Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Adrianne Ferree. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Adrianne, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I want my legacy and the legacy of The Makers Hub to be about transformation, empowerment, and self-determination. We started with a tool library and a small makerspace, but that’s just the beginning. The real vision is a full-scale community makerspace in Compton, one with workshops, studios, and spaces where people can collaborate and learn. I see a future where anyone can access equipment for woodworking, metalworking, multimedia production, VR, robotics, and even a shared culinary makerspace.

This is about more than tools. It is about creating opportunities. When people have access to resources, they can learn new skills, start businesses, and build careers. That is real economic development, one that comes from the talents and hard work of the people who actually live here. Instead of outside developers reshaping Compton and pushing people out, I want the community itself to lead the change from within.

I envision The Makers Hub becoming known as the organization that made access, skills, and opportunity possible in Compton. But the real legacy will be in the people who take what we provide and use it to change their futures, support their families, and create something of their own. We are not just making things. We are making makers. And through them, we are rebuilding Compton, one idea, one creation, and one success story at a time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

The Makers Hub is more than just a physical space. It’s a vision brought to life, inspired by the untapped potential of individuals like Carlos. Carlos was a gifted craftsman, a father, and a former inmate at the Pitchess Detention Center (PDC). During his time in jail, he honed his woodworking skills, crafting furniture that rivaled professional brands. But when Carlos re-entered society, he was unable to continue his work because he lacked access to tools and resources. His story of lost opportunity became the spark that ignited the idea for The Makers Hub.

Carlos’s experience revealed a broader issue affecting the Greater Compton Area: a systemic lack of access to tools, resources, and opportunities. This gap not only stifles creativity but limits economic mobility in underserved, low-income communities, particularly those with predominantly BIPOC populations. Hearing stories like Carlos’s repeatedly reinforced the need for a space where residents could access the tools and support they needed to create and thrive. With this in mind, we founded The Makers Hub, a place that removes barriers to access and empowers the community through creativity, collaboration, and skill-building.

At The Makers Hub, we provide a wide range of resources to help individuals and families unlock their potential. Our Tool Library allows community members to borrow tools, from basic hammers to advanced power tools, so they can tackle projects without having to buy expensive equipment. Our Makerspace is a hub for creativity, offering access to specialized machines like sewing machines, heat presses, and 3D printers, empowering residents to bring their ideas to life. Additionally, we host hands-on workshops in areas like tiling, plumbing, sewing, woodworking, and sublimation printing, where participants can learn practical skills to improve their homes, start businesses, or simply explore a creative passion.

“[The community needs] just what you’re offering. The repairs and teaching trades like sewing,” said a workshop participant. “I’ve been a resident here for over fifty years and I’ve never heard anything like that ever!”

Beyond tools and workshops, we also offer other valuable community services. Our Community Printer makes it easy and affordable for residents to print resumes, business materials, or creative projects without needing a membership or being a Compton resident. The Sharing Wall fosters a culture of giving by allowing community members to donate or take small items like books, toys, and supplies at no cost. These services are designed to meet a wide range of needs while promoting resourcefulness, sustainability, and connection.

What sets The Makers Hub apart is our unwavering commitment to listening to the community and shaping our offerings based on their needs. We constantly engage with residents through surveys, feedback, and conversations to ensure our programs and resources align with their goals. We’ve also built strong collaborations with local organizations and formed a Community Outreach Advisory Committee composed of dedicated Compton residents who guide our initiatives.

Our mission is simple yet powerful: to provide equitable access to tools, education, and opportunities that inspire creativity and foster growth. We are most proud of the impact we’ve already made. Whether it’s helping a resident fix their home with tools from the library, guiding a small business owner to create products in the Makerspace, or teaching someone a new skill in one of our workshops, we are just getting started! These moments represent more than individual success; they reflect the collective empowerment of a community working together to build brighter futures.

“Thank you for bringing a program like this to Compton,” said one resident. “I already know it’s going to help me and other residents in Compton to do preventive maintenance repairs for ourselves.”

The Makers Hub is here to make a lasting difference in Compton. It’s about more than just building projects, but about building confidence, independence, and opportunity. By breaking down barriers to access, we aim to uplift the talents and creativity of every resident. We believe that when people have the tools and resources to succeed, entire communities can transform. This is what drives us every day, and we’re excited to continue this journey with the people of Compton and beyond.

How’d you meet your business partner?

When I started The Makers Hub, I was fueled by passion but had no idea how to run a nonprofit. My background was in government work, not forming an organization, filing paperwork, or figuring out business operations. When we officially became a nonprofit in March 2021, I was stumbling through the process, learning as I went. A friend helped with social media and even applied for a grant on my behalf, but I quickly realized that if this vision was going to become a reality, I needed to learn fast.

I took workshops with the Small Business Administration, where I realized just how much I didn’t know. One class broke down the five key leadership roles every organization needs: CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, and CTO. I was the default CEO, but I had no idea which position to prioritize first, let alone how to convince someone to take on such a big role as a volunteer. I asked an instructor for advice, and he told me to find a COO first and post a job listing on LinkedIn. I was skeptical, but I did it anyway. Within days, 79 people applied. After filtering through serious candidates, one person stood out: Shaunna.

Our first conversation lasted nearly two hours. She understood the vision, and with her background in rebuilding small businesses for private investors, she had exactly the skills we needed. In June 2022, she officially became our COO. Over the next nine months, she transformed our operations, building financial and administrative structures, leading strategic planning, revamping our website, writing grants, and so much more. She did all of this without pay for the first year, and even when we could finally compensate her for just 10 hours a week, she continued to give far more time than that.

To say I am grateful for Shaunna and all she does at The Makers Hub would be a massive understatement. The Makers Hub would not be where it is today without her, and I don’t think many people realize just how much she has done to make it happen.

With Shaunna’s leadership behind the scenes and the support of the community, we opened a 1,700-tool library and small makerspace in June 2024. She handled operations while I focused on leading projects, programs, and construction.

Together, we built something real, and our partnership reflects the spirit of The Makers Hub. Our work is rooted in collaboration, shared knowledge, and the principles of the circular economy where resources, skills, and opportunities are continuously repurposed and reinvested into the community. By working together, we create something greater than the sum of its parts, ensuring that access, innovation, and sustainability remain at the heart of everything we do.

And this is just the beginning. With Shaunna’s strategic leadership and my deep commitment to hands-on community impact, The Makers Hub will continue to grow, create opportunities, and make a lasting difference for the people we serve.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The journey to establish The Makers Hub was a story of resilience that is still being written. I jumped into starting a nonprofit blindly, driven by the injustice I saw and my deep commitment to environmental sustainability, shared resources, and the circular economy model. I knew I wanted to create something lasting, something that wouldn’t just bring an idea into a community and then disappear.

Early on, as I explored whether a makerspace in Compton was something the community wanted and what it could look like, I met a community leader, Gilda, who ran a local block club. She attended many of the same meetings I did, and one day, she shared something that stuck with me.

She said, “Many people come into our community with big promises. They either take from us, or they just leave and go somewhere else. We don’t trust a lot of outsiders.”

In return, I asked her what it would take to earn trust with the community.

Her response was simple but powerful: “Show up and keep your word.”

There were moments when I wanted to give up, but every time, I heard Gilda’s words in my head. I wasn’t going to be just another person who walked away. Many years ago, I adopted a mindset that keeps me moving forward: “There is always another way”. Instead of dwelling on problems, I am determined to focus on solutions. I believe that if I keep having conversations and sharing the vision, the right resources, answers, and people will show up. And so far, they have!

Starting The Makers Hub during the pandemic came with even more obstacles. Remote work, fewer in-person meetings, and Zoom fatigue made it harder to connect with people. Progress was slow, but we kept pushing forward. Eight months ago, with the support of Swinerton Builders, we renovated a 1,700-square-foot facility as our starting point. Today, The Makers Hub is home to a Tool Lending Library with over 1,000 tools available to borrow, a small makerspace, and an outdoor woodshop.

But this is just the beginning. Our ultimate goal is to build a full-scale community makerspace in Compton: a place that fuels economic growth, fosters creativity, and equips people with lifelong skills. Our slogan says it all, “Where people make it!”

The road ahead requires more support, guidance, and a dedicated team to bring this vision to life. And I know, no matter what the challenges, the right help will come, often leading to an even better path than I initially imagined.

When the stakes are high and the vision fuels you, I remember Gilda’s words: Show up and keep your word. That’s what makes it happen.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://themakershub.org
• Instagram: instagram/themakershuborg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comptonmakershub/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-makers-hub/