Chris McCurdy joined Civic Nebraska in May as the coordinator of our Think Make Create mobile labs. In her new role, Chris oversees all aspects of our fleet of on-the-go STEAM makerspaces, which are designed for children of all ages and skill sets.
As part of our Youth Civic Leadership program, Think Make Create mobile labs enrich Civic Nebraska’s outside-of-school programs as well as other community, family, and organization-based community events. They are inspired by traditional brick-and-mortar makerspaces — those areas inside schools, libraries or other facilities with high-tech to low-tech to no-tech tools that emphasize building, learning, exploring, and sharing.
Our Think Make Create labs are made possible through partnerships with Beyond School Bells and Big Red Keno. They create a mobile platform to serve any group or organization with high-quality, engaging, hands-on activities. The labs are dynamic units that can hold customized programming for extended learning opportunity programs for all ages.
Chris was a natural choice to spearhead coordination of the mobile labs, having taught elementary art prior to joining Civic Nebraska.
“There is so much to see and explore in each Think Make Create lab, and I enjoy making sure as many kids as possible get to experience, enjoy, and learn with them,” Chris said. “Expanded learning opportunities – those times outside school hours that fortify formal education – are so important. Our mobile labs allow children to tinker, explore, and problem-solve.”
Chris is a Chicagoland native who lived in Illinois and Wisconsin before coming to Lincoln. She graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2011 and taught in Lincoln Public Schools for seven years.
In her spare time, she finds joy in faith, family, friends, and foster parenting. She also likes reading, ceramics, gardening, drawing and, of course, teaching art. She and her husband, Martin, have four grown children and four grandchildren. They live in Lincoln with their canine family members, Scooby and Strider.
Interested in learning more about the Think Make Create mobile labs? Eager to book one for your next event? Give Chris a shout at chris.mccurdy@civicnebraska.org and she’ll be glad to tell you all about them.
Welcome, Chris – we’re glad you’re on our team!
