Queer Woodworking Course – Building an End Table with Maryah Smith & Chelsea Fisher

Queer centered woodworking course. Participants will learn about wood shop safety, hand-tool and machine use, design and construction to create a table to take home. Join us for the course taught by LGBTQ+ instructors. All levels of experience are welcome. Course will run from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Please bring lunch.

If in need of housing accommodation, two tent platforms, and one small cabin are available. Please contact danielle@carpentersboatshop.org if interested.

Maryah Smith serves as the Director of the Construction Trades Department at the Community College in Durham, NC. In this role, she connects students with employment opportunities and partners with public schools and local organizations to recruit individuals into skilled trades training programs that meet industry needs. She is a strong advocate for increasing access and representation in the trades, especially for women and non-binary people pursuing careers in this often undervalued sector.

Maryah brings a background in custom furniture and cabinetry, having operated her own design/build company for ten years and worked with contractors across the construction field. Her passion lies in teaching and in building a diverse instructional team that can pass on hands-on expertise to learners. She is dedicated to empowering students through practical skill development and opening pathways into meaningful trade careers.

Chelsea Fisher serves as the Apprenticeship Program Director at The Carpenter’s Boat Shop. She has taught sailing, fixing and maintaining engines, building and restoring large and small wooden boats, and basic woodworking classes. In 2010, she came as a boat building apprentice and has developed a lasting relationship with The Boat Shop.