Itotiani Molina-Hernandez, 3, is enraptured by scientific exploration this week as she helps to create a glob of slime during the grand opening of the Barrios Unidos Science Workshop. Barrios Unidos, a Santa Cruz nonprofit dedicated to promoting peace, social justice and community empowerment, welcomed over 100 people to the event as their lab became the latest addition to the Global Alliance of Community Science Workshops. The lab is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and is open to people of all ages. There is no charge to participate. The lab provides tools and supplies for hands-on science, woodworking, metal crafting and more. Barrios Science Lab Executive Director Sal Luca said, “We welcome everyone, whether it’s to make a friendship bracelet or build an electric go-kart.” The lab joins the Watsonville Environmental Science Workshop as a place for young and old to go to build and explore. Founded in San Francisco by Dan Sudran in 1991, Community Science Workshops provide the space, time, materials and inspiration for underserved kids to “pursue the objectives of their innate curiosity. Families are encouraged to adventure together with ease and walk away with great little science projects and more understanding of the way the world works.”
