Fredericksburg Parent

10 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • September 2025 Before the lights, the competition, and the national recognition from Fox's "LEGO Masters," Benjamin Edlavitch was just a college student from Richmond studying architecture at the University of Virginia. He never imagined that a random Instagram message asking if he wanted to be on TV would lead to sharing his passion for LEGO on the big screen. "I should know better than to take that kind of bait, but regardless, my response to that cast- ing producer would eventually land Poppy and me on season four," Edlavitch says. "Before then, I had seen the show but never really considered directly joining the competition. When faced with a real shot at appearing on the show, I knew immediately that it was an opportunity I could not pass up…If I had said no, I knew I'd always wonder, 'what if.'" His time on national TV may have opened doors. But it's the work Edlavitch is doing in his community with kids and after-school pro- grams that's truly making an impact How LEGO Builds Creativity and STEM Skills After School Today, LEGO is much more than a childhood hobby for the "LEGO Masters" alum. For Edlavitch, it has become a meaningful tool for creativity, education, and hands-on learning for students across the Richmond area. While continuing his architecture studies, Edlavitch has embraced community out- reach and after-school education, leading hands-on LEGO programs that invite kids to explore design thinking and creative problem-solving. A new workshop series is underway through Chesterfield County Public Libraries, and in his role as Teacher Fellow at the Valentine Museum, he partners with educa- tors to explore how LEGO can spark meaningful conversations about history, place, and the built environment. "'LEGO Masters' helped me realize how much I enjoy teaching, especially through play. Since the show, I've been leading workshops that use LEGO as a tool to teach architectural thinking. It's given me a platform to connect with young people and help them see that they can shape the world around them," he says. Edlavitch sees LEGO as a way to bring students into important conversations about the spaces they live in. "LEGO is a powerful way to make architecture more accessible. It invites people, especially young people, into conversations about the built environment that they're often left out of," he says. "Programs like LEGO's Build the Change show how kids can use bricks to express their needs and priorities in a way adults can see and understand. I'd love to see more architects embrace tools like LEGO to engage communities in design through play and imagination." WRITTEN BY AMANDA DANAHER Turning Bricks Into Learning How LEGO Builds Creativity and STEM Skills After School Benjamin Edlavitch How the How the Alum Is Turning Play Into Purpose for Richmond-Area Students

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