Open Works
Open Works Weekly 9/18/2020
Our 4th annual pitch competition is live! Over the last four years, EnterpRISE has invested $54,000 in local manufacturing startups. In 2018, a company called Clear Mask won a $5,000 investment for their unique clear surgical mask design. They have now leveraged that investment into millions of masks sold worldwide to everyone from Apple to Alabama’s football coaching staff. BIG thank you to our 2020 sponsors the Maryland Department of Commerce and the Ratcliffe Foundation!
Programs like EnterpRISE are what make Open Works such a powerful lever for positive growth and development in Baltimore City. As we approach our 4th birthday on Sept. 26th, please consider becoming a monthly supporter today — we’ll send you a cool t-shirt ;)!
We’ve gotten lots of inquiries about how to sign up for Project Waves mesh internet since our last newsletter. We’re excited that you’re excited! The team expects the system to be live on or about Sept. 30. If you live in Greenmount West, send an email to contact@projectwaves.net to get on the pre-signup list for a home antenna. Service area may expand pending negotiations with other building owners to host receivers.
EnterpRISE isn’t the only accelerator program in town ;). Our friends at Impact Hub Baltimore have partnered with Twilight Quest on Resilient Growth: Pivoting in a Pandemic. This FREE four-part workshop series explores strategies for social enterprises to adapt in this new reality. Register here.
Textile artist and Open Works day-passer Clara Bowe shared this AMAZING project with us this week! She has been working for over 2 years on hand-stitching a map of Central Park. This piece will be auctioned off upon completion to benefit the Central park Conservancy. Check out more of her work here.
The 1918-22 Spanish Flu killed millions in the US. Fortunately, we now have effective vaccines agains the flu. With COVID-19 still spreading, it’s even more important for folks to get their vaccine this year to prevent potentially deadly co-infections. Baltimore City maintains a map of free flu shot locations. Get yours today!
Link Soup
+ Build a work from home workstation out of just one sheet of plywood!
+ Laser cut your own desktop letterpress printing set up
+ Baltimore Afrofuturist podcast ‘Obsidian” nominated for a 2020 Ignyte Award for Best Fiction Podcast
Open Works Weekly 4/7/23
Increasing Digital Equity Beginning this Spring! A number of different neighborhoods throughout central Baltimore will be able to charge their devices and access WiFi thanks to our partnership with the Central Baltimore Partnership (CBP). The 29th Street Community...
Open Works Weekly 3/31/23
Do you want to bring your young person into the Textiles shop to sew with you? It's time to get them youth certified! Combined with our new youth membership option, we now offer a portable sewing machine class that prepares you and your young person for working...
Open Works Weekly 3/24/23
We've got just TWO of our 105 micro-studios left! Small but mighty, each comes with fast wi-fi, an optional workbench, and conference room privileges. But the best part is joining up with the fascinating and wide-ranging creative community! And have we mentioned the...
Open Works Weekly 3/17/23
TODAY! Join us at 10:30 with your little one for story time with Mrs. Abigail! Grab a coffee from our friends at Black Acres and enjoy songs, stories, and activities. While you're in, it would also be a perfect time to register any older siblings for Maker Camp 2023....
Open Works Weekly 3/10/23
One of our FAVORITE things to do is connect makers with opportunities! There are a lot coming up in the next few weeks -- check out the links below for accelerators, competitions, and vending opportunites.+ The inaugural Make/Space Accelerator is now accepting...
Open Works Weekly 3/3/23
Enrollment is OPEN for Maker Camp 2023! We are offering 5 weeks of half-day summer camp exploring drones, digital design, and fabrication skills for ages 8-15. All 5 weeks sold out last year, so don't wait! Scholarships are always available here. Not sure about...
Open Works Weekly 2/24/23
Today is the 3rd day of our EPIC wood shop reorganization! We are busy cleaning, labeling, engraving, inventorying, pegboarding, and moving machines to improve member experience. It will take another week or so to wrap up final touches. Going forward, each tool will...
Open Works Weekly 1/12/23
There are still a few open spot for official premiere of the Black Butterfly Dream Lab with Dr. Lawrence Brown. Participants will play the board game Urban Cipher, view a history exhibit, examine Baltimore City's budget, and literally build a more equitable...
Open Works Weekly 1/6/23
It's been quite some time in the planning process, but the cafe take-away window is finally up and running! Currently open from 8–9am, you can now grab take out from Black Acres Roastery just a few short steps away from the ample parking along Greenmount Ave. As part...
Open Works Weekly 12/23/22
Just a few quick things before we close up for the break. We're closing early today, at 3:00pm due to staff being out sick, and will be closed, as planned through 1/2/23. We want to encourage everyone to stay safe and healthy out there. We also wanted...
Station North Arts Walk
TONIGHT!!! 5–8PM Tonight is Station North Arts Walk’s Spotlight on Greenmount West and Open Works will serve as a hub with a maker’s mart, food vendors, and music from DJ Trillnatured. Registration is not required, but appreciated. Maker Vendors...
Open Works Weekly 6/24/22
Today, we’re graduating the first cohort of the Baltimore Sewn Trades Training Program!!! Congrats to Kay, Ellie, Jody, Will, T., D., and Devan! It’s hard to sum up all the hard work and detailed learning that went into completing this program, but the slim binder...
The Boutique Life at Open Works
Number one perk of writing the Open Works newsletter is the opportunity to go around asking our talented members a bunch of questions about their work. Last week I had a chance to sit down and chat with Samantha Montgomery from The Boutique Life, one of our resident...
Open Works Weekly 5/13/22
Are you interested in computer-aided design, CNC routers, 3D printing, laser cutting, or making furniture? The Makers Unite CAD Training program teaches AutoDesk Fusion 360, use and operation of our CNC (computer numerical control) wood routers, and basic woodworking...
