Home Madison Madison Community Foundation Year of Giving Announces Fourth Grant, “Beyond the Bubbler”

Madison Community Foundation Year of Giving Announces Fourth Grant, “Beyond the Bubbler”

0

Today, Madison Community Foundation, along with Madison Public Library and The Bubbler, announced Beyond the Bubbler, a major initiative to provide unique learning experiences for youth who attend Madison-area neighborhood and community centers. This is the fourth major grant from Madison Community Foundation’s 75th Anniversary Year of Giving.

In a statement released Wednesday, the fundraising and grantmaking organization announced a $55,000 grant to fund Beyond the Bubbler, a project that will expand Madison Public Library’s unique makerspace program, The Bubbler, to 13 area community centers.

One of the Bubbler’s signature program offerings are maker kits and experiences that allow participants to create an object using a variety of different materials—from arts to electronics. The Bubbler staff will work with youth and instructors at each community center to learn about the maker kits and choose what materials and projects they would like to adopt. The maker kits will live permanently at the community centers. In addition to maker kits, the grant will support professional development and training resources, as well as the connections and funds to hire guest artists to lead maker programs. The first Beyond the Bubbler program is launching at the Bayview International Center for Arts and Education, also known as Bayview Community Center. Additional sites and programming will begin in 2018.

“We are incredibly grateful to Madison Community Foundation. This support allows more children to participate in open ended maker programs and experience learning in new ways,” Rebecca Millerjohn, Youth Services Librarian at Madison Public Library Sequoya Library, said in a statement. “The Beyond the Bubbler grant will greatly expand our outreach and provide wonderful learning opportunities for children throughout Dane County.”

“Madison Community Foundation’s Beyond the Bubbler expands our magnificent public library offerings to a wider, more diverse audience while building on STEM and other educational programs also funded by MCF at local community centers,” said Madison Community Foundation president Bob Sorge in a statement. “Makerspace activities encourage creativity, build confidence, and help prepare our youth for Madison’s burgeoning entrepreneurial economy.”

Alexis London, Executive Director for Bayview, said her team is very excited about the opportunities the new grant will provide for children who participate in classes at the center. “We have been so impressed with The Bubbler program at Madison Public Library. With this Beyond the Bubbler grant, we will be able to help many more children in our community learn in new and interesting ways. We’re also excited about the training opportunities this grant provides and can’t wait to see this program come to life.”