Fix-It Fairs
ToolBox Project has transferred operation of Fix-It Fairs to the City of Eugene.
Contact
FiX iT Lane County
541-682-5655
[email protected]
Contact
FiX iT Lane County
541-682-5655
[email protected]
Fix-It Fair History
The City of Eugene Waste Reduction and Green Building team were investigating doing community repair events at least as long ago as 2017 and hired ToolBox Project co-founder Anya in 2018 to help develop what has become the regional Fix-It Fair program. As part of a larger research project about the efficacy of community repair events, sponsored by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, Anya developed, coordinated, and evaluated the efficacy of the first three Fix-It Fairs. The result of the research project was three white papers, and the result of the Fix-It Fair trial run was a new but quickly beloved community event.
After the successful first year of the Fix-It Fair community repair events program, the City wanted to continue the Fix-It Fairs, and contracted with us to expand the program to include more events annually. ToolBox Project fulfilled a number of contracts for the City over the years, and put on quite a few Fairs. Everyone pivoted pretty dramatically during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns; we did virtual Fix-It Fairs to fulfill our obligations to the City during that time.
In early 2023 Lane County Waste Management also contracted ToolBox Project to present Fix-It Fairs. Our former Operations Manager Willa Bauman administered those to start, and then Mitra Gruwell took over. We put on first-ever Fix-It Fairs in Springfield, Cottage Grove, and Florence. Mitra continued to run Fix-It Fairs for ToolBox Project for the City in 2023-2024, including in partnership with Connected Lane County and with our good friends Shift Community Cycles.
In spring 2024, the City took back more of the program to administer under its own roof and plans to partner with Lane County Waste Management's FiX iT Lane County program to present Fix-It Fairs around the region. Mitra will be employed by the City and the County to administer the program.
Mitra Gruwell is a long-time re-use advocate, upcycling activist, and entrepreneur in the area. She's a 2022-2025 City of Eugene Sustainability Commissioner, and a two-time Oregon Association of Recyclers presenter. Watch for great things happening with Fix-It Fairs in 2024 and beyond. Stay current at www.fixitlanecounty.org.
After the successful first year of the Fix-It Fair community repair events program, the City wanted to continue the Fix-It Fairs, and contracted with us to expand the program to include more events annually. ToolBox Project fulfilled a number of contracts for the City over the years, and put on quite a few Fairs. Everyone pivoted pretty dramatically during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns; we did virtual Fix-It Fairs to fulfill our obligations to the City during that time.
In early 2023 Lane County Waste Management also contracted ToolBox Project to present Fix-It Fairs. Our former Operations Manager Willa Bauman administered those to start, and then Mitra Gruwell took over. We put on first-ever Fix-It Fairs in Springfield, Cottage Grove, and Florence. Mitra continued to run Fix-It Fairs for ToolBox Project for the City in 2023-2024, including in partnership with Connected Lane County and with our good friends Shift Community Cycles.
In spring 2024, the City took back more of the program to administer under its own roof and plans to partner with Lane County Waste Management's FiX iT Lane County program to present Fix-It Fairs around the region. Mitra will be employed by the City and the County to administer the program.
Mitra Gruwell is a long-time re-use advocate, upcycling activist, and entrepreneur in the area. She's a 2022-2025 City of Eugene Sustainability Commissioner, and a two-time Oregon Association of Recyclers presenter. Watch for great things happening with Fix-It Fairs in 2024 and beyond. Stay current at www.fixitlanecounty.org.
