LEARNSTEM Education Program - building great futures
BGCC’s STEM Education Program raises Math and Science proficiencies, applies learning to everyday situations, increases STEM interest, and prepares youth to compete in a workforce that is increasingly reliant on science and technology. An inquiry based program that facilitates learning by guiding kids with questions as they try to find a solution to the issue or experiment at hand, instead of teaching what to do and how to do it. Hands-on STEM projects teach kids to evolve and improve on their capacities to match the changing world around them.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
K-12 STEAM Education
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
South LA
South Bay
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Expand existing project, program, or initiative
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
The majority of Club youth identify as Black and Brown (85%) and come from low-income families (87%). Systemic barriers lower their access and opportunities to college and careers. The American Association of University Women states: “Girls and women are systematically tracked away from science and math throughout their education, limiting their training and options to go into these fields as adults.” According to the 2019 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up only 15.7% of engineers & architects and 25.8% of computer & mathematical professionals. Black women are ten times less likely than their white counterparts to pursue scientific doctorates (National Science Foundation, 2015). The STEM Education Program reduces barriers and specifically addresses the underrepresentation of people of color and women in STEM. It develops smart, capable, and driven individuals who take their rightful place in the world of STEM, building and strengthening Los Angeles’ future workforce.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
The STEM Education Program offers the following opportunities to youth ages 6 through 12th grade. - Middle School STEM explores a different facet of STEM via hands-on learning and culminates with a STEM Day competition. - Through STEM Discovery kids utilize hands-on explorative activities to learn the fundamentals of scientific theory. - VEX IQ is a team-building robotics program where kids code, design and operate their own robots. - DIY STEM, a Boys & Girls Clubs of America program, offers hands-on, activity-based activities that connect youth to science themes they encounter regularly. - STEM Day celebrates what kids learned and connects them with leaders in STEM fields, for a day of activities, mentorship, and presentations. - STEM Robotics Camp provides coding programs for students grades 3 - 5 for two weeks for 3 hours each day during the summer. Youth learn to program robots to perform a variety of tasks and participate in a culmination competition. - Our corporate STEM partners provide volunteer mentors that guide kids and expose them to STEM careers. - College & Career Case Managers connect with youth to support social emotional wellness, academic success, and STEM career exploration.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
The STEM Programs short term goals are: 500 elementary and middle school youth will participate in STEM 100 teens will participate in College & Career Case Management 75% of elementary and middle school participants will report an increase in interest and/or knowledge of STEM related concepts 75% of participants will report an increase in interest and/or knowledge of STEM majors and careers 75% of case managed teens with a D or F in Science and/or Math will improve by a minimum of one grade Our vision is that 100% of youth who participate in programs at least 3 times a week will graduate on time, live healthy, and give back to their community. Our long-term goal is to break barriers to STEM college and career pathways for youth, particularly youth of color, low-income youth and girls. A strong STEM foundation prepares and equips youth for success in college and a competitive workforce, building Los Angeles’ future pool of qualified scientists, engineers, and technicians.
What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?
The STEM Education Program is improving academics and increasing interest in STEM. -100% of case managed seniors (142 total) graduated high school on-time -97% of graduating seniors are going on to college, 2% will enter the workforce, and 1% will join the military -72% of case managed middle school youth with a D or F in Mathematics or English Language Arts raised their grade by at least one letter grade The Program is increasing STEM interest. Ke’arron, a student from Rancho Dominguez Prep, has been in the program for 3 years. As an 8th grader, he has a passion for fixing broken technology. At first he was not the biggest fan of STEM. Then one day the STEM activity was to construct catapults using popsicle sticks, bottle caps and rubber bands. Ke’arron constructed three different catapults and tested each one to see which worked best. Since then he’s had a more open mind to STEM and his opinion on science. Ke’arron has even signed up to be a part of our science fair, STEM Day!
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 1,000
Indirect Impact: 10,000