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I want to share what I learned the hard way — and what I failed at — in case it sparks ideas or helps others avoid the same traps.
For over a decade I poured myself into makerspaces. I was elected by 400+ members to represent them. I helped build and save spaces, designed pandemic PPE that was adopted by NIH/FDA, and rallied volunteers. But I failed at protecting the vision.
I believed nonprofit was the ethical choice — until I saw how it blocked micro-manufacturing, excluded marginalized makers, and enabled a familiar pattern: closed-door deals, board members enriching themselves, and crushing creativity.
I failed to see that my own leadership attracted vultures. My designs and labor saved the space — yet my success was claimed, distorted, and sold back to the community at 25× the cost. Meanwhile, I was cut out entirely.
When I got hurt at work, they refused to even file the paperwork. Six years later, I’m deciding when to amputate the hands that built everything. I was gaslit, slandered, and stalked into silence. And I let it happen longer than I should have — because I thought “community” meant everyone was on the same side.
So this is my failure: I let ego, trust, and ideals blind me to what was happening. I believed good work would speak for itself. It didn’t.
What I learned? – Nonprofit status doesn’t guarantee ethics. – Transparency and equity must be enforced, not assumed. – Success attracts predators if boundaries aren’t clear. – You can’t save a space alone — but you can lose yourself trying.
I’m still here. Still learning. And now I see failure as an asset. The scars remind me what to protect next time — and who to invite to the table.
If you’ve had similar experiences, or want to talk about how to build better creative spaces — ones that actually serve their members — feel free to share your story.
We fail forward, or we fail forever.
