Celebrating 10 years of creative impact, Make-It Springfield inspires hands-on learning for all ages and abilities. As we look to 2026, we thank the many people who help make this possible.
Together, we deliver programs that spark creativity, build skills, and strengthen our community. Everyone belongs here.
In 2025, we PROVIDED ARTS ACCESS TO 3900+ PEOPLE, CONNECTED LOCAL ARTISTS TO 300+ SCHOOL STUDENTS, and DELIVERED 92 WORKSHOP PLUS RAD SPRINGFIELD BIKE SHOP TWICE A WEEK! These free and low cost opportunities, plus our OPEN STUDIO HOURS four days a week, remain our gift to the community, ensuring creativity is affordable and truly accessible to all.
None of this is possible without our donors, funders and volunteers. Your support fuels creativity, builds skills, and strengthens connections across our community.
Here are some highlights of our year.
JANUARY RAD Springfield volunteers, including Noah Staub and Casey McMullen, refurbish and donate 17 bikes to the Jewish Family Services Refugee Resettlement program over the holidays. • Local artist, Bella Martinez, begins teaching a new series of Multimedia classes.
FEBRUARY Donald Clark, a committed volunteer and monthly donor, enters his 4th year facilitating a free monthly Collage Club, bringing creativity and encouragement to participants throughout the year.
MARCH In collaboration with Guidance Counselors and Teachers at Springfield Honors
Academy and Brookings Elementary, 60 high school and 40 second grade students visit Make-It for creative experiences through the Spring. • Nelson Escobar, Jorge Olavarria, Mark Jones and other Flip Factory music producers begin a second year hosting monthly networking and performance events at Make-It for local DJs, vocalists and musicians.
APRIL Theresa King, owner of Signing Basics, volunteers to lead a Beginner ASL workshop and Rachel Begley, owner of American Dream Landscape Design, leads a Flower Arranging class. The two classes attract over 40 people, and raise over $300 for Make-It Springfield.
MAY Crochet Club begins, led by Make-It friend, volunteer and donor, Myra Oyedemi. • Make-It staffer, Marla Shelasky, leads two bookmaking workshops for clients from the Read|Write|Now Adult Learning Center.
JUNE Volunteer husband and wife, Jaime Bohorquez and Catalina Rojas, bring their Western MA Urban Sketch Club to Make-It, hosting monthly outdoor sketching and watercolor sessions.
JULY Make staff member, Sheldon Smith, is honored with a Social Justice Award from the MLK Family Services for his creative leadership and his role as an artist, mentor and advocate in our community. • Family Art Lab Saturdays begin, led by education student Darielis Velasquez, and with help from fashion designer and volunteer, Erika Campbell.
AUGUST Summer programming includes Friday night Figure Drawing classes, led by Carol Huben. • Cosplay Club begins with volunteer Elizabeth Lucente, inviting pop culture enthusiasts from Springfield to Hartford to come and work on creating costumes in our sewing studio.
SEPTEMBER Flip Factory music producers introduce “Beat Making Basics” to school children and Make-It families, and begin planning a new teen beat making workshop on Tuesday afternoons at Make-It.
OCTOBER Through our collaboration with digital equity organization, Springfield.Community, “AI Innovators” teaches teens about safe AI use and “Computer Build” teaches them how to build a PC from scratch.
NOVEMBER We welcome donors and community members for an inspiring evening of stories and performances from individuals in our maker community. • Educator, Terry Lee, repairs our 3D printers and helps us prepare for a new 3D Design & Fabrication tech program.
DECEMBER Local fashion designer, India Anderson, helps us deliver an 8 week costuming class for Springfield Honors Academy students, partly in school, partly at Make-It. • We look back and appreciate all the creative people that contribute to Make-It’s vibrant community.
Thank you for being part of Make-It Springfield’s story.
