Open Works
Board Updates 11/12/2021
Open Works wouldn’t be where we are today without the depth of experience and leadership of our Board of Directors. There have been some big changes to its make-up this fall, so we’d like to take this opportunity to fill you all in.
First of all, it is with gratitude and pride that we recognize Mac MacLure and Tanya Terrell, who are both stepping down from the Board of Directors after serving since 2015. In appreciation of their leadership, we are presenting them with a “Key” to Open Works, CNC-ed out of aluminum and mounted on a laser engraved wooden plaque.
Laurens (Mac) MacLure, Jr. recently retired from the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation, where he was a director, and the Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation, a non-profit real estate development company. In those two positions, his primary focus was on developing safe, affordable, and sustainable space for artists and arts organizations in the Station North area of Baltimore. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2015.
Ms. Terrell is the Director of Corporate Community Impact at BGE, and has brought a wealth of non-profit experience with varied organizations including The Leadership, South Baltimore Learning Center, Associated Black Charities, Empower Baltimore Management Corp., Baltimore’s Promise, Creative Alliance, UMBC School of Public Policy and My Brother’s Keeper to her work on our Board of Directors. She had also been a founding director of the Open Works’ board, serving since 2015.
Also,
Neil Didriksen is stepping down as board chair, retaining a role as director. Mr. Didriksen joined the Robert W. Deustch Foundation staff in 2010. He serves as the chief operating officer, is responsible for the foundation’s finances and chairs the investment committee. Didriksen co-founded the Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation in 2012 and served as board chair of Open Works from 2015-2021.
Now, it might seem we’re left with some impossibly big shoes to fill. Fortunately, Open Works has a habit of attracting some of Baltimore’s best and brightest to these leadership positions.
First, we are excited to announce that Stephanie Chin, who has served on our Board of Directors since 2018, has been elected to be the new Chair of the Board.
Stephanie Chin is the Program Manager of Hutch, a digital services and civic tech incubator founded by Fearless. She is the former Assistant Director of Entrepreneurship at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she led entrepreneurship programming for the $5M Ratcliffe Center for Creative Entrepreneurship. She also has board roles at Baltimore Community Lending and Innov8MD.
We are also welcoming two new members to the board, Matthew Youssef and Leon Pinkett.
Matthew J. Youssef is a seasoned litigator and strategic advisor to business professionals facing the most challenging problems of their career. In addition to helping people start new business ventures or sell their existing enterprise, he has extensive experience helping businesses navigate unexpected legal problems ranging from contractual disputes, infringement of intellectual property, allegations of wrongdoing, and personnel issues.
Leon F. Pinkett, III represented the 7th District on the Baltimore City Council from 2016-2020, and is currently the Executive Director/CEO of the arts-focused real estate development nonprofit, Baltimore Arts Realty Corp. (BARCO). Prior to being elected to the City Council, Mr. Pinkett served as the Assistant Deputy Mayor for the Office of Economic and Neighborhood Development, and as a Senior Economic Development Officer at the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC).

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...