---
title: You Can ‘Make’ It in West Baltimore
date: 2026-04-29T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/you-can-make-it-in-west-baltimore"
section: Articles
---
# You Can ‘Make’ It in West Baltimore

*April 29, 2026* — by [Katherine Shaver](/author/katherine)


> Clark School Opens Makerspace to Inspire Engineering Creativity, Problem-Solving in Community

*UMCP Terrapin Works Baltimore MF 8665 1920x10802 — Makerspace manager Brian Palmer operates UMD’s newest Terrapin Works facility, designed to inspire and empower future engineers in West Baltimore. (Photos by Max Franz)*

In the Mondawmin area of Baltimore, where half of children live below the poverty line, school students are using 3D printers, a laser cutter and woodworking tools to create with their hands—and discover their potential.

The cutting-edge manufacturing equipment in this newest Terrapin Works makerspace—the first located beyond the University of Maryland campus—is, like the 15 others, helping future engineers bring their ideas to life. But this one goes a step further by also helping to revitalize a neighborhood with new investment and a sense of possibility.

“I want to motivate West Baltimore students to want more and do more,” said India Alexander ’12, who leads the Baltimore makerspace’s community programming and curriculum development out of the A. James Clark School of Engineering’s civil and environmental engineering department.


*two children do a crafts project at a table — Hands-on projects expose young learners to engineering and how it’s an integral part of their daily lives.*



**Sidebar note:**

This story appears in the new Spring/Summer 2026 issue of *Engineering at Maryland* magazine. See the [full issue](https://eng.umd.edu/news/em-magazine) now.





**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)



**Units:** [A. James Clark School of Engineering](https://today.umd.edu/topic/james-clark-school-engineering)