As part of our commitment to inspire all people in our community to explore and create, UpCycle enriches aftercare programs in the City of Alexandria through free, grant-funded outreach programs. One such program, "It's Tinker Time, Creative Aftercare Programs and Materials for Alexandria's Youth," is funded by the Alexandria Fund for Human Services to ensure that children and youth are socially connected, emotionally secure, and culturally competent. The program: Provides Tinker Carts and free materials to 10 recreation center sites across our city. Engages more than 900 diverse s ..read more

UpCycle Creative Reuse Center is pleased to announce a partnership with Shirlington Pediatric Dentistry and our signature program, Tinker Time. Dr. Shwetha Rai shares our emphasis on families, environmentalism, and creativity, and we are honored that she has chosen to support our local nonprofit and mission. With Dr. Rai’s sponsorship, UpCycle will make Tinker Time free to families when it relaunches the popular program at the end of April 2023. Dr. Rai and her family have been frequent participants in Tinker Time and other UpCycle programs over the years. When they originally d ..read more

Rachel Witt is UpCycle’s Shop Manager and has been with us for 2 ½ years. She was essential in keeping UpCycle running throughout the pandemic and has been instrumental in transforming our shop first when we moved in March of 2022 and again now as we redesign the space for growth. Rachel is an Alexandria native who, other than college and grad school, has lived here her entire life. She is a proud mom of two “wonderful boys,” Liam (10) and Toby (7), who are frequent UpCycle participants and occasional shop helpers. (Rachel also hand-painted​ the sign outside our door!) When did you begi ..read more

Sherri Norton, Teacher Sherri has been teaching camps and birthday parties with UpCycle Creative Reuse Center since 2022. She has 15 years experience as a preschool teacher and process art preschool teacher. Sherri also has a BA in Interior Design and an MA in Computer Graphics. She is married with two adult children (ages 21 and 18). Tell us a little about yourself. I grew up in an Airforce family. I was born in Turkey, lived in Massachusetts, New Mexico, Greece, Germany, England, Maryland, Florida, and Louisiana before getting married and moving to Virginia. I love being outdoors and ..read more

UpCycle Creative Reuse Center is excited to announce our participation in Spring2Action 2023! Mark your calendar for April 26, Alexandria’s biggest giving day.  Spring2ACTion, hosted by ACT for Alexandria, is a 24-hour fundraising event that gives Alexandria nonprofits the opportunity to reach new donors and raise funds for their organizations. Last year, UpCycle raised just over $10,000, and our goal for 2023 is $12,000.  “We are so proud of how we’ve not only kept serving people in our local community throughout and beyond the pandemic but also how much we’re growing,” says Exec ..read more

Sherri Norton, Teacher Sherri has been teaching camps and birthday parties with UpCycle Creative Reuse Center since 2022. She has 15 years experience as a preschool teacher and process art preschool teacher. Sherri also has a BA in Interior Design and an MA in Computer Graphics. She is married with two adult children (ages 21 and 18). Tell us a little about yourself. I grew up in an Airforce family. I was born in Turkey, lived in Massachusetts, New Mexico, Greece, Germany, England, Maryland, Florida, and Louisiana before getting married and moving to Virginia. I love being outdoors and ..read more

​UpCycle Creative Reuse Center is thrilled to announce the appointment of our new Executive Director, Theresa Esterlund. Theresa’s professional career spans 30 years as a leader and educator at the Smithsonian Institution, private museums, art centers, and public and private schools.  "Theresa’s background in art and museum education and her commitment to building community through creativity are a perfect fit for our organization,” said UpCycle's Board Chair Kelley Organek. “We’re confident that under Theresa’s leadership, UpCycle will continue to flourish.” Theresa is deeply committe ..read more

Become a Member of UpCycle Creative Reuse Center’s Board of Directors.   We're looking for a few energetic, involved and positive folks to help us guide the organization's growth.  Please contact the Director, Lexi Keogh, at info@upcyclecrc.org if you are interested! A full description of what's involved follows: Mission UpCycle Creative Reuse Center is an Alexandria, Virginia based non-profit that connects creativity and conservation by providing a resource center for reuse materials and a creative making space for the community. At UpCycle, we rethink the traditional notion ..read more

UpCycle Creative Reuse Center announces a new director, Lexi Keogh. Keogh has more than 20 years of non-profit experience in communications, annual, corporate and private foundation fundraising, membership, and special events. She most recently served as the Development Director at Alice Ferguson Foundation in Accokeeek, Maryland. Prior to leading the environmental education nonprofit’s fundraising efforts, she spent 15 years with the Alaska Wilderness League in Washington, DC. Her roles included Acting Executive Director, Deputy Director, and Development and Communications Directors. She ha ..read more

UpCycle and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria kicked off First Night Alexandria festivities this year with an event to help get animals adopted. Over 80 children attended the event where they drew, colored, painted and created collages of animals available for adoption. All of the artwork was photographed and a group of animal winners was selected to be displayed on both organizations’ Facebook pages for friends to “Like.” The artwork with the most “Likes” by noon on Friday, January 5, 2018 wins an AWLA Executive Director led tour of the shelter for up to 20 guests and all animal wi ..read more