BGCSFV LA2050 FULL S.T.E.A.M. Ahead

K-12 STEAM Education

San Fernando Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

According to data all across the board, low-income students are substantially underrepresented in STEM. The numbers are even higher for Latino youth. Whether it’s high school graduates or postsecondary graduates, reports show that low-income students are entering STEM programs at a much lower rate than their high-income counterparts. There is still a lack of free or affordable resources for low-income youth in the San Fernando Valley. Students lack reliable computers and internet accessibility in economically challenged neighborhoods. As a result, students in such schools suffer disadvantage upon disadvantage over the course of their schooling, and they face dim prospects for rewarding STEM careers. We will address these needs by providing high quality STEAM programs at our Club after school and on Saturdays. We will work with local schools to address the math or science courses our students are taking and offer these students the academic support they may not have at home.

The Boys and Girls Club of San Fernando Valley will use 2050 funds to expand on our already successful after-school and weekend programs. We have worked to hire staff, tutors and coaches from the local community who look like our youth. This helps to create remission; the kids will return if they feel there is quality assistance provided. Investing to expand the BGCSFV after-school programs will help to give our children the tools they need to succeed in life. By providing hands-on STEAM projects, our students will develop critical and creative thinking skills. For this grant request, we want to start working with 8th, 9th, and 10th graders this year on a path to college or a vocation. That includes having STEAM courses and having the skills needed to pass them. Our goal is to work with them on a strict timeline and in close partnership with their LAUSD or Charter school, get them not only to graduate but admitted to college or a vocational career. We feel if we can keep these youth in the program 3, 4 or 5 years we can be efficient in helping them continue their education towards a greater future.

The Club's vision is to provide a World-Class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who comes through its doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character & citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. If we can provide our Club students with additional STEAM classes and programs, more will graduate from high school, attend college and enter more successful, well paying careers. This is especially important for our young ladies. Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college. The gender gaps are particularly high in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future, like computer science and engineering. LA County will benefit from ALL our youth expanding their knowledge of STEAM.

This is an existing program. We have been working with youth in the San Fernando Valley for over 50 years and today, we feel our families need us more than ever. Boys and Girls Club of San Fernando Valley program uses data from multiple sources to assess its strengths and weaknesses in order to continuously improve program design, outcomes and impact. Boys and Girls Club of San Fernando Valley program uses data from multiple sources to assess its strengths and weaknesses to continuously improve program design, outcomes, and impact. We will track average daily attendance (ADA) as well as retention (do the youth come back). Our annual evaluation process is divided into two phases: process and outcome. The process phase documents what activities were implemented and who participated in those activities. The outcome evaluation assesses what behavioral changes high-attending members accomplished. We will conduct surveys and a focus group with the youth in the programs.