Mbadika equips youth with the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to transform their ideas into solutions whose implementation not only can impact their lives but the lives of their communities and the world.
mLab
mLab—short for Mbadika Laboratory—is our series of instructional videos that use popular culture, tools based in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and design thinking to explore how to turn ideas into reality. From how to 3D-print a crown like Queen Ramonda’s from the movie Black Panther to using electronics to make a power gauntlet inspired by the movie Captain Marvel, mLab has it covered.
mLab also shows some of the workshops and projects we’ve done; and conversations with some of our fellow instructors and makers we’ve had the pleasure of working with.
Projects
Boston Design Academy
(opens in a new tab)Boston Design Academy (BDA) is a career pathways program for Boston Public high school students who’ve expressed interest in learning about and potentially working in design. BDA’s STEM-based, project-based curriculum enables students to gain skills and knowledge as they complete weekly design challenges. Students also work with the individuals and visit the companies that drive Boston’s innovation economy.
Boston Design Academy is a partnership between (opens in a new tab)Timothy Smith Network, (opens in a new tab)City of Boston and Mbadika, who’s Executive Director Netia McCray is BDA’s Program Director and Lead Instructor.
Boston Neighborhood Network
Mbadika partnered with (opens in a new tab)Boston Neighborhood Network (BNN), greater Boston’s public-access cable television channel, to produce and broadcast mLab (Mbadika Laboratory), its series of instructional STEM-focused videos. The first mLab episode broadcast by BNN was (opens in a new tab) 3D print a General Mayhem–from LEGO Movie 2–inspired cookie cutter on .
