The Repair Movement is bringing repair and reuse culture back into everyday life by connecting people with the fixers, makers and skilled hands in our communities.

We’re creating a series of free, welcoming community gatherings where people can swap, mend, learn and share skills together. Our first pilot, "Swap & Mend Together," brought neighbors to the Felton Branch Library to exchange clothing, learn simple mending techniques and work alongside local menders. It was more than a clothing swap. People sat together, learned from one another, shared stories, and discovered that repair can be a social experience.

We want to build on that momentum by creating a portable Repair & Mend toolkit that can travel to libraries, schools, community centers and neighborhood gatherings throughout Santa Cruz County. With the support of the Awesome Foundation, we’ll purchase reusable repair tools and supplies, create simple educational materials and signage, and develop the resources needed to make these gatherings easy to bring into different community spaces.

The idea is simple: when something breaks, wears out, or no longer feels quite right, throwing it away and buying something new shouldn't always be the first option. We can learn to fix it. We can ask someone who knows how. We can share what we have. And we can do it together.

We believe repair is both a radical act and a practical one. It’s how we keep what we have in circulation, build skills and reconnect with the people around us.

The goal isn't to create one more event. It's to help make repair visible, accessible, and social again, while creating opportunities for local craftspeople and skilled makers to share their knowledge. We hope each gathering becomes a stepping stone to the next, creating a model that other communities can adapt and make their own.