16 | EDIBLE PORTLAND WINTER 2025 MakeWith Hardware and Learning Center, created by Aria Joughin, helps people expand their life skills for the sake of the collective community. MakeWith aims to teach "resiliency skills" to their community and beyond, particularly to adapt to current and future global strife. They advocate for food security, for example, with workshops like gardening and building garden boxes, with plans to add workshops in canning, preserving and foraging. Other skills they teach include mending clothes, tool sharpening, electrical workshops, and drywall repair. Portland has faced multiple recent environmental crises – a heat dome, extreme wildfire smoke, dangerous air quality, and recurring snow and ice storms. After living through these experiences, Joughin was galvanized to create a space dedicated to teaching skills that make us stronger, individually and communally. Whether we're facing days without power or want to do some at-home projects without hiring a professional, MakeWith centers on the idea that these skills can be built, learned, and cultivated. Joughin believes building confidence is over half the battle when learning a new skill. By simply making the workshop warm and inviting, Joughin creates an environment where anyone would feel welcome. The utilitarian and bright workshop offers snacks and tea in cute mismatched mugs. MakeWith is open to anyone who wants to learn but puts special emphasis on welcoming those who have not historically been taught these skills, particularly marginalized genders and queer people. Their instructors help participants push through self-doubt and insecurity and offer plenty of beginner-oriented classes, teaching skills some might see as Skill-Building and Collective Resilience at MakeWith Hardware and Learning Center By Alice Wolfe and images by Aaron Lee
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