A STEM Maker Space in Pontiac

The Webster Community Center is a former school building in Pontiac that has been vacant since 2007. Nonprofit Mica 6 Community is turning the formerly dilapidated building into a vibrant, mixed-use community center that will be home to nonprofits, small businesses, our new STEM maker space and local FIRST Robotics teams!

We’re working to secure a sponsorship from General Motors, who has agreed to start and sustain a maker space that is designed to foster creative thinking, problem-solving and collaboration in elementary school students. We're raising money to help complete the buildout and furnishings of the maker space to ensure kids across Pontiac have access to fun and impactful STEM programs!

The Webster Community Center renovations are underway and the building is scheduled to open in 2025. Until then we will:

• Secure all fundraising dollars from individual donations and corporate sponsors (now through Dec 2023)
• Work with a FIRST Robotics alum and designer to develop a maker space to foster innovation, creativity, and teamwork in young students (Jan - Mar 2024)
• Secure commitments from other Pontiac-based programs to use the space throughout the year to ensure we're building out the space to fit the needs of all programs (Jan - Sep 2024)
• Complete the maker space buildout (Apr - Sep 2024)
• Furnish the maker space (Oct - Dec 2024)
• Open the maker space and start a FIRST Robotics LEGO League in Pontiac! (Spring 2025)

Pontiac youth don’t always have access to educational opportunities that spark fun, creativity, and innovation. As a First Robotics coach of nine years, I am working alongside the community to bring the STEM maker space and FIRST LEGO League to the Webster Community Center in Pontiac. 

This year, a FIRST LEGO League I coach in Bloomfield Hills received a U.S. Patent for the technology we created through the program. We know that kids in Pontiac, next door to Bloomfield Hills, have the same talent and creativity and we're excited to see what the new maker space can spark in these students!

With this community center and maker space, we're excited to bring bringing kids together to learn, ideate, grow, have fun, and see what they can create right here in Michigan!