“I see (art and engineering) as two sides of the same coin,” says reDiscover Center Executive Director Jonathan Markowitz Bijur.

If that “coin” had two additional sides, they might well be sustainability–and inspiration.

That’s because reDiscover Center starts with the concept of a “maker space”, and puts the concept of “creative reuse” at the core of everything they do.

Educating youth to use discarded materials to create something really cool; empowering makers of all ages; and outreach to schools and underserved communities are all aspects of their mission of building a creative and environmentally sustainable society.

Education plus fun

reDiscover Center works with more than 60 schools in Los Angeles County, giving students the opportunity for hands-on maker education. Sometimes, Jonathan says, these programs mark the first time these students have engaged in hands-on creative activities.

Teacher training and resources for educators and parents are also among reDiscover Center’s services. And many of these services are provided free of charge.

Meanwhile, for individuals and families, reDiscover Center’s offerings include tinkering camps, weekend family crafting sessions, tool safety training and special events.

If you’re going to be in the Southern California area, you might want to mark your calendar now, for one of the latter.

Every summer, reDiscover Center hosts their “Cardboard City” annual pop-up art center. Currently in the planning stages, this year’s edition will feature classes, hands-on activities and some incredible exhibits, made entirely of cardboard. The location will be announced for “Cardboard City” 2024, which happens in July and August.

And congratulations are in order, as reDiscover Center expands their outreach! Winter, 2024, marked the soft opening of their second maker space, in Los Angeles’ Mid-City area. (Their original location is in Venice, California.)

Jonathan shared the story of reDiscover Center, offered a closer look at their activities and services, and explained some of the ways others can get involved to help.

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• Jonathan’s creative journey as an artist, maker and maker educator;

• The story of the reDiscover Center;

• A closer look at the free services they provide to schools and communities;

• The story of their annual summer pop-up art center event, Cardboard City;

• What’s involved, in coordinating Cardboard City;

• One of the themes from the 2023 edition of Cardboard City;

• The ways reDiscover Center incorporates the aspects of S.T.E.A.M. into maker education in their in-school programs;

• How their curricula interweave the environmental movement and the students’ heritage into hands-on projects;

• How the pandemic accelerated their “cardboard curriculum”;

• One cardboard design challenge currently in progress at a local high school;

• reDiscover’s resources for educators and makers;

• A “fun” and imaginative project that emerged from one of their Tinkering Camps;

• The safety techniques that allow reDiscover Center to teach eight-year-olds to use power tools;

• A preview of their new permanent youth makerspace in mid-City Los Angeles;

• One of Jonathan’s favorite success stories from reDiscover Center’s youth maker outreach;

• How you can support reDiscover Center.