Fwd: Best Video x MakeHaven

[Kate Cebik]

Hey Outreach Committee,

Looking forward to seeing y'all on the 26th. I wanted to suggest adding this to the agenda as we've talked about getting MakeHaven made stuff into the community, and here this falls into our email. May be a fun opportunity to test out this strategy.

Cheers,

Kate

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Kate Noetzel <kathryn...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 8, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Subject: Best Video x MakeHaven
To: <in...@makehaven.org>

Hi MakeHaven!

My name is Kate Noetzel (pronounced like pretzel!), and I’m reaching out from Best Video in Hamden, CT — the nonprofit community video store, café, and cultural space that’s been part of the town for over 40 years. 

We are the only video store in the state of CT, the largest in the Northeast region, and we house 1000's of out-of-circulation films and series that cannot be found on streaming platforms. We are one of the best listening rooms for music in the greater New Haven area.

We’re starting to plan a refresh of our main DVD shelving, and I immediately thought of MakeHaven as a dream partner for a creative, community-driven build.

We’re hoping to work with local makers to design and build new custom shelves for the store. As a nonprofit with limited funds, we’re exploring collaborations where the build itself might be supported through volunteer or discounted labor — for example as a class project, community build, or passion project — with Best Video covering material costs while your members bring the creativity and craftsmanship.

In return, we’d be excited to credit MakeHaven in-store, on our website, across our social channels, etc.

If any materials are donated as part of the project, Best Video can provide an in-kind donation acknowledgment for tax purposes.

Best Video is truly a third space for the community — hosting film screenings, concerts, readings, and public events — and the shelves are the heart of that experience. This project would live in the space for decades to come, and every person who browses those shelves would be experiencing the work of the makers who built them.

If this sounds like something your community might enjoy collaborating on, I’d love to set up a visit, swap ideas, and explore what this could look like together.

Thanks so much for all you do to keep making and creativity alive in New Haven.

Warmly,
Kate Noetzel

--

Kate Cebik

she/her/hers

Operations Manager

MakeHaven

770 Chapel St.

New Haven, CT 06510

(203) 936-9238
www.makehaven.org

Want to teach a workshop at MakeHaven?