Mission Statement
Inspiration, Information, Innovation Empowering through doing, Gizmo-CDA, Coeur d’ Alene’s Makerspace, builds creative confidence and curiosity through programs that give all people, regardless of their economic ability, access to mentors, tools, and technology.
Description
Gizmo-CDA is a space that gives access to mentors and tools, helping people to become empowered by mastering things that they have not done before. Having access to tools that are outside the standard equipment creates a valuable place for experimentation and even the development of new products. It changes what is possible.
Gizmo has grown. Working to serve everyone from K thru Gray, we are now in 11,000 sq ft of inviting places to play, create, and innovate. Laser Cutting, Jewelry, Welding, Sewing, Long Arm Quilting, Leather, Printing, Lapidary, Electronics, Robotics, Woodworking, Machining, live in one space encouraging exploration in a wide range of skills. One of our focuses is the youth who are in the North Idaho Schools. Idaho ranks 47th in the country in education. 45% of the kids are on free lunch, which is how the poverty level is determined. That means as you walk down the street in Coeur d' Alene, almost every other child that you see is living in poverty! Many students drop out or graduate unemployable because they have made it through a broken system. And with all of this comes a lack of access to technology. Gizmo-CDA works to support the students, and we support the teachers! Our other focus is creating space for everyone, tinkers to entrepreneurs to be able to find a community that supports their dreams.
