SSD is moving and we need your help to make our new space the best it can be for our community. Please help us achieve our fundraising goal by contributing in person or using our online donation portal https://solidstatedepot.wildapricot.org/Donate.
SSD’s annual financial report is available for download! As a nonprofit organization, financial transparency is key. This report explains our 2023 finances in detail, and provides lots of additional information about how we operate and what our plans are for the future. Take a look!
View the full report on Google drive.
A core mission of our makerspace is to equip our community with both the tools and knowledge required to build a better world. I’m incredibly grateful to our team of volunteer instructors that have put together a fantastic lineup of classes and events at Solid State Depot.
Are you ready to dive into a world of innovation and hands-on learning this Fall and Winter? Look no further than Solid State Depot, where we’re thrilled to announce our exciting Fall/Winter Events!
🍂🌟 Fall/Winter Class Series 🌟🍂
Register for all classes through the above meetup links, the majority of classes are FREE! Excited to see y’all at the space for this awesome classes.
Today SSD hosted middle school students that are part of the Watershed School’s new class “The Maker Movement.” These students are learning how to be the makers and problem solvers of the future! Today the students learned about the makerspace, the tools within it, and presented their designs for feedback.
The students are currently designing adaptive aids for helping people with disabilities participate in various athletic activities. Over the coming weeks the designs will be refined and prototypes of some of the designs built at SSD! The objectives of this class are deeply aligned with SSDs core values, and we look forward to an ongoing partnership with the program.
The full description for the class from the school is: The potential of the future lies within our hands! The future is full of surprises, but history has shown us that we must always be prepared for the unexpected. With the advanced tools available to us today, we have the ability to tap into our creative problem-solving skills. This engineering and design course will teach us how to use modern fabrication tools safely and creatively. The course will be structured around a series of design challenges, such as building a toy that can launch a foam ball using a laser cutter, or using a 3-D printer to solve a problem on Mars. We will not only become proficient in using these tools, but also experts in the design thinking process. This will empower us to not only design for the world, but to design with the world. As members of the maker movement, we will become solution seekers who can enter new environments, empathize with others, and help solve even the smallest or most urgent problems of the day.
Come unleash your inner woodworker! Classes are $20 for non-members, and free for members.
I used the ShopBot CNC router with a fine engraving tool to engrave this custom map of the Sword Coast from Dungeons and Dragons. The map is part of a larger gaming table I built at the SSD.
Our members have collaborated with the WOW Children’s Museum in Lafayette to create a new gate for their exhibit. Well done! It is up now and for anyone who wants to visit https://wowchildrensmuseum.org/
Dear Boulder Community,
The Solid State Depot (SSD) is asking for your support. We are a non-profit makerspace located in Boulder, Colorado, that has been providing a platform for creators and innovators in the area to pursue their passions for over a decade. SSD is a community-driven space that provides tools, equipment, and workspace to its members, who are made up of engineers, designers, artists, and hobbyists.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit us hard. Over the last 2 years we have lost ~20% of our membership, and our financial situation has become unsustainable. We are currently losing approximately $1,000 per month and are ~20 members short of being break even. Without your support, we are at risk of having to close our doors permanently.
SSD is more than just a makerspace. It is a community that fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Our mission is to provide access to tools, knowledge, and resources to people of all ages and backgrounds, and to inspire the next generation of makers, engineers, and artists.
Our STEM education programs have been particularly successful in engaging young people in science, technology, engineering, and math. We have worked with schools, community groups, and non-profit organizations to provide workshops, classes, and events that introduce our community to the world of making and inspire them to pursue careers in STEM fields.
We believe that SSD is an essential part of the Boulder community. It provides a unique space for people to come together and work on projects, learn new skills, and collaborate on innovative ideas. It is a hub for creativity, and we are proud of the impact that we have had on the local community.
But we need your help to keep our doors open. We are asking for your support in any way that you can give. Whether you can donate your time, expertise, or financial resources, every little bit counts. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide access to tools, knowledge, and resources to people of all ages and backgrounds, and to inspire the next generation of makers, engineers, and artists.
Our goal is to raise $10,000 dollars and to increase our membership roster by 20 before the end of the summer. If you are able to financially support the space, donations can be made on our website. Even more valuable than your donation, is spreading the word about Solid State Depot and encouraging folks to become sustaining members.
Please consider supporting SSD today. Together, we can keep this vital resource for the Boulder community open and thriving.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Carter Schultz
Board Member / COO
Greetings fellow Makers!
The SSD Winter Market has been postponed due to scheduling conflicts and we will have another one in the Spring. Come join us at our open houses (every Tuesday starting at 7:30 pm) if you can’t wait until then to visit!