Imagine an interactive place where you can find your purpose. Step into firefighting gear to fight a virtual fire, become a welder, design a food truck, or feel the adrenaline rush when you save a life. You’re invited to see how Austin Community College District (ACC) is changing the way we explore careers. 

Faculty and staff are invited to a special VIP ribbon-cutting celebration for the new Make It Center (MIC) at ACC. The center is the result of a deep collaboration between the college and the Make It Movement. Through hands-on career exploration, the MIC allows students and the community to pursue their passions, find their purpose, and discover educational pathways to get them there.

Time: 9 to 10:30 a.m.
When: Thursday, May 18
Where: ACC Highland Campus, Building 2000 
Watch the livestream here

“There are so many pathways and opportunities out there that people aren’t aware of or haven’t heard of. We don’t want the community just clocking in and out at a job. The Make It Center helps them find an exciting career and allows them to earn a living wage in Central Texas,” says ACC Chancellor Dr. Richard Rhodes. “We’re working to help people find their purpose and make a career out of their passion.”

The VIP ribbon-cutting will feature tours, exhibits, and hands-on demonstrations of several MIC features. Those include:

  • The Square 1 Showroom with hands-on demonstrations for in-demand industries and careers in Central Texas
  • The Simulation Zone with virtual reality experiences and 3D and 4D career simulations
  • The FabLab with opportunities to build something on-site and connect to careers

According to Forbes, more than 3 million skilled trades jobs will remain open by 2028. The 10,000-square-foot MIC provides innovative hands-on career exploration, imagination, engagement, and connection. The center will allow individuals to discover ways to make it in Central Texas by connecting interests, strengths, and income goals. 

“While the Make It Movement focuses on high school students, the Make It Center and ACC will expand the focus to individuals of all ages and their families. This center will help inspire students and the community with hands-on experiences to turn their passions and strengths into future careers,” says Dr. Janelle Green, ACC’s Make It Center director.

Through collaborative business and industry partnerships, the MIC will explore and inspire meaningful career pathways that lead to well-paying and in-demand jobs, impacting the ACC community’s quality of life and economic mobility.  

A grand opening for the public is planned for this fall. The Make It Center contains several functional components that will contribute to the flow of engagement for anyone who visits the MIC. Additional components include:

  • Inspiration Hub for diverse program and event offerings
  • Innovation Hub for facilitating creative and critical thought, dreaming, and planning
  • ACC Showcase to highlight various ACC credit and continuing education programs
  • Make It Community Hub provides a space for our external collaborative partners to showcase and connect individuals to holistic services

For more information, visit austincc.edu/makeit.