Makerspaces, hackerspaces, tech incubators, business accelerators – the phenomenon has taken many forms and operates under different names, but the goal is generally the same: make space available to help cultivate learning and innovation.
The spaces have become ubiquitous throughout the Chicago area over the last decade – 1871, mHub and MAKE! Chicago, are among the more well-known spots – and the time has come for Oak Park to have its own, according to local author Mary Anne Mohanraj.
Mohanraj, a UIC professor and Oak Park Library Board member – she’s also considering a run for village president – has been working to establish makerspaces in Oak Park, and possibly Berwyn or the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, over the last year. She launched the effort in 2018 through a series of lectures and workshops on writing, 3D printing and various other topics.
Maram…