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charlesrivercollab.org

We strive to:

  • create safe learning spaces where different values, beliefs, skills, and lived experiences are not just important but critical to solving the problems at hand

  • create a learning space that focuses on building authentic and trusting relationships

  • encourage risk taking, mistake-making, and imagination leading to co-constructed meaningful learning experiences

  • create a space where youth trust that everyone have the best interests for them in mind

The Charles River Collaboratory:

The Charles River Collaboratory is a youth-led innovation space headquartered at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in partnership with the Boston College Lynch School of Education and Department of Engineering.

The Charles River Collaboratory draws upon the wisdom of a multitude of youth voices from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and experiences.

The Collaboratory is committed to fostering the creation of a community-centered space where youth feel valued, welcome, safe, and respected.  At the Collaboratory, we strive to create a community of trust where more experienced youth are role models and mentors to their younger peers. Embedded in this approach is the valuing of youth voice, the recognition that everyone can do STEM, and the fact that differences are not obstacles but are seeding grounds for creative problem-solving.

At the Collaboratory, youth have a range of opportunities to build their confidence in doing STEM, develop a broad range of skills, and reaffirm that they can do challenging STEM work.

The Collaboratory is a community space where failures and successes are celebrated, interests explored, role models abound, and on any given day, with a single glance around the space, youth will see others from the same neighborhoods as them and know they are not alone.

 What is an "unmaker" space?

An unmaker space is one where youth lead. In many cases maker spaces are gatekept by adults and driven by adult interests, goals, and wants. The Charles River Collaboratory is just the opposite. Here, youth are enabled, empowered, and engaged in learning and identifying what they want to explore, learn, and teach others. It is a space where everyone can do STEM, all voices are valued, mistakes are valued, and where curisoity and ideas are transformed into solutions that positively impact the community.

Equipped with 10 3D printers, Laser cutters, CNC machines, Screen Printers, and more

The Collaboratory is a space for youth to design solutions to problems and challenges they find in their community.

Led by Charles River Innovation Fellows

The leadership team is comprised of Waltham High School sophomores, juniors, and seniors. They steer the direction of the Collaboratory!

Youth Leadership in Mentoring and Teaching

Central to programming and learning at the Charles River Collaboratory is near-peer mentoring, where high school students serve as mentors and role models to their younger peers. At the Collaboratory we maintain a community of mentors and trust, where more experienced youth are role models and mentors to their younger peers. Embedded in this approach is the valuing of youth voices, the recognition that everyone can do STEM, and the deconstruction of typical power structures where different experiences and cultural values are considered valuable assets in problem-solving.

The Charles RIver Collaboratory is thankful for its funders: