February Happenings
Meet Our New Business Librarian!
Alexandria Robison is excited to be joining the Ives Squared team! She believes in the mission of the space-that libraries provide a vital epicenter for community connection.
In 2022, Alexandria received her MLIS from the University of Rhode Island, with a focus in Library Administration and Transforming Communities. She is passionate about building relationships with Connecticut small business owners and using her communications background to identify and provide the support businesses and nonprofits need to grow and thrive.
Office Hours – By Appointment
Tuesdays, 3-5 pm
Exchange Events
The Exchange offers an entrepreneurial and social space for collaboration and co-working on business, civic and community issues.
Entrepreneur In-Residence
Rosalind 'Roz' Zavras is a non-profit operations expert with over 15 years of experience. Roz has created her own practice, Aropa Consulting, for small and growing nonprofits.
EIR Office Hours
Wednesdays, 1-3 pm
Thursdays, 4-6 pm (VIRTUAL)
Black Entrepreneurship
Tuesday, February 7, 12-1 pm
Join former EIR, Sammi Williams of 628 Digital Design, as she discusses her experiences as an entrepreneur in the greater New Haven area. She will also share information regarding the plethora of resources available for BIPOC entrepreneurs. Come with questions!
Recent Titles for the Exchange
You Owe You by Eric Thomas
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Show Your Worth by Abji
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Build the Thing by Kathryn Finney
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Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
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Tinker Lab Events
The Tinker Lab provides the training and tools for experimentation and an introduction to the world of creating and making, an essential element of the 21st-century learner.
Valentine's Day Stamped Cards
Monday, February 6, 6-7:30 pm
Learn how to make beautiful, stamped cards just in time for Valentine's Day! All materials will be provided. Registration is required.
DIY Mardi Gras Masks
Friday, February 17, 1-2 pm
Masks worn during Mardi Gras allow wearers to escape society and class constraints. When wearing a mask, carnival goers are free to be whomever they want to be and mingle with whatever class they desire to mingle with. Join us to decorate your own, just in time for Fat Tuesday!
We are looking for new Skill Share participants!
Skill Share is a volunteer program where participants share their neat skills with others! From knitting to coding to folding paper lucky stars, nearly anything is possible! Workshops can be single programs or a series, and volunteers can get community service hours for the time they are running the workshop! Ives Squared will even provide the supplies (within reason).
If you are interested in joining Skill Share, you can ask for an application at the Switchboard desk or contact Rose Simpson at rsimpson@nhfpl.org for more information.
Are you a teacher who wants to bring a class for a tour or to work
on a project?
We are happy to provide this opportunity to students! We offer tours in the mornings from 10 am-12 pm by appointment only. Please call us at 203-946-8130 x 140 to discuss scheduling.
Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator Assistance
Make a one-on-one appointment to learn the basic skills of Photoshop or Illustrator. You can sign up here or email Abby at afranz@nhfpl.org for assistance with your project.
Learn the Tinker Lab Machines by Appointment or Online
If you are interested in learning the machines in Ives Squared, you can schedule an appointment here. If you are unavailable at any of these times, please contact Rose Simpson at rsimpson@nhfpl.org.
You can now learn how to use our machines online! Watch the training video for the machine you want to learn at your convenience. When you are ready, call us to schedule your certification test!
Recent Titles for the Tinker Lab
Modern Tie Dye by Abi Patten
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Make a Zine by Joe Biel
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Adobe Illustrator
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Sew it Yourself by Daisy Braid
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Community Partners
The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) Equity Match Grant Program is Open!
Application Deadline: Tuesday, February 28
The Women’s Business Development Council’s Opportunity Fund is pleased to announce the opening of a new application period for the Equity Match Grant (EMG) Program. ¡La aplicación también se ofrecerá en español! Cash grants between $2,500 and $10,000 will be awarded to qualified women-owned small businesses in Connecticut for clearly-defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth and profitability. Learn more and register for a free information session.
CEDF Office Hours
Mondays, 4:30-6PM | Ives Squared Café
The mission of the Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF) is to strengthen neighborhood economies by providing flexible financing, technical support and educational opportunities to businesses, community organizations and initiatives in communities throughout Connecticut.
Doreen Abubakar is a Business Resource Navigator for CEDF. She has been active in the community as the founder of the Urban Nonprofit Network, the Community Placemaking Network, and as a volunteer advisor with SCORE. Her goal is to help small minority businesses become sustainable.
MakeHaven Updates!
If you are interested in learning more about what is available at MakeHaven, they are launching a program called "Guided Exploration of Makerspace Skills" (GEMS) which will coach participants in achieving goals for gaining new
MakeHaven GEMS
career-relevant maker skills at their makerspace in New Haven. For questions, you can contact gems@makehaven.org.
