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Makerspace Newsletter August 7, 2026

Makerspace Update: August 2026

Makerspace Update: August 2026 Note From Joseph Hi Friends, July had me on the road. First to Essick Woodworking School in Grass Valley for a two-day intro to woodworking intensive where I got to experience an intro class again as a student rather than the facilitator. I’m intentionally making a point to participate in more fabrication workshops from the other side of the bench this year. Experiencing someone else’s programming is always useful (and occasionally humbling

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Makerspace Newsletter July 3, 2026

Makerspace Update: July 2026

Makerspace Update: July 2026 Note From Joseph Hi Friends, With school out for the summer, I've finally been able to turn my focus toward something I've been excited about for a while — our home-grown makerspace operations software! I believe good software can completely elevate the makerspace experience. That's why I released an open-source tool for makerspace managers called Eyra in 2023. Since then, I've continued to think deeply and talk with colleagues

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Makerspace Newsletter June 6, 2026

Makerspace Update: June 2026

Makerspace Update: June 2026 Note From Joseph Last night was our volunteer appreciation party at Cascade Kitchens. It was amazing to meet so many of you in person for the first time. I’m blown away by how many people are so passionate and involved in our work. Thank you for making our work possible! Speaking of volunteerism — a ton of you have already asked us about what opportunities exist to get involved with the makerspace and The Atrium. While we aren’t qui

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Makerspace Newsletter May 1, 2026

Makerspace Update: May 2026

Makerspace Update: May 2026 Note From Joseph Hi Friends, I’m fresh back from a week in San Francisco at the Exploratorium’s Art of Tinkering workshop, and my brain is buzzing! I spent the week with makers and educators from around the world diving into how we can better cultivate environments for self-expression and project-based learning. It was an incredible experience, and I’m already dreaming up ways to put these learnings into action during our upcoming mobile

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Makerspace Newsletter April 6, 2026

Makerspace Update: April 2026

Makerspace Update: April 2026 Note From Joseph Hey Friends, It's been another jam-packed few weeks over here, and we've got a lot to share.  This month I'm redirecting a lot of my energy toward some things I've been looking forward to addressing — building out our workshop offerings, programming schedule, and a brand new project which I'm most excited about… Sean and I are building custom makerspace management software that reimagines how spaces like ours are

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Makerspace Newsletter March 20, 2026

Makerspace Update: March 2026

Makerspace Update: March 2026 Note From Joseph Howdy, My name is Joseph Minnich, and I moved from Cleveland, Ohio back in November to join the Marcella Foundation and lead the charge in building South Lake Tahoe’s newest makerspace. My goal is simple: to create a space where anyone is welcome to learn and explore design, prototyping, and fabrication. This is about equipping students with the skills and independence to express themselves. We want students from the

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March 4, 2026

Why The Atrium, Why Now

When we launched the Marcella Foundation our goal was simple: listen deeply, dream boldly, and take action. As someone born and raised in South Lake Tahoe, I know this place is both extraordinary and challenging. Tahoe is a community of paradoxes. World-renowned recreation is steps away, yet a drive on a holiday weekend can feel impossible. Leading scientists study our lake, yet access to educational opportunities can feel limited. Celebrity chefs and luxury dining draw visitors, yet 18% of loca

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