Fix-it Clinics & Reuse Event2013-2014 Community POWER Grant

Lauren AndersonRecycling & 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

• 2013-2014 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 • 15-20 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.• www.macgrove.org 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!