ABOUT  us

Line drawing of a LEGO brick with four studs on top.

What if finding your people started with one little brick?

Some kids find their place on a soccer field, on a stage, or in a dance studio.

And some are still looking.

They're the kids with big imaginations, endless curiosity, and a hundred ideas they can't wait to bring to life. They're builders, makers, creators, tinkerers, and dreamers and they need a place where they can be themselves.

That's why we created Central Brick Society; A creative community where kids and families can build, connect, and belong. A place where friendships form naturally over shared interests, thinking outside the box is celebrated, and every builder is welcome exactly as they are.

For some families, Central Brick Society will be a favorite weekend activity. For others, it may become something much bigger. It may be the place where a child discovers confidence, where a parent meets a friend, or where a family finally feels connected to our community.

That's the kind of place we were looking for all along.

And now we’re building it together.

MEET THE FOUNDERS

LEGO woman figure with blonde hair, smiling face, and black top with a necklace.

LISA SANDERS

Lisa Sanders is an educator and community builder who believes every child (and every adult) deserves a place where they truly belong.

Growing up in Highland Park wasn't always easy. Like so many kids, Lisa often struggled to find where she fit in. Even into adulthood, she found herself searching for that same sense of connection and community.

Life eventually came full circle when she married Devin, someone she first met in kindergarten at Indian Trail School. (No, they weren't high school sweethearts, in fact, they probably didn't speak after fifth grade…until much later.) Together, they are raising two children, Ella and Lucas.

When Lucas was in preschool, Lisa began noticing signs of ADHD. As she immersed herself in learning about neurodivergence, she experienced an unexpected realization: so many of the traits she was researching described her own life. Soon after, both she and Devin were diagnosed with ADHD in their forties, a discovery that helped countless moments from their past finally make sense.

Their family has always believed in speaking openly about mental health because, as Lisa says, it's okay not to be okay.

For more than 17 years as a teacher, and through her work co-founding Gratitude Generation, Lisa has worked alongside children and teens, witnessing firsthand how many struggle to find a place where they feel accepted, understood, and valued. Along the way, she also discovered something deeply personal: building with LEGO became an unexpected form of therapy, helping her organize her thoughts, regulate emotions, and find calm amid the chaos that often accompanies neurodivergence.

Those experiences became the foundation for Central Brick Society.

Lisa envisions a space where children, teens, parents, grandparents, makers, creators, and anyone who has ever felt "different" can walk through the door and immediately feel like they belong. A place where connection comes naturally, creativity is celebrated, and every person is welcomed exactly as they are.

Lego minifigure with long wavy blonde hair, smiling face, wearing a light green blouse with buttons.

"Growing up, I spent a long time looking for where I belonged. My hope is that Central Brick Society becomes that place for someone else. A community where everyone feels seen, accepted, and inspired to build something together."

ALYSSA POLLACK

“What excites me most about Central Brick Society isn't just the opportunity to build a physical space. It's the opportunity to build a sense of belonging. I want kids and families who may not feel at home in traditional play spaces or sports-centered activities to walk through our doors and immediately feel like they've found their people. A place that feels both familiar and new. A place to create, connect, and discover. A place where every builder belongs.”

Alyssa Pollack has had one consistent thread throughout her career: building.

She’s built multi-billion-dollar marketplaces and a hardware product that's now in tens of thousands of homes across the country. And about six months after moving to Highland Park, Alyssa made a choice to step off the venture-backed startup treadmill to spend more time with her young children and become part of the community she had just begun to call home.

Alyssa had dreams of executing a creative idea that had been taking up space in her brain and heart: a makerspace where kids could build, tinker, invent, and explore using tools and materials they might not otherwise have access to. She imagined it as a place for families to socialize: somewhere that wasn't centered around sports or traditional extracurricular activities, but around curiosity, creativity, and connection.

Although Alyssa had the excitement for this new endeavor, she was hesitant to launch such a daunting initiative on her own, in a new community. 

And then, as fate would have it, almost exactly a year later, Alyssa came across Lisa's Facebook post asking whether there was interest in creating a community gathering space for builders and tinkerers of all ages. Alyssa reached out, she and Lisa met, and it quickly became clear that they had been imagining many of the same things.

MEET THE MASTER BUILDERS

  • LEGO minifigure with dark hair, smiling face with freckles, wearing a light blue shirt.

    Zach Berman

    Founding Builder


    Zach is one of the creative minds who helped bring Central Brick Society to life. As a Founding Builder, he's known for his impressive LEGO expertise, innovative ideas, and ability to see possibilities where others see a pile of bricks. Whether he's designing a new build, solving a tricky challenge, or helping another builder level up their skills, Zach is always ready to jump in.

  • LEGO minifigure with brown curly hair, blue eyes, freckles, wearing a denim jacket, smiling with an open mouth.

    Phoebe Buffay

    Joy Builder

    Phoebe is happiest when she's helping others smile. As Central Brick Society's Joy Builder, she loves celebrating big ideas, cheering on builders, and creating the kind of welcoming community where everyone feels like they belong. Every visit is a little brighter when Kate is around.

  • LEGO minifigure of a smiling person with glasses, brown hair, and light facial stubble, wearing a plain white T-shirt.

    Ross Geller

    Adventure Builder

    Ross loves to travel, and the more adventurous the destination, the better. As Central Brick Society's Adventure Builder, he's always dreaming up exciting challenges, epic creations, and hands-on experiences that inspire kids to explore, imagine, and build beyond the ordinary.

  • Monica Geller

    Innovation Builder

    Monica's favorite question is, "What if?" As our Innovation Builder, she helps kids dream up original ideas, experiment fearlessly, and discover that some of the best creations have never been built before. Whether it's a flying taco truck or a robot-powered treehouse, Monica loves bringing imagination to life one brick at a time.

  • LEGO mini-figure of a smiling person with tan skin, black eyebrows, gray hair, and freckles, wearing a light gray shirt.

    Joey Tribbiani

    Community Builder

    Joey loves bringing people. and builds, together. As our Community Builder, he's the mastermind behind many of the neighborhoods and collaborative creations that turn individual ideas into shared adventures. Whether you need help designing the perfect LEGO street or making a new friend, Joey is always happy to lend a hand.