Non-Profit Spotlight: Dykes With Drills

In a world where digital tutorials are a click away, mastering hands-on skills remains a challenge that requires real-world practice and muscle memory. Venturing into DIY projects and woodshops often feels like entering an exclusive club, where the tools of the trade seem reserved for those already fluent in their use. This barrier can be particularly pronounced for women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who might not always find welcoming spaces in traditional woodshop environments.

The need for inclusive, supportive learning environments in the fabrication world cannot be overstated. Studies show that women are significantly underrepresented in the trades, holding less than 10% of construction-related jobs, and LGBTQIA+ individuals often face additional layers of discrimination and exclusion in these fields.

Enter Dykes With Drills (DWD), a beacon of change in this landscape. This pioneering organization doesn’t just offer tool classes; it builds communities. We recently had the privilege of hosting Carrie Rasor, DWD’s National Programs Director, who shared historical context regarding inclusion in the trades, as well as how Dykes With Drills is dismantling barriers and fostering an inclusive culture of emerging makers. Join us as we delve into the transformative work of DWD below, and explore why embracing these skills is crucial for everyone.

About Carrie Rasor

Carrie Rasor is a woodworker and small business owner based in New Orleans. As the Programs Director for Dykes With Drills, she oversees programming in San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, New York, and Vermont, helping to empower people with the tools to build. In addition to her work with Dykes With Drills, Carrie owns and operates a local community makerspace for people to learn and create.

Her journey into woodworking began in 2014 when she enrolled in the furniture making program at the Chicago School of Woodworking, driven by her fascination with the durability and craftsmanship of antique furniture. After running a woodworking education program and teaching woodworking skills for a nonprofit in Chicago for five years, she moved to New Orleans in 2021 to further pursue her passion.

In both her community makerspace and through her work with Dykes With Drills, Carrie is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where individuals from all walks of life can develop their woodworking skills together.

About Dykes With Drills

With locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, New Orleans, New York, Vermont, and Boston, Dykes With Drills works to empower womxn with the tools to build. Their community includes people of all sexualities and genders, including those who are non-conforming, transgender, and allies.

DWD Values

There are four core values that drive the work done by Dykes With Drills:

1. Giving people independence and confidence using tools.
2. Building community with project-based collaboration.
3. Learning from our mistakes.
4. Accessibility both financially and physically.

DWD Programming

There are four main areas of programming within Dykes With Drills:

• Skill Building Workshops: DWD currently offers two types of workshops, Intro to Tools and Build Workshops. Intro to Tools teaches 3–4 tools in depth, then puts participants into small groups to come up with a design and build based on a prompt they’re given. The goal is to work together as a team and practice working with the tools they learned about. Build Workshops are project-specific, such as building a bench or a wine rack. Participants learn basic woodworking skills as well as a couple of tools, then work independently to build the project, which they can take home with them.
• Volunteer Community Builds: These programs involve giving back to the community through collaboration with organizations that need help building structures. In the past, DWD has worked with Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together, among others. People with a wide range of skill levels can participate, from someone who’s just starting out to an experienced woodworker. It’s an opportunity to learn woodworking skills and tools, as well as work with others to give back.
• Camps and Retreats: As of now, most of DWD’s camps and retreats are located in the Bay Area and focus on building tiny houses. They teach participants how to build a structure from the ground up, with both rough carpentry workshops and finish carpentry workshops.
• Social Events: The goal of DWD’s social events is to bring people together, make connections, and encourage a sense of community.

Get Involved

By demystifying the use of complex equipment, Dykes With Drills encourages more individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups in the trades, to engage with and excel in woodworking. Slowly but surely, Dykes With Drills is creating a more inclusive and empowering community in the world of fabrication. You can volunteer, sponsor a program, or support DWD by purchasing merch.

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