Vancouver Fix-It Collective - looking to connect

[Jocelynn]

Hi there,

I sent an email to Hack Space and was redirected by Richard to start a thread in the VHS talk section. He told me that this had been brought up in the past, a few times, amongst the members so it sounds like it’s a great place to be connecting with other like-minded individuals. So, here I am!

A bit about me…I am currently a student in Groundswell and my project is the Vancouver Fix-It Collective, much like the West Seattle Fixers Collective.

I envision this being more than a place where things get fixed though,…I plan for it to become a place where people can exchange materials, find materials for upcycled creations, run workshops, share knowledge from different generations, have a zero-waste/free store component…and a variety of other things… a lot of potential here, and a great community to work with!

As an aside - I did debate going the branded ‘Repair Cafe’ route but opted out and would be happy to discuss why, just ask me.

In the near future…I will be hosting a fix-it event (date to be determined) depending on how things flow and looking for a space to make that happen. Preferably the space that becomes available is one where there are tools present, but if all else fails, I will host it on site at Groundswell.

This is, however, why I reached out to hack space in the first place. I was wondering if this might be something the space would want to collaborate in and help host by providing the space, access to tools and epic minds…and any other means of synergistic co-creation.

Further, to hear that people have brought this up before, leads me to want to ask:

• what has been discussed before?
• why did it a fixer space/collective ultimately not come to fruition?
• any other words of advise?Any people or spaces you think I ought to be connecting to? (I’m trying to link up with co-lab, marker labs, tool library…)

Please know that anyone who is interested and wants to be involved (in whatever fashion) I’m more than happy to collaborate - many minds are better than a few. Alternatively, if you’d like to simply stay connected and be updated when things get on the ground - connect with me and I’ll make sure you’re in the loop.

Why me? I am passionate about zero-waste (currently living so) and the idea of fixing things appeals to me greatly for the number of benefits it offers - not only keeping stuff out of the landfill and reducing our excessive consumption patterns, but also to offer the space and time to organically build community, to learn how things work - take em apart, and put them back together (good for the mind!), to empower oneself, and others, and to have fun.

If this appeals to you - let’s keep in touch, message me or respond here. I have created a fb group as a means to stay connected to the people who have already started to show interest. I am currently working on a logo with a friend and once that’s finished I will be creating a page to spread the word further. And I am working on the event for the near future where we can actually get together, bring our stuff that needs to be repaired and get fixin’!

In the near future, we may also host a clothing mending fix-it night. If you “like” Groundswell Grassroots Economic Alternatives on facebook, the event will likely be posted on there, come by, meet some epic folk, and get a taste for fixin’!

Look forward to connecting.

[toptekkie]

Great concept and even more so one emanating from the Groindswell group.
I would only comment that one would have to be aware that the drawbacks of repairing vs replacing devices are mainly economic ones.
I love fixing things - I do it as a day job but …
My opinion is that the costs today of manufacture of mass produced products is so low compared to the local time cost of repairing which although extremely educational is measured without concern for a sustainable lifestyle.
So perhaps by not only repairing but actually hacking the devices that get disposed of introduces a different value and or function. This is often where in my mind hackspaces places like VHS come in.

I am wondering what range / type of items you are planning of ‘fixing’

[Jocelynn]

Thanks toptekkie! Really appreciate your feedback.

I completely agree with you, that in today’s world,…it’s ‘easier’ (time/ unfortunately money wise too…which is of course quite backwards) to go out and buy new, than it is to replace, which is one of the main motivations of me doing this kind of thing. . .And I agree the time it takes is not necessarily seen in the best light, which is why people opt to buy, because they are stuck in an old paradigm which puts profit over everything …and does not consider externalities.

I think I need a but more clarification on what you’re saying about hacking though, pretty sure I agree but want to ensure we’re on same page as I’m less familiar …I mean my limited understanding of hacking is actually sort of what I’m talking about - repairing items, taking them apart to see what’s going on, maybe salvaging pieces from other items that are unable to be fixed themselves for various reasons… can you explain it to me a bit more what you’d like to be seeing?

I am happy to not only repair, let’s do whatever is needed, and whatever makes sense given the current context. The more we can learn and do ourselves, the less reliant we become on a system that is failing us, the more empowered we become…we build strength in community, and we create local resilience…that’s how I see it.

[toptekkie]

Pop in to the VHS on Open Nights on Tuesday eve and we can chat. Hard to put all the ideas and motivations on an email.

[ninetynein]

Hi Jocelynn,

I contacted the Fixers Collective back in 2011, and at that time, they were more than happy to have us use their name and brand. I did a couple of session at VCL, than I moved on. If you’re interested in getting this going, I’d be happy to help. From my correspondence with them:

Hey Tyson,

We’d love it if you branded your collective as an off-shoot of Fixers. We’ve actually be trying to do this for quite some time.

Let me talk it over with the group tonight and we can go from there.

D

-Tyson

[Jocelynn]

Sounds good. I am going to try to make it to tomorrow’s open house. We have a speaker series at Groundswell that night but will try to work around that! Thanks and looking forward to connecting with whomever is there!

[Jocelynn]

Great! Thanks for that info Tyson. Glad they are down to collaborate. I sent them an email last week - maybe you can connect me with the individual you spoke with? It really does sound like the Hack Space would be a great place for something like this to emerge. If you’re there tomorrow perhaps I will see you, too!

[Jocelynn]

One last quick message - the page is up now! Vancouver Fix-It Collective Please “Like” it so we can stay connected, and share it in your networks, as it feels right!

The first event will be on the 28th, will be textiles themed and hosted at Groundswell. Details to follow - posted to the fb page.

Sandra and I will be headed over to your space tonight, looking forward!

P.S I now realize in my earlier replies to comments, I could have responded as one msg with links to the individuals using @ (I’m guess I’m forum noob but won’t be for long!

[JohnC]

Hi, Jocelynn.

I’m interested in hosting an electronics repair night at the hack space in August and I’m wondering if you’d like to work together with me to help put it on. I’m an electronics technician by trade, but if you have experience putting in events like these, I’d love to talk with you about how we can run a successful one at VHS. Thanks!

[Jocelynn]

Hey! I’d be interested for sure. time is another story but, I’m always
happy for repair events!
We’ve run three events, one at hack space actually, and a fairly large
following on our Facebook.
Maybe I could play a more back end role, in the sense of, helping you out
pre event, and or help share the event on fix it collective page to share
with the wider network that has been created via van Fix-It.
Let me know what you think.
Cheers!
-jocelynn
Jocelynn Rodrigues
Vancouver Fix-It Collective

Environminds

http://jocelynn-r.travellerspoint.com