27 What began as a small sustainability gathering at JJC has grown into a twice-yearly community hub for repair, reuse and connection. By Katie Smith Driven by a deep passion for sustainability, Ash Klinder wanted to bring people together to repair, reuse and reconnect at JJC. That vision took shape in October 2023 as a small, one-time event. The enthusiastic response inspired Klinder, JJC sustainability intern, and Maria Anna Rafac, JJC professor and sustainability coordinator, to transform the idea into something permanent. With strong support from the Oak Park Repair Cafe and the JJC community, the Romeoville Repair Cafe was registered internationally and grew into a dynamic recurring event centered on community, skill-sharing and environmental responsibility. “That first gathering welcomed just 22 attendees, but the overwhelming enthusiasm and community spirit sparked something bigger,” says Klinder. Since 2023, the initiative has evolved into a regional leader in the repair movement and helped to divert about 800 pounds of repairable items from landfill. Now the Romeoville Repair Cafe takes place twice a year: once in October during Campus Sustainability Month and once in April for Earth Month. The April 2025 event drew over 100 attendees and 30 volunteers to the Romeoville Campus. “Moving the space to Romeoville Campus was perfect,” says Rafac. “There’s room for our six stations and practically any size repairs, including a separate sewing circle, a lounge area with free coffee and a kids space.” Beyond local impact, the Romeoville Repair Cafe has presented its model to the Illinois Recycling Foundation, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Illinois Green Economy Network and the Illinois libraries consortium — helping to inspire similar events across the state. But Klinder and Rafac are most grateful for the people who make it all possible: the volunteers. “Our event is successful because of our generous volunteers,” says Rafac. “They enjoy sharing their skills with visitors and providing free repairs, and we appreciate them for teaching their invaluable knowledge and empowering everyday people to fix their items before tossing them.” Through education, environmental stewardship and human connection, the Romeoville Repair Cafe continues to build a more resilient and sustainable community, one repair at a time. R O M E O V I L L E "Our event is successful because of our generous volunteers. They enjoy sharing their skills with visitors and providing free repairs, and we appreciate them for teaching their invaluable knowledge and empowering everyday people to fix their items before tossing them." Maria Anna Rafac Repair Cafes are free community spaces where volunteers and visitors come together to mend clothes, furniture, electronics, bikes, toys and more, using shared tools, materials and know-how to reduce waste and revive what matters.
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