<div>Slow going, but now that traditional news outlets are picking up on hackerspaces it's easier to explain. I've also been working on my elevator pitch for a while to explain what we do. Once we're a non-profit, it should be easier to show were legit.<br>
</div><div><br></div><div>Also I use "Makerspace" until I slip up, just so I don't have to explain our reclamation of the word "hacker".</div><div><br></div><div>I think we should create a page on the hackerspaces wiki about community outreach and our community mission.</div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 1:33 PM, Ross Smith <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rsmith@i3detroit.com">rsmith@i3detroit.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div class="im">> I think this is a fantastic idea and probably warrants a separate thread.<br>
> Our recent mayor, here in San Antonio, is one that "gets it" and is trying<br>
> to build the city from the ground up with local businesses instead of the<br>
> traditional way of making a bunch of promises to giant corporations and<br>
> having them move in. I've been trying to talk him and other council members<br>
> about how hackerspaces can help build the community from the ground up by<br>
> letting people learn and create.<br>
<br>
</div>Yes. This is very much what we talk about in our space. It get the<br>
impression that a lot of hackerspaces are not totally above-boards<br>
with their local cities or municipalities; they are missing out on a<br>
chance to build up that relationship. (That said, you do have to play<br>
by more rules if you want to be on good terms with the mayor, fire<br>
marshal, and city inspector!) The mayor of our city (Ferndale) wants<br>
to get to know us better, I know, and wants his city to be known for<br>
attracting spaces like i3. I'm glad to hear that this is well<br>
underway already in San Antonio - you're on a good track!<br>
<br>
What sort of luck have you had so far? Any trepidation from the<br>
council members, or just a desire to understand our spaces better?<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
<br>
--<br>
</font><div><div class="h5">Ross Smith<br>
i3Detroit President<br>
<a href="http://www.i3detroit.com" target="_blank">www.i3detroit.com</a><br>
<br>
"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually<br>
right." -- Henry Ford<br>
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