In a small way, a group of University of Nebraska–Lincoln students and staff are helping Whiteclay, Nebraska, make a big change.
Through a partnership with Rotary International District 5610 out of southern South Dakota, staff from Nebraska Innovation Studio and students from the College of Engineering learning community, Engineering to Change the World, made 30 individual toolboxes for Native American artists who are utilizing the new and developing Whiteclay Makerspace.
Whiteclay Makerspace took shape in 2018, when a nonprofit was formed to purchase a former liquor store and make something good out of it. The tiny, unincorporated town of Whiteclay — population, nine — had gained infamy for its four liquor stores that sold 3.5 million cans of beer each year. Most of that alcohol was purchased by residents of the neighboring and officially dry Pine Ridge Indian…
