As an extension to last year’s NSG project, and thanks to the top-up amount, I now have a community sewing machine and community serger which were the main obstacles to making this project an ongoing meetup. The second year of this project has really illustrated to me the importance of resource mapping and aptitude-based community development, as I managed to use the NSG for equipment and class expenses like snacks; my connection to a local non-profit which provided the appropriate fabric and supplies; and a business connection provided the space which I would otherwise have had to rent.
I’m learning that while the desire to have more community involvement exists in individual community members, the reluctance is two-fold: folks often don’t know how to get involved, and once they have that info, taking that first step. As a sewist the ability to make a menstrual pad has been helpful to me personally, as in the ability to make them for my own use, but the skillset has been an unexpected gateway into community building, both through sewing thousands of reusable pads to distribute to those in need and pass that knowledge on to other sewists. My goal with this round of the NSG was to extend that network to more folks itching to put their skillsets to use for a good cause. We had both seasoned sewists who wanted to add a new skill to their quilting or garment-making accomplishments, and complete beginners who’d never touched a sewing machine, and most people made an unpaper towel as well as a menstrual pad. On top of the main lesson, we talked about Menstrual Equity and Period Poverty, various avenues into Community Development work, the NSG itself, eco-conscious issue regarding reusable vs disposable everyday products, I feel like it was a valuable time for each participant and that I achieved my goal of extending the network of community-minded sewists.
Through our local non-profit I’ve secured funding for expenses and consumables to carry this project on regularly until March 2027. Many thanks to NSG for laying the groundwork towards taking this important project from a one-time event to an ongoing community network.
