Conversations with Jill Katzenberger

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Katzenberger.

Hi Jill, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Junkyard Social Club is an intergenerational community space: a rebel museum and playground for all ages. Our goal is to curate moments of discovery and play for everyone. That can look like an 8-year-old testing physics from atop a slide or adults scheming over drinks and big ideas. Our offerings are guided by the development of skills in divergent thinking: creative problem-solving and expression, curiosity, critical thinking, and open conversation.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
We started building a community space during the pandemic. We slowly launched programs as we had the capacity and as it felt safe to do so. We had to stay small and couldn’t launch with all of our intended revenue streams. Permitting was slow due to the pandemic and the nature of city bureaucracy. This year, we spent over 100k in unforeseen expenses to finalize a zoning use change from “industrial/office” used to “museum” use. This triggered fire and ADA codes and the need for massive building improvements.

To sustain the business, we minimized staff and operating expenses and put creative projects on hold. But we did it. We finally got our liquor license and will begin offering more adult-focused events, concerts, open mic nights, game nights, and dance parties. We are excited to expand our programs and grow our audience.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I spent 15 years of my career developing educational science experiences and exhibits at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Most programming was focused on “what we want people to know.” I became passionate about shifting the focus to “what do we want them to be able to do…not just now…but in the future.” I wanted to see citizens with the skills to be engaged in creating their world. I wanted to do it in an environment that made it safe to take risks and discover through play. 

What matters most to you?
At the Junkyard, we provide a space where everyone can feel an all-inclusive sense of belonging. I want everyone to have access to playful opportunities to learn and connect. We don’t learn how to think creatively or to solve problems in divergent ways from a textbook. We learn these skills by trying, by failing, and trying again. We believe that increasing diversity and inclusion is not only a moral requisite, but it’s also key to creativity and problem-solving. We need to be able to see things from different perspectives. Our mission is to promote science, art, and togetherness through adventurous play…but at its core… it’s about building a diverse community that has the skills, tools, and confidence to solve some of the problems we face and hopefully make the world a little more beautiful in the process. 

Pricing:

• General admission to Junkyard Social Club is $10 for kids and $5 for adults.

Contact Info:

• Website: junkyardsocialclub.org
• Instagram: @junkyardsocialclub
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/junkyardsocialclub 

Image Credits
Cam Margera