Skip to main content

Blog

DONATION REQUEST FOR LOCAL GROUP

Submitted by Ashley Zdeb on

The Collective for Refugee and Immigrant Women’s Wellbeing (CRIW), a New Haven nonprofit that partners with underserved refugee and immigrant women to build community, agency, well-being, leadership, and economic opportunity. They are looking for donations of:

  • Fabric
  • Sewing needles
  • Thimbles and finger protectors
  • Embroidery thread
  • Embroidery hoops
  • Sewing thread
  • Other basic sewing or embroidery supplies you may have available

Any contribution, large or small, would directly support women participating in the program and help us create a welcoming space where cultural knowledge and skills can be shared. 

New Voices, Shared Vision: Meet MakeHaven’s 2025–2028 Board

Submitted by J.R. Logan on

We just completed a big board transition—adding six new trustees to join four continuing members. Here’s what the board does, how we build it, and why this year’s team is exciting.

Thank you & congratulations

Thank you, Jamie Lynn Slenker – our outgoing Board President, for steady leadership through growth.

Congratulations, Tim Cowan – our incoming President. Tim teaches stained glass at MakeHaven, volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, and brings a sharp legal mind to the role.

Member Voice Milestone

For the first time, members directly elected a board seat. Congrats to Laurel Lyngklip, our member

Introducing Ellen: MakeHaven's Small Business Support Coordinator

Submitted by Ellen Carson on

Hi! I’m Ellen and I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Small Business Support Coordinator here at MakeHaven!

 

Part of MakeHaven’s goal is to help makers who want to sell their creations or launch small businesses. In line with this mission, my role involves coordinating MakeHaven's presence at local markets and compiling resources for those working towards starting a business selling what they make.

 

So please get in touch! Whether you're a business owner, interested in participating in local markets, or simply thinking about selling your creations in the future, I'd be delighted to

Conclusion: A better world hackathon

Submitted by Jordon Rambert on

Introduction: The Better World Hackathon, hosted by MakeHaven, recently concluded in Downtown New Haven, Connecticut. As a proud member of the organizing team and a participant in the event, I am excited to share my experience and highlight the incredible innovations that emerged during this inspiring weekend.

 

Fueling Innovation: When i first put togeher the idea of this hackothon i was excited about the oppurtunity to have tech enthusiasts, makers, and problem solvers from diverse backgrounds united under one roof, fueled by a shared passion for creating a better world. As participants 

Meet Jordon, MakeHaven's New Team Member and Public Ally

Submitted by Kate Cebik on

We are really happy to welcome Jordon Rambert to the MakeHaven team. Jordon joins us through the Public Allies program, and will be helping out at MakeHaven with a focus on entrepreneurs of all kinds through June, 2023. Jordon is typically in the space Monday-Thursdays during the day, and can be reached at jordon.rambert@makehaven.org or @Jordon_Rambert on Slack.

Here Jordon introduces himself:

 

Hello my name is Jordon Rambert. MakeHaven's mission speaks to me personally in a way because all of my life I've been around people with big dreams that never came true because they didn't know

Wiring and Programming HuanYang VFD for 2x72 Belt Grinder

Submitted by Lior Trestman on

I'm posting this blog because it took me a while to find the correct codes to program this VFD with, so hopefully by putting all of the information in one spot someone else will have an easier go of it.

 

This is the VFD that came with a 2x72 Belt Grinder bought on Ebay (from Remmer-4513). In the end, the codes that worked for me were:

-PD002: 1

-PD003: 60

-PD004: 60

-PD005: 60

-PD070: 1

-PD072: 60

 

I wanted the belt grinder to be foot pedal controlled and have an on/off switch, so I wired in series a foot-pedal and on/off switch between the FOR and DCM pins.

Etching Brass with the Lasers

Submitted by Lior Trestman on

I made this plaque to commemorate Steve Buda and the tools bought with donations made in his memory. 

  1. I bought brass sheet from Goody's Hardware in East Haven
    1. It was a kick plate for a door
    2. Not brass plated, but solid brass
  2. I bought CRC Moly Dry Lube from Napa Auto for ~$20
  3. I cleaned the brass with rubbing alcohol, rubbed it with steel wool for a bit, and then cleaned it again.
  4. In the fume hood I sprayed the brass with the lube. I gave it 3 coats, with about an hour in between each coat.
  5. I used the Universal Laser 60W CO2 with air assist, set to 100% Power, 0.9% Speed and

MakeHaven Partnering with Gather New Haven to Launch a New Haven Eco-Entrepreneurship Creative Lab

Submitted by J.R. Logan on

The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory just announced the winners of Phase One in the Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize, which supports grassroots innovation, community-centric networks, and ground-up solutions to accelerate climate and clean energy technology advancement alongside disadvantaged and underrepresented communities.

Gather New Haven partnered with MakeHaven to develop a concept program, The New Haven Eco-Entrepreneurship Creative Lab, through a mutual interest in cultivating environmentally-focused entrepreneurship on the local level. The