Title: Mission & Vision
Author: mfucilli
Published: September 15, 2024
Last modified: July 2, 2025

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# Mission & Vision

## The COG’s Mission

**We empower makers to connect, collaborate, and create.**

## The COG’s Vision

 * The COG will be a preeminent makerspace community that seamlessly blends hobbyist,
   educational, and entrepreneurial ambitions by providing a place for all makers
   to practice and develop hands-on skills.
 * It will be a fun, exciting, and creatively stimulating environment that encourages
   connection and collaboration as cornerstones to self-empowerment.
 * Every person, regardless of background, will be able to see themselves here because
   they’ll see active members just like them doing great work.
 * Dozens of successful, world-enhancing businesses will be able to say “We started
   at the COG”
 * The COG will be a factor in why makers choose to live, work, and play in the 
   Capital Region

[Read our Strategic Plan](https://www.canva.com/design/DAGHdjfpmwA/TNN41gqor4J1RL2Yf3WxfA/view?utm_content=DAGHdjfpmwA&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hec61efdf91)

## The COG’s Values

**Be Excellent to Each Other!**

 * Trust
    - We assume everyone comes into the community with the best of intentions.
    - Honest mistakes are a natural part of the learning process.
 * Positivity
    - We know that a supportive and uplifting work environment is necessary for 
      people to grow in their skill levels, whether beginner or advanced.
    - Everyone should feel comfortable asking for help without fear of belittlement
      or shame. Learning and growth won’t occur unless failures and mistakes are
      respected and encouraged.
 * Mentorship
    - Everyone is on a learning journey, whether personally or professionally. Making
      a connection with those who have been there before helps clear a path to success.

**Everyone is a Maker!**

 * Community
    - Broadly speaking, a maker is anyone that creates something that wasn’t there
      before. All makers are welcome here, but our support structure is optimized
      for those that fabricate physical objects.
    - While the makerspace is our core, our Community is our heart. Our success 
      depends on strong relationships among members, volunteers, and staff.
    - We are the “Center of Gravity” for Capital Region makers, with a strong emphasis
      on the hyper-local needs of Troy.
 * Inclusion & Empowerment
    - We believe that all persons are gifted with the ability to be makers if they
      are allowed the opportunity.
    - Marginalized groups have specific barriers that prevent uninhibited participation
      in maker environments. We actively identify and remove these barriers.
 * Accessibility
    - Our workshops and equipment are clean, well-maintained, and always ready-to-
      work
    - Resources for learning – reference material, knowledgeable people, classes–
      are easy to find.
    - Nobody should be left out due to lack of financial resources.

**Don’t set on fire that which has not been designed to be on fire!**

 * Safety
    - The dangers of tools will be respected, all warnings and safety requirements
      will be heeded.
 * Rampant Curiosity
    - Pursue an environment where new ideas, concepts, and skills can be discovered,
      experimented with, and learned from – as long as it’s done safely.