The MakerSpace is designed for ages 14 to 26 who want to explore hands-on career pathways in the growing gig economy.
“I’ve never felt like I’ve had a job,” she said. “For me, it’s always been a passion to reach out to kids and help them learn while giving back to my community.”
Born to a self-proclaimed “tinkering family,” that passion is at the heart of Tynkertopia, Flagstaff’s nonprofit STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) community center, which opened in July 2018.
“Dr. Alice,” as she is lovingly known around town, is in her 59th year as an educator. She taught K–12 for two decades, then became a professor at Arizona State University for 23 years. Retirement, however, didn’t quite suit her. That’s when she decided to write a book on STEM education and traveled the country providing professional development to more than 5,000 teachers in 37 states. After nine years of travel, she decided to come home to Flagstaff and start her nonprofit. Tynkertopia, she says, is a place where kids “think with their hands and learn by doing.”
Tynkertopia’s first home was a rental space on Fourth Street. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and she could no longer welcome kids in person, she sent STEAM Challenge Kits out into the community. She created more than16,000 kits in her garage with the help of volunteers wearing gloves and face masks.
Every Friday morning, they delivered these kits to Killip Elementary School, where people picked up their food boxes. As word got around, area libraries asked if she could distribute kits there as well. After the pandemic, the City of Flagstaff provided a permanent space for Tynkertopia in a public housing building at 3330 E. Elder Drive.
As the nonprofit turns seven this year, and Dr. Alice celebrates her 80th birthday, there is cause for even more celebration. Tynkertopia is expanding, opening Tynkertopia MakerSpace later this year at 1515 East Cedar Avenue, Suite D2. The new facility is 3,400 square feet and will feature a high-end arts studio, 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines and a fully equipped workshop. The MakerSpace is designed for ages 14 to 26 who want to explore hands-on career pathways in the growing gig economy.
From digital fabrication to artificial intelligence, cloud computing to graphic arts, students will have opportunities to learn skills that can lead to certifications, well-paying jobs and long-term careers, even without a college degree.
“Not every student’s path is traditional,” she explained. “With the right tools and guidance, they can thrive, contribute and build meaningful futures here in Flagstaff.”
Admission to both Tynkertopia and Tynkertopia MakerSpace is free, although donations are appreciated. “I never want cost to be a barrier,” Dr. Alice said. “Every child deserves the chance to discover, build, explore, create and learn.”
About 80% of Tynkertopia’s funding comes from grants, with additional support from corporate sponsors and individual donors. Unlike a business built for profit, Tynkertopia operates under the strict structure of a nonprofit organization. That means filing annual 990s with the IRS, submitting reports to the Arizona Corporation Commission, paying for local and state business licenses, and working under the direction of a board of directors.
“We’re service-driven,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t have to be accountable. We carry liability insurance, we have a strong board and every financial decision is documented.”
Looking back, Dr. Alice says she has always been a risk-taker, guided by the belief that “if you build it, they will come.” With more than 10,000 visitors a year and a new MakerSpace on the horizon, it appears she was right. FBN
By Mari Marini, FBN
Courtesy Photo: Tynkertopia kids and volunteers gather for a group photo.
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