Fix-it Clinics & Reuse Event 2013-2014 Community POWER Grant Lauren Anderson Recycling &...
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Transcript of Fix-it Clinics & Reuse Event 2013-2014 Community POWER Grant Lauren Anderson Recycling &...
Fix-it Clinics & Reuse Event2013-2014 Community POWER Grant
Lauren AndersonRecycling & Environmental Coordinator
Mac-Grove Community
• Boundaries: Summit Ave, Randolph Ave, the Mississippi River, and the Ayd Mill Rd/ 35-E corridor
• Population of 19,500 (7,850 households)
• Macalester College and University of St. Thomas
• Community Council mission:The Macalester-Groveland Community Council (MGCC) fosters citizen participation in government and community decisions that make our neighborhood a desirable place to live, work, learn and play.
City of Saint Paul
Main Grant Activities
• Three Fix-it Clinics
• Reuse-focused community swap event
Fix-it Clinics
• Free events where community members bring broken household items and learn to fix them with the help of skilled volunteers from the community.
Attendees and Fixers hard at work!
• Consulted with Hennepin County and contracted with local reuse business, Fixity, to run events
Fix-it Clinics• Types of items fixed:– Small furniture (chairs, tables, footstools)– Small appliances (stand mixers, fans)– Electronics (printers,
remotes, A/V equip.)– Clothing, accessories– Zippers– Jewelry– Lawn and garden tools– Toys and collectibles
Repaired drawer - before and after.
Fix-it Clinics
• 2013-2014 Events:– Oct 2013 at Laura Jeffrey
Academy (also a POWER grantee!)
– Jan 2014 at Immanuel Lutheran Church
– April 2014 at Cretin- Derham Hall as part of Mac-Grove/Highland Home Improvement Fair
Fix-it Clinic at Immanuel Lutheran Church
Fix-it Clinic Volunteers • 15-20 volunteer
Fixers who love to fix, tinker, sew, solder, disassemble and repair.
• Goal is to teach and empower attendees.
• Worked solo and in teams depending on project.
Amazing volunteer Fixers rewiring table lamps
Fix-it Clinic Volunteers • Fixers were arranged in
one of three areas:– Mechanical– Electrical– Sewing/Jewelry
• Brought own tools while we provided power strips, task lamps, glue, adhesives and other basics.
More fantastic Fixers working on a blender
Fix-it Clinics
• Smooth check-in/out process was essential.
• At check in:– Items entered and weighed– Contact information and
waiver– Matched with a Fixer (or
took a number) based on type of repairs needed
• Limit of three items per attendee.
Check-in area at Fix-it Clinic #1
Fix-it Clinics• Check out:– Were items fixed?– Survey questions– Researched specific
recycling or safe disposal info for any non-fixable items
• If items were fixed, we rung a bell for the whole room to cheer!
Attendee with a fixed window fan getting ready to ring the bell
Fix-it Clinics – Helpful Hints
• Effective promotions:– Partners included information
in several different community newspapers.
– Facebook events and frequent and had social media posts.
– WCCO featured our second event on Sat am show.– Student intern hung flyers in Mac dorms for events
located near campus.
• Big, well-lit spaces with lots of tables and outlets.• Great food for volunteers!
Fix-it Clinics – More Helpful Hints
• Technology – wifi, laptops and google spreadsheets:– Enabled
simultaneous entry
– Researched recycling options for bulky items like appliances or electronics
The check-in/check-out area at Fix-it Clinic #3
Fix-it Clinics – More Helpful Hints
• Minimizing wait times:– Lots of Fixers with varying
expertise– Item limits– Volunteer facilitators– Number system
• Rethink Recycling bags:– Were a great giveaway and allowed
attendees in a hurry to look up additional recycling options at home through the website.
Neighbors fixing a window screen
Fix-it Clinic Outcomes
• 195 participants between three events.
• 100% of attendees would recommend the Fix-it Clinic to family and friends.
• Repair rate of between 50% and 70% of items (darn those electronics!).
• Hundreds of pounds of waste prevented per event.• Many wonderful survey responses from attendees
(and great ideas to make events better!).
Fix-it Clinic Outcomes Cont.
• Great, repeatable model developed for community organizations to work with Fixity on events.
• SO MUCH demand for future events – Fixity already held another clinic in St. Paul in
June!• Fix-it Clinics were so
FUN for attendees, Fixers, and organizers!
Community Swap Event
• Promoted as an garage sale where the goal is to reduce waste and everything is free and needs a good home!
Swap Event 2014
• All items needed to be in working condition.
• Attendees asked not to bring HHW, recalled items (esp baby items), or large furniture/ appliances.
Community Swap Event
• Held in May 2014 at Laura Jeffrey Academy to promote reuse.– Timed event in between move-out
weeks for local colleges and held next to Macalester College.
• Provided tables, blankets, coffee and treats to attendees.
• Free and open to anyone –people stopped by to peruse only.
• The Epilepsy Foundation picked up leftover items.
Community Swap Event Challenges
• Originally meant to be a move-in/move-out event where reusable items could be picked up and stored at a local college for students to “shop.”
• Modified plans to a single swap event with a charity pick-up at the end to fit better into the scope of a mini-grant.
• Held during an extremely busy time of year for students, volunteers, and MGCC (project manager had a baby later that week ).
Community Swap Event Outcomes
• Approximately 35 attendees.• Drew diverse group of attendees
including children, parents, college students, renters, homeowners, and seniors.
• Fun, visible way to build community and promote reuse.
• Low-cost, repeatable event (could take place during late winter).
MGCC volunteer adopting a new vacuum!
Engagement & Outreach Strategies
• Neighborhood events (block parties, fairs, Annual Meeting)• Print newsletters (reach: 20,000
residents)• E-newsletter (reach: 1600 residents)• Outreach and flyers to local colleges,
businesses, etc.• www.macgrove.org website• MGCC facebook page and
event pages• Local newspapers • Partner organizations
Challenges
• Planned obsolescence of many household items, particularly electronics
• Reaching younger audiences
• Ensuring fair waits at Fix-it Clinics (eventually created a number system using old CDs) Matching attendees with a Fixer
• Being pragmatic about scope of reuse event.
Project outcomes
• Higher-than-anticipated participation. • Overwhelmingly positive response
from participants, particularly at Fix-it Clinics.
• Over 1,000 pounds of items fixed or exchanged and out of the waste stream!
• Increased social capital throughout neighborhood.
• Created repeatable model for St. Paul Fix-it Clinics.• Great volunteer Fixer base for future events.
Thank you!