Fix-it Clinics & Reuse Event Community POWER Grant Lauren Anderson Recycling & Environmental Coordinator

Mac-Grove Community Boundaries: Summit Ave, Randolph Ave, the Mississippi River, and the Ayd Mill Rd/ 35- E corridor Population of 19,500 (7,850 households) Macalester College and University of St. Thomas Community Council mission: The Macalester-Groveland Community Council (MGCC) fosters citizen participation in government and community decisions that make our neighborhood a desirable place to live, work, learn and play. City of Saint Paul

Main Grant Activities Three Fix-it Clinics Reuse-focused community swap event

Fix-it Clinics Free events where community members bring broken household items and learn to fix them with the help of skilled volunteers from the community. Attendees and Fixers hard at work! Consulted with Hennepin County and contracted with local reuse business, Fixity, to run events

Fix-it Clinics Types of items fixed: – Small furniture (chairs, tables, footstools) – Small appliances (stand mixers, fans) – Electronics (printers, remotes, A/V equip.) – Clothing, accessories – Zippers – Jewelry – Lawn and garden tools – Toys and collectibles Repaired drawer - before and after.

Fix-it Clinics Events: – Oct 2013 at Laura Jeffrey Academy (also a POWER grantee!) – Jan 2014 at Immanuel Lutheran Church – April 2014 at Cretin- Derham Hall as part of Mac-Grove/Highland Home Improvement Fair Fix-it Clinic at Immanuel Lutheran Church

Fix-it Clinic Volunteers volunteer Fixers who love to fix, tinker, sew, solder, disassemble and repair. Goal is to teach and empower attendees. Worked solo and in teams depending on project. Amazing volunteer Fixers rewiring table lamps

Fix-it Clinic Volunteers Fixers were arranged in one of three areas: – Mechanical – Electrical – Sewing/Jewelry Brought own tools while we provided power strips, task lamps, glue, adhesives and other basics. More fantastic Fixers working on a blender

Fix-it Clinics Smooth check-in/out process was essential. At check in: – Items entered and weighed – Contact information and waiver – Matched with a Fixer (or took a number) based on type of repairs needed Limit of three items per attendee. Check-in area at Fix-it Clinic #1

Fix-it Clinics Check out: – Were items fixed? – Survey questions – Researched specific recycling or safe disposal info for any non-fixable items If items were fixed, we rung a bell for the whole room to cheer! Attendee with a fixed window fan getting ready to ring the bell

Fix-it Clinics – Helpful Hints Effective promotions: – Partners included information in several different community newspapers. – Facebook events and frequent and had social media posts. – WCCO featured our second event on Sat am show. – Student intern hung flyers in Mac dorms for events located near campus. Big, well-lit spaces with lots of tables and outlets. Great food for volunteers!

Fix-it Clinics – More Helpful Hints Technology – wifi, laptops and google spreadsheets: – Enabled simultaneous entry – Researched recycling options for bulky items like appliances or electronics The check-in/check-out area at Fix-it Clinic #3

Fix-it Clinics – More Helpful Hints Minimizing wait times: – Lots of Fixers with varying expertise – Item limits – Volunteer facilitators – Number system Rethink Recycling bags: – Were a great giveaway and allowed attendees in a hurry to look up additional recycling options at home through the website. Neighbors fixing a window screen

Fix-it Clinic Outcomes 195 participants between three events. 100% of attendees would recommend the Fix-it Clinic to family and friends. Repair rate of between 50% and 70% of items (darn those electronics!). Hundreds of pounds of waste prevented per event. Many wonderful survey responses from attendees (and great ideas to make events better!).

Fix-it Clinic Outcomes Cont. Great, repeatable model developed for community organizations to work with Fixity on events. SO MUCH demand for future events – Fixity already held another clinic in St. Paul in June! Fix-it Clinics were so FUN for attendees, Fixers, and organizers!

Community Swap Event Promoted as an garage sale where the goal is to reduce waste and everything is free and needs a good home! Swap Event 2014 All items needed to be in working condition. Attendees asked not to bring HHW, recalled items (esp baby items), or large furniture/ appliances.

Community Swap Event Held in May 2014 at Laura Jeffrey Academy to promote reuse. – Timed event in between move-out weeks for local colleges and held next to Macalester College. Provided tables, blankets, coffee and treats to attendees. Free and open to anyone –people stopped by to peruse only. The Epilepsy Foundation picked up leftover items.

Community Swap Event Challenges Originally meant to be a move-in/move-out event where reusable items could be picked up and stored at a local college for students to “shop.” Modified plans to a single swap event with a charity pick-up at the end to fit better into the scope of a mini-grant. Held during an extremely busy time of year for students, volunteers, and MGCC (project manager had a baby later that week ).

Community Swap Event Outcomes Approximately 35 attendees. Drew diverse group of attendees including children, parents, college students, renters, homeowners, and seniors. Fun, visible way to build community and promote reuse. Low-cost, repeatable event (could take place during late winter). MGCC volunteer adopting a new vacuum!

Engagement & Outreach Strategies Neighborhood events (block parties, fairs, Annual Meeting) Print newsletters (reach: 20,000 residents) E-newsletter (reach: 1600 residents) Outreach and flyers to local colleges, businesses, etc. website MGCC facebook page and event pages Local newspapers Partner organizations

Challenges Planned obsolescence of many household items, particularly electronics Reaching younger audiences Ensuring fair waits at Fix- it Clinics (eventually created a number system using old CDs) Matching attendees with a Fixer Being pragmatic about scope of reuse event.

Project outcomes Higher-than-anticipated participation. Overwhelmingly positive response from participants, particularly at Fix-it Clinics. Over 1,000 pounds of items fixed or exchanged and out of the waste stream! Increased social capital throughout neighborhood. Created repeatable model for St. Paul Fix-it Clinics. Great volunteer Fixer base for future events.

Thank you!