In 2009, Royce Pipkins and Tom Graelwicz started Milwaukee Makerspace, a Bay View-based organization that allows members to share skills and collaborate on projects with other members.
“One thing we stress is collaboration and education. If you don’t know how to do something, there’s probably another member who does, and can teach you and help you out,” says member and community outreach coordinator Pete Prodoehl.
Pipkins and Graelwicz were involved in local robotics clubs before they started Milwaukee Makerspace. The first group project was a set of drivable pots of gold for the 2010 St. Patrick’s Day parade, and the group later acquired a rental space in November 2010 at the Chase Commerce Center in Bay View. The grand opening was April 9, 2011 and it attracted more than 500 people.
Currently, there are 50 members, most of which are male, but the group has had female…
