Community Engagement

Gather. Experience. Explore.

Community is at the center of who we are and what we do. We welcome all.

A Vibrant Gathering Space

From its inception, NBRR has catalyzed transformative change through empowerment. We know that when people have access to an environment where creativity and technology intersect and thrive, great things happen. Our renovated headquarters (2026!) is just that environment. It’s intentionally designed to be an inviting part of New Bedford’s urban landscape, and a vibrant space where creatives and learners gather to experience, explore, and question. 

Countries

Individuals

2024 Women Artists and Technologists in Residence Recipient, Fallon Navarro

Artists & Designers in Residence

Through a legacy of supporting artists and designers in residence dating back to 2014, NBRR continues to embrace an understanding that the arts are crucial to both community and innovation.

While our Artist & Designers in Residence Program has hosted seven artists since its inception in 2022, this year through the generous funding of the Ellis Phillips Foundation, NBRR launched a formalization of the Women Artists and Technologists in Residence Program (WATiR). This program is designed to elevate local artists and bring artists from outside our community to leverage our resources and share their inspirations.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators

Since our founding, NBRR has welcomed the public through its enriching educational experiences, free lectures and tours (including AHA! New Bedford events). Our community investment also involves cultivating multiple pathways for professional success:

  • Workforce Development: Delivering certified workforce development programs in the cutting-edge fields of blue tech robotics and industrial robotics
  • STEA3M Programming and public education
  • Community Partnerships: Forging vital collaborations with critical community partners like MassHire and Junior Achievement.
  • Internship Programming: Provide students with impactful internship experiences through our educational memberships.
  • Residency Programs: Women Artists in Technology Residency (WATiR) and Artists & Designers in Residency (ADIR)
family

How to Get Involved

Here’s a sampling of some of the local organizations we’ve worked in our community

  • YMCA
  • Girls Design Academy
  • Girl Scouts
  • Boys & Girls Club of New Bedford
  • Community Rowing Center

Whether you’re an educator, a student, a local organization or business, there’s a place for you here. You are the future of our community, and NBRR is where your journey can begin.

Join us, and find out how you can get involved.