The teens teased me for how elated and goofy I
looked when holding up my finished product; they were spot on in describing how happy and pleased I felt!
Many of the teens and I have joked with each other and developed a friendly relationship; I’ve cherished our
time together so far. I am excited to spend a few more weeks with the teens as they finish programming,
can’t wait to see what else lies in store!
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