KC youth have new place to explore technology & art

Honeywell has been all hands on deck for the last two months to create MakerSpace for urban teens at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies President John Ricciardelli and Chief Financial Officer Ryan Matthews helped cut the ribbon to officially reveal the new space.

 The new MakerSpace is a place for teens to explore their creativity, engage in STEM activities and learn about careers in advanced manufacturing while utilizing cutting-edge technology.

The project was funded through Honeywell’s community program and features nearly $50,000 worth of technology, tools and supplies, including two 3D printers, a laser cutter, desktop CNC mill, a soldering station, electronic equipment, and a video production studio.

 “We designed the MakerSpace to be the ultimate place for teens to gather to create, invent and learn,” said Ricciardelli. “We hope they will use the space to not only explore their creativity, but explore possible careers based on the skills they develop in the lab.”

 Honeywell volunteers spent more than 100 hours installing the equipment and training the teens on how to use the new technology. Honeywell Technical Manager Mandy Kelley led one of the first Maker Projects – a high-tech cookie project featuring cookies made with 3D cookie cutters and decorated using stencils produced from a Cricut machine.

 The teens also made their own tie-dyed t-shirts from the event, with help from Honeywell’s summer engineering interns.