On Pi Day, 3.14.15, a Raspberry Jam of approximately 50 computer enthusiasts of all ages met at the CWE's TechArtista, 4818 Washington. Raspberry Pi? No, it isn't a misspelling, read on:
Raspberry Pi is a low cost ($35), credit card-size computer that plugs into a monitor or TV and uses a standard keyboard and mouse. More information can be found on the Raspberry Pi Foundation website, including this: "Raspberry Pi is capable of doing everything you’d expect a desktop computer to do, from browsing the internet and playing high-definition video, to making spreadsheets, word-processing, and playing games."
The device was developed in the UK by computer scientists at Cambridge University's Computer Laboratory who saw the decline in skill levels of students applying to the Computer Science program. Unlike applicants in the '90s, when students were experienced hobbyist programmers, the younger generation seemed to have lost curiosity about how computers work. Another problem the scientists confronted was the high cost of home computers. They wanted to develop one that was affordable for almost anyone. What the scientists created then was a low-cost computer that was easy to understand, and would spur kids to want to be curious and innovative once again.
On the local level, Anthony Alvarez, shown above, and Josh Krull are part of a group of Missouri makers, programmers, and enthusiasts, who hold meetups around town for those interested in Raspberry Pi and similar technologies. The March 14 Meetup at TechArtista was sponsored by TEDxGatewayArch, Danforth Plant Science Center, and Gateway Electronics.
Here is a video describing how Raspberry Pi (plastic case with yellow cable in photo above) works, and what you can do with it. There are many additional sites on the internet that provide instructions, like this one.
Photo courtesy of Anthony Alvarez
In one section of TechArtista's three-story co-working environment, a group was learning how to build the GoPiGo Robot, above and below.
From left, Oscar Alvarez, 8, a student at Webster Groves' Bristol Elementary, Logan, 10, and Owen Baugh, 7, students at O'Fallon's Emge Elementary, and Andrew Stafford, 10, who is home-schooled, are shown with the robot Oscar Alvarez built.
Co-organizer Josh Krull, above, tracked a balloon that was launched just east of the Mississippi River and traveled through Illinois. He used a different microcontroller, similar to a Pi (find information here). Krull's website contains information about Raspberry Pi2 (the latest, faster version, also priced at $35), 
Photo courtesy of Anthony Alvarez
Out of approximately fifty attendees at March 14's Raspberry Pi Jam, half were curious about the device, had just purchased one, and/or wanted to learn more about how to use it. The other half were experienced and eager to share their knowledge.
Photo courtesy of Anthony Alvarez
When it was time to break for lunch, what would Raspberry Pi enthusiasts request? The neighborhood's Pi Pizza, of course.
For more information on Raspberry Pi Meetups, contact Anthony Alvarez or Josh Krull through their website. There is no cost for these events, though "pwyw" is encouraged.