Bridging the Gap
When youth have the space to engage in engineering and technology alongside adults and experienced professionals, something magical happens. They develop their own authentic voices and the ability to learn and lead in any environment. The Forge Initiative creates the space where this transformation is possible. We believe that with the right tools and intentional support, anything is possible—and our impact is the proof.
From 2023 to 2024…
3,500+
People Engaged
12,000+
Volunteer Hours
153
Volunteers
57
Community Engagements
Community Outreach
Engineering Day 2024
Project Phoenix
Kids Code
Raleigh Tomorrow
STEM Nights at Elementary Schools in Wake County
Governor Morehead School for the Blind
Partners
City of Raleigh
Marbles Kids Museum
Cary Police Department
NC State University
“When I was 12, someone handed me a MakeyMakey and said, ‘figure it out.’ I was the only one who knew how to use Scratch, which was similar to Raspberry Pi.
I found one video online that showed how to turn carrots into a piano and strung it between the kitchen cabinets. Now, this carrot piano is beloved at all our events”
—Kayla, 2019 Team PyroTech Alum
Programs
FIRST Robotics
Sumobots & Space Schlepping
Team 3459, PyroTech’s MakerCamp, Sponsored by Gene Haas
Team 6078, CtRW’s FTC Camp, Sponsored by MetLife
WonderLab Wednesdays
Family Open Forge
Summer Camps
Workshops
Family Open Forge
Partners
Stemarga
John Deere
MetLife
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ShopBot
BAE Systems
MetLife
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