Thank you so much for your support of Build Repair Grow, a Western Mass. nonprofit that teaches young people hands-on, practical skills in growing food, cooking, repairing bikes, sewing, and basic carpentry while developing increased resiliency, critical thinking, and problem-solving techniques through project-based learning.
As you know, Build Repair Grow offers skills-based workshops for young people at schools, farms, and community centers during out-of-school hours through Western and Central Massachusetts.
In the past two months since our launch we’ve grappled with many unforeseen challenges, but we’ve also experienced incredible support from so many of you, along with new opportunities and enthusiasm for partnerships and collaborations to expand our services. We’re so excited to be able to share some updates with you on our growth and progress.
COVID-19 Crisis Response
The original vision for Build Repair Grow was to focus on in-person workshops. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, we quickly realized that in-person education would not be possible or practical for some time. Drawing on the problem-solving skills of our team, we are adapting our hands-on skill-building programs.
Keeping with our core mission, to provide project-based learning that builds problem-solving skills, resiliency, and self-sufficiency for young people, we are currently working to deliver these educational opportunities via online video tutorials and take-home project kits. We plan to offer in-person workshops again in the future, as soon as it is safe to do so, and we are excited to be able to enhance our original curriculum with these additional activities.
Program Partnerships
Neighbor to Neighbor in Holyoke has partnered with Build Repair Grow to provide remote learning opportunities to youth participants. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Neighbor to Neighbor is coordinating free meal distribution at Holyoke Public Schools, and they asked Build Repair Grow to create take-home project kits for students to work on remotely. These project kits will be distributed by Neighbor to Neighbor via their free meal program. The kits teach basic practical skills in planting seeds and growing food, sewing, and building. Each take-home project kit includes instructions, supplies, and materials needed to complete one project.
Just Roots in Greenfield has partnered with Build Repair Grow to provide their Community Farm as a location for workshops related to growing food, cooking, and farm carpentry. To maintain social distance practices at this time, we have postponed our scheduled summer workshops, but we look forward to holding programs at Just Roots Farm when it is safe for everyone to do so.
Sadie’s Bikes in Great Falls has partnered with Build Repair Grow to host bike repair workshops in their new store. To maintain social distance practices at this time, we have postponed all in-person programming, but we look forward to partnering with Sadie’s Bikes when it is safe for everyone to do so.
MassHire of Hampshire and Franklin Counties has partnered with Build Repair Grow to create a field trip program for high school students to take place at Just Roots Farm in Greenfield. This program will include information and activities to help students understand what a career in Farming and Food Systems in Western Massachusetts might look like. Like our other in-person programs, these educational and experiential field trips in the areas of farms, food and sustainability – plus social justice, health, and advocacy – will be put on hold until in-person programming resumes.
UMass School of Public Health
Build Repair Grow has been fortunate to partner with UMass School of Public Health graduate students Caitlin Rajala, Phoebe Wilkinson, Lucy Veilleux during the spring semester. Their research focuses on an asset-based, resilience theory approach to learning, and has culminated with a completed report on how Build Repair Grow has the potential to minimize risk and risk behaviors in youth by building resiliency and self-efficacy through the introduction of hands-on skills and socialization. This research will lay the foundation for more longitudinal program evaluations and illustrate the connection that Build Repair Grow has to Public Health.
Thank you to Caitlin, Phoebe, and Lucy as they complete their work with BRG and embark on new adventures! Everyone at BRG wishes you all the very best!
Skill acquisition provides an opportunity for young people to learn a specific new skill, and develop their capacity for learning and self-determination overall (Zimmerman et al., 2013; Kupers, Dijk, McPherson, & van Geert, 2013). A study examining the benefits of vocational curriculum on learning engagement for at-risk youth found that skill acquisition in a positive environment, with flexibility and student-centered learning, was reported by teachers to be critical to increasing motivation among students (Fix, Ritzen, Pieters, & Kuiper, 2019). The emphasis of vocational curriculum on student problem-solving throughout the learning process elevated student’s skill sets and fostered their ability to deal with challenges and barriers beyond the scope of the program (Fix et al., 2019). This indicates the potential of similarly modeled programs, like Build Repair Grow, to not only increase participants’ specific skills, but their resilience for learning more broadly (Fix, Ritzen, Pieters, & Kuiper, 2019)
Veilleux, L., Wilkinson, P., & Rajala, C. (2020). Build Repair Grow Program Plan. [Unpublished Program Plan]. School of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA.
Election of Additional Build Repair Grow Board Members
Build Repair Grow welcomes two new people to our board of directors.
- Jaime Ryznic, Director
Jaime is an Architectural Designer specializing in fitting 10 pounds in a 5 pound bag. She excels at finding simple solutions to complex problems. Strategizing and matching up seemingly disparate pieces are her forte. She also enjoys Making Things in her free time. - Erin Sullivan, Director
Logistical detail management, on-the-fly problem solving, ingenuity, and the perfect song choice. Add 10+ years of nonprofit administrative experience, volunteer management, and enthusiasm for learning new things and you’ve got Erin.
$1,000 Grant from The New England Grassroots Environment Fund
In April Build Repair Grow was awarded $1,000 from The New England Grassroots Environment Fund to support our Take-Home Project Kits in partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor in Holyoke, MA.
The Grassroots Fund is dedicated to co-creating healthy and sustainable communities throughout New England. Grassroots Fund empowers individuals, groups and organizations working across a broad range of environmental and social justice issues. By helping them identify, select and access the specific tools, resources and connections they need to challenge existing systems, groups are able to develop lasting solutions to the complex problems affecting the places they live and the health of the people who live there. Grassroots Fund supports changemakers who face systemic and structural barriers to traditional funding.
$770 Grant from The Pollination Project
In May Build Repair Grow was awarded $770 from The Pollination Project to support our Take-Home Project Kits in partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor in Holyoke, MA.
The Pollination Project invests in grassroots projects by people who seek to create a more compassionate world. Through these efforts, The Pollination Project seeds a vibrant community of global changemakers who seek to spread compassion in the world for the benefit of all.
Internship Opportunity
Build Repair Grow is looking for a Communications and Media Intern for the summer. This volunteer position involves building and managing social media presence, managing data for online program evaluations, and creating/editing digital content for video tutorials. [Update: This position is now filled]
Thank You to Our Generous Donors!
Thank you to everyone who has donated to Build Repair Grow in recent months!! With your continued support we can expand our programs to reach more young people through take-home project kits and online video tutorials.
How You Can Help Build Repair Grow!
Build Repair Grow is applying for 501(c)3 tax exempt status with the IRS, allowing us to apply for bigger grants that will let us provide free and/or heavily discounted programs in the schools and neighborhoods with the least access, and that can benefit the most.
Help Needed!
The 501(c)3 application filing fees cost as much as the expenses to run an After School program!
We’re looking to raise the $600 we need to cover the filing fee, so we don’t have to divert any of our current budget away from running programs. Donations in any amount — $25, $50, $100 — will help us reach this goal and take BRG to the next level.
Spread the Word
If you aren’t able to contribute financially, we hope you’ll help us by telling others about Build Repair Grow and helping us connect with volunteers, partner programs, schools and others who may be interested in our work and programs.
Thank you so much to every single one of you for your support, and for making Build Repair Grow possible.