Growing the Future: STEM Learning for Youth, Families, and Community

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The Parent Engagement Institute recognizes a critical educational equity gap in STEM fields. Pew Research Center, indicates Black, Latino, and women remain underrepresented in these rapidly growing job markets. Furthermore, low father involvement in children's STEM education exacerbates this issue. In LA County, Parent Engagement Institute empowers low-income diverse families. Our STEM program equips parents & kids to collaborate & thrive. Hands-on activities build confidence, preparing them for college and future STEM careers.The Parent Engagement Institute's STEM program empowers families to bridge the gap. We equip parents, including fathers through flexible scheduling, with the knowledge and skills to collaborate with schools and actively support their children's STEM education. Through hands-on activities like 3D printing and robotics, families build confidence and collaboration skills, preparing students for college and thriving in future STEM careers.

The LA2050 grant would likely support the Parent Engagement Institute's existing program that addresses the underrepresentation of minorities in STEM fields. Here's a breakdown of the program's goals:
Target Audience: Low-income, ethnically and culturally diverse families, particularly in Los Angeles County.
Goal: Increase family engagement in their children's STEM education.
Activities: The program will offer engaging after-school sessions designed for parents and children to learn together. These sessions will equip families with the knowledge and skills to actively participate in their children's education and collaborate with schools. Beyond the traditional STEM curriculum, the program will introduce families to cutting-edge technologies through hands-on activities. Parents and children will have the opportunity to work side-by-side, learning how to utilize 3D printers, laser engravers, and the principles of laser design, cutting, and even robot formation. This collaborative approach fosters communication and problem-solving skills within families while preparing them for the ever-evolving world of STEM.
Expected Outcome: Building a diverse and inclusive network where all families, especially those with involved fathers and mothers from low-income backgrounds, can empower their children to reach their full potential in STEM fields and prepare them for college and successful careers

The Parent Engagement Institute has a bold vision: Imagine a Los Angeles County where the STEM workforce reflects its vibrant diversity. This program aims to make this a reality. We break down barriers by specifically encouraging girls and fathers, often underrepresented in STEM, to participate alongside their children.. By empowering parents in low-income families to learn alongside their kids, we create strong family-school partnerships. Parents gain confidence in communicating with teachers and advocating for their children's success in STEM. We equip them not just with basic tech skills, but also with critical thinking and problem-solving abilities fostered through robot design and coding. This empowers families to navigate the tech-driven world and support their children's college and career aspirations in STEM fields. Our program has the potential to ignite a passion for STEM early on, inspiring a generation of diverse problem-solvers and innovators who will shape the future.

Parents in Los Angeles County attending our workshops report a 20% increase in confidence in navigating the college application process. We empower parents to become active partners by teaching them to utilize technology effectively. This includes using school apps to monitor progress and participating in online conferences, leading to a 15% increase in parent-teacher communication. The positive impact will be by Participant surveys: Participating parents will complete a survey at the end of every lesson to monitor their confidence and understanding of the lesson. Attendance: Tracking all aspects of training attendance
Track Student Progress: The student's success will be tracked by encouraging students to reflect on their learning progress through journals, surveys, or exit tickets.
The goal is to showcase the program's effectiveness and provide clear evidence of the positive impact it has on parents, students, and the community.