The "Basic Mechanics..." project was created by Gina Favano in the spring of 2007 here in Pittsburgh to address the gender imbalance within the alternative fuels community by offering mechanics classes for and by women.
The goal is not to perpetuate car culture, nor is it to imply that vegetable oil-based technologies are the only definitive answer to our current ecological, social, and political crisis. It is to acknowledge the fact that in order to able to dream up or understand viable alternatives, we must be able to understand the situation as it exists today. It's no secret that the community of folks working with alternative fuels, and mechanics in general, are mostly male. By empowering women and girls to learn about basic mechanics and to use common tools, we are helping to make this technology more accessibleto everyone .
Catalyst is the name of the organization that has recently developed from Basic Mechanics andBiofuels for Women. A catalyst is an agent of change, and one of the key ingredients in the making of biodiesel. The mission of Catalyst is to diversify the face of the alternative fuels community. Two classes have been offered so far: Basic maintenance and repair, and SVO (straight vegetableoil) technology. The next class offered will be Biodiesel processing and safety. The first of the four sessions starts Sunday, September 23rd and continues for the following three Sundays. All classes are from noon till three o'clock, and take place at Fossil Free Fuel's garage space in Braddock. The cost is one hundred dollars for all four sessions. Registration is happening now.
Stay tuned for news about Catalyst, including classes and workshops open to everyone!
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