Fab Lab Carolinas (FLC) was the first non-profit initiative in the Carolinas to bring advanced manufacturing and automation education to underserved communities and contribute to community development through design, innovation and entrepreneurship. Fab Lab Carolinas was born out a relationship established during joint research between me and Neil Gershenfeld (Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Additionally, I had been an active contributor on the Fab Lab forum during the early days of the Fab Lab and maker movement (early-mid 2000s). Though Fab Labs were rapidly being set up across the world; the fab lab and maker movement was still trailing in the country of its origin; the US. More specifically, the awareness and access regarding design and manufacturing had yet to reach the population that could most benefit from it. Fab Lab Carolinas worked with at-risk-youth, disabled, agricultural community, local small businesses, schools, economically distressed regions, artists and other area non-profits serving our target audience. The lab received support from organizations like MIT, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, ShopBot Tools, American Tobacco Campus, Geomagic (now 3D Systems) and more.

 

MIT initially loaned their mobile fab lab to Fab Lab Carolinas in order to test concept feasibility and to scout for a permanent location. During this period, Fab Lab Carolinas interacted with different target users and volunteer groups to gauge interests and needs. Relationships were established with key policy makers, community leaders and regional non-profits so as to have a collaborative approach to understanding community needs and focusing efforts. Fab Lab Carolinas transitioned from the mobile Fab Lab platform on loan from MIT to our very own 3500 sq.ft. brick and mortar fab lab in Durham and a rapidly reconfigurable mobile Fab Lab that was built out of a converted school bus (painted by David Ellis). All this would have been absolutely unachievable without the awesome work put in by Fab Lab staff, volunteers and supporters. I would particularly like to thank Michelle Gonzales-Green, the Fab Lab Carolinas manager for her persistence at building this organization and being a friend, family and mentor to Fab Lab Carolinas users.

 

Below is a collection of pictures from some of the early Fab Lab Carolinas events--Once I have more time, I will organize them by events and activites.