Meet Adrianne Ferree | Founder & Executive Director of The Makers Hub

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adrianne Ferree and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adrianne, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
[Please note that The Makers Hub is a nonprofit organization, not a for profit business.]

I grew up in Torrance, California, less than a thirty minute drive from Compton, from the age of three. Although we were virtually neighbors, Compton was unknown to me. Through my work with people incarcerated, I saw the immense potential many inmates possessed in trades like woodworking, welding and sign-making. The problem was, they had no way to access the tools to continue these crafts outside of prison. This discovery led to the uncovering of a recurring theme in the Greater Compton Area: a lack of resources.

With the vast majority (95%) of homes in Compton built before 2000, almost every housing structure in the city likely needs major rehabilitation. Moreover, with over 20% of the population at or below the poverty line and the median household income of Compton residents being almost 30% less than the rest of LA County, area residents are left without access to the resources to address their needs.

Our mission is to create a Makerspace in the Greater Compton Area, with equal access to tools, workshops, technology, and resources to inspire creativity, facilitate lifelong learning, and provide inclusive and equitable opportunities for all. A makerspace is a place where people can come together to create, invent, build, and learn through the use of a collaborative workspace filled with tools and equipment. Currently, there are no community makerspaces or accessible collaborative workspaces equipped with tools and machinery within a five mile radius of Compton. We want to change that.

Listening to the community, we decided to open a Tool Lending Library in Compton as the first component of our Makerspace. Not only are we getting tools into the hands of people who need them, but we are also providing workshops to learn new trades and build new businesses. The community spoke of the need for a place to collaborate, learn, express themselves, and access tools. They spoke, and we listened.

Mara Hernandez, a participant at one of our events, said it best: ‘[The community needs] just what you’re offering. The repairs and teaching trades like sewing. I’ve been a resident here for over fifty years, and I’ve never heard anything like that ever!’

We promise to always listen and let our services be guided by the voices of the community we serve as we continue to grow. On June 21st, we officially opened the Makers Hub’s Tool Library to the community, and can’t wait to continue engaging with local residents through our programs and initiatives.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The long-term goal of The Makers Hub is to create replicable models of makerspace development that can be implemented in other communities, transforming them through the talents of the people who live there. The facilities would be unique to each community, shaped by their vision, and aimed at allowing everyone to tap into their innate abilities as “makers.”

Our continuous engagement with the community sets us apart from others. When we say we want feedback and input from local residents, we really mean it. We constantly survey our constituents, ask questions, and get the community’s perspective so we can improve our programming. Establishing ourselves as a trustworthy organization and resource for Compton residents is not easy, but we are committed to contributing to the city’s transformation through the community’s voice, talents, and built skills.

Since our conception, we have seen firsthand the importance of collaboration and working with other local organizations and individuals. The Makers Hub has stormed onto the scene by participating in events, providing tools for community projects, and networking throughout the city. Our Community Outreach Advisory Committee, composed of active and dedicated Compton residents, provides an inside perspective of residents’ needs and perspectives, guiding our programming and initiatives.

Now that the doors to the Makers Hub Tool Library are finally open, we are looking forward to welcoming residents to see what we are offering and broaden our discovery of how we can better serve the community. Through the tool library, workshops, Repair Clinics, Makers Fairs, and community events, we plan to make The Makers Hub as visible as possible. We want Compton to know that we are here to help them make a difference, and here to stay.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Compton is truly a hidden gem with so many things to see, do and eat while supporting local businesses. The first place to go would be First Sunday Brunch at Alma Backyard Farms, a local community garden providing residents with access to affordable produce, bread, pantry staples, and more. There, you will see the community in action, from farmers to local vendors, coming together to share resources and a meal.

After a delicious brunch, it’s time to visit the Tony Hawk Skate Park to see a completely different side of the city. This skate park is a community landmark where youth and adults celebrate a shared passion for biking and skating. You may even see Tony there himself!

Monday is a new day and everyday starts with coffee, right? A Compton favorite is Patria Coffee Roasters, a small-batch organic coffee roaster. This local business was founded right in Compton in a garage. I mean, it doesn’t get more grassroots than that. Now, it is a safe shared space for residents and visitors to come together through coffee and culture.

Once adequately caffeinated, the next stops are Color Compton and the Compton Art and History Museum. These destinations were founded by Abigail Lopez-Byrd and Marquell Byrd, a local couple on a mission to bring art and history together in the city. Through their work, they highlight the importance of storytelling, community, art, and history via youth internships and community workshops. Seeing these operations in action is a must-do activity while visiting Compton!

After amazing art, comes amazing food. Next up is Alexander’s Hub Burritos, a restaurant known for its delicious food and exceptional service. Here, you can find authentic Mexican food and drinks that are enjoyed by all in the community.

For dessert we’ll be visiting the famous M&T Donuts, a family-owned and run staple that has been serving local residents since 1978. The Makers Hub had the honor of collaborating with M&T Donuts on their building beautification and looks forward to continuing to upgrade the exterior while maintaining the historic look of the establishment.

For more information, you can visit The Makers Hub’s website or contact The Makers Hub directly via email at info@themakershub.org.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Carlos was the original catalyst that would eventually become The Makers Hub. He was a father, talented craftsman, gang member, and an inmate at the Pitchess Detention Center (PDC). In jail, he spent his time enhancing his talents and passion for woodworking. He’d spend his days building furniture and handcrafting amazing pieces that would give any Vaughan Bassett a run for their money. Carlos chose to use his time productively, but, unfortunately, that productivity would stop when he left the gates of the PDC to re-enter society.

When asked why he didn’t use his woodworking skills outside of jail, he responded, “I don’t have access to tools like these.”

Due to a lack of resources, many residents of the Greater Compton Area cannot use their vocational training to build businesses and provide for themselves. This went far beyond inmates re-entering society but to whole communities of underserved, low-income neighborhoods with predominantly BIPOC populations.

Carlos is one of many people I encountered and heard this recurring story. Each time it was a little different, but the same overarching theme prevailed: a lack of resources. These experiences prompted me to investigate how to find pathways to these resources after re-entry to share the information with the inmates. It was through this research that I discovered makerspaces but found that they were not accessible in low-income areas like South LA. Thus, The Makers Hub was born to bridge that gap to access in the Greater Compton Area.

Having a makerspace in the Greater Compton Area will be life-changing for people like Carlos and many other community residents. By talking to community leaders and members, we are learning the specific needs of the area and how to best serve. Our mission is to become a focal point in the community for tools/equipment/technology access, workshops, and resources. We want to inspire creativity and facilitate lifelong learning in an inclusive and equitable way while providing opportunities for everyone.

Website: https://themakershub.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themakershuborg/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-makers-hub/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/comptonmakershub?_rdc=1&_rdr

Image Credits
Robin Marshall credited for all photos except the group photo (with high visibility vests) and photo of the exterior of the Compton Tool Library.