Industry City shows off digs to kids, parents during Manufacturing Day

It was all about the kids at Industry City.

The six million square-foot facility where manufacturing, retail and the arts mingle invited approximately 120 Sunset Park students to celebrate and learn during the fourth annual National Manufacturing Day, held on Friday, October 2.  The morning event demonstrated to fourth through sixth graders the businesses operating in Industry City and the different opportunities that it has to offer for their future.

Chief of Staff and Director of Community Engagement at Industry City Cristal Rivera explained what the day meant to the kids. “It was very exciting. This is the second year we hosted programs for local schools,” she said. “The day gave local students and residents the opportunity to be able to come here and visit our makers and learn about what it means to be manufacturer and dispel stereotypes of what manufacturing is.”

Rivera hopes that showing the kids and their parents firsthand the happenings at the venue will intrigue community members. “Modern day of manufacturing is very different. There are great jobs and careers. I think that the students learn what they can do with their future by taking them to the manufacturers and showing them what it means ,” she said.

The event started with Industry City representatives giving a guided tour for the students, parent coordinators and teachers. “We did an introduction to the building and explained what we are and they got to talk to the business owners,” Rivera said. “They discussed how and why [each business] started from an entrepreneurial aspect and discussed alternative paths  for how they started in business. I love what I do. It’s inspiring for kids to hear stories.”

Owners also talked about how they turned a passion into a career, according to Rivera. “You don’t hear that very often,” she said.

One of the highlights of the morning for the kids was getting hands-on experience with several of the businesses. “ It was great watching them go through the spaces and be able to see and touch. They were super excited try a lot of stuff,” she said. “They visited the food hall and saw the employees making all the different kinds of food. They loved seeing Li-Lac Chocolates and the ice cream from Blue Marble.”

Other companies the kids visited were Doob, a company that does 3D print outs, and Soho Letterpress, which gave students the chance to use an old printing press. “They loved going to Aerocine, a company that manufactures drones,” Rivera said. “It was really cool for the kids to see and learn what it is. They loved the amazing video quality.”

Rivera also wanted to convey that Industry City is accessible for the local community. “We had parents coming with their kids and they learned about us and how committed we are to building bridges to the community and showing that there are opportunities here. Any way we can bring that message to them, we do,” Rivera added.

Photos courtesy of Foresight Media, Inc