New Makerspace Inspires Pontiac Students to Dream Bigger - United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Cari Johnson has dreams of being an astronaut– leaving his Pontiac neighborhood behind to board missions and explore the cosmos.

The new makerspace at the Pontiac Academy for Excellence is sure to bring the fifth-grade student one step closer to his goal.

Made possible by funding from co-sponsors BorgWarner and Tata Technologies and support from Tech United, the makerspace offers countless Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) opportunities for students, including 3D printing, building stations and more.

“Science and math are my favorite subjects,” said Cari with his teacher, Jasmine Booth, looking on, contemplating the impact of the lab on Cari and others in the district.

“I’m probably more excited about this makerspace than the students are, and we are definitely going to be using it anytime we can,” said Jasmine.

MAKING A MAKERSPACE

Over 50 volunteers from BorgWarner and Tata Technologies contributed over 180 hours to create the makerspace. Volunteers renovated, painted, built and assembled every corner of the makerspace– breathing new life into what was formerly an unused computer lab.

“Tata Technologies’ team experience was significant— we had five volunteer days and 23 volunteers,” said Richard LeJeune, head of human resources at Tata Technologies. “With hybrid and home working, you don’t interact a lot, so this was great for team building, away from regular day stress.”

This is United Way’s third makerspace in our region following launches at Stevenson Elementary School in Southfield and Ann Visger Preparatory Academy in River Rouge. The Pontiac Academy for Excellence makerspace will be incorporated into K–8 students’ daily schedule, and accessible to students in Grades 9–12 and the robotics team.

“It’s more than just tools and materials; it’s about exploring interests— a playground for the mind,” said Greg Collings, Senior IT Director at Borg Warner. “Our headquarters is a couple minutes down the road, and it’s important that we participate in the ongoing process of sustaining this space.”

During the unveiling, cheers erupted from the magnetic marble-run wall every time the ball reached its goal. Across the room, students are shocked they can use special markers to program tiny robots onto a path.

“Our makerspaces are a beautiful example of what’s possible when businesses, nonprofits, educators and community members come together to work toward a common goal,” said Dr. Darienne Hudson, president and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

IMPACT ON ALICE

In Pontiac, 66% of households are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed). From 2018-2022, 20.2% of Pontiac households did not have a broadband internet subscription and 13.5% of Pontiac households did not have a computer.

“This new makerspace represents so much more than just a room filled with cutting-edge equipment– it represents opportunity, innovation, and a belief that every child, regardless of their zip code, deserves access to the tools that will shape tomorrow,” said Dr. Hudson.

When a family is struggling to pay for essentials, there is little room to worry about extras like technology and extracurricular STEM activities.

United Way’s Youth Opportunity work addresses the gaps in access. Our in-school and out-of-school programs focus on strengthening the whole child, preparing them to learn, grow and succeed in a rapidly changing world.

“This STEM lab will help to level the playing field for our students,” said Latricia Brown, K-12 school leader at Pontiac Academy for Excellence. “They’ll be able to better grasp the language of technology– to speak the language, and then to take those skills out into the job market and be competitive.”

Interested in helping us close the digital divide? Make a donation today and help create more opportunities for youth in our region.