KAOS Kids: Intergenerational Innovation Workshops

K-12 STEAM education

South LA Other (below)

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

KAOS Kids, an essential part of KAOS Network, addresses educational inequities with its A-STEAM model, using creativity to bridge gaps. Grounded in KAOS Network's foundational philosophy, the project was launched amid the pandemic. Our intergenerational approach emphasizes health and wellness, fostering adaptive learning environments in South LA, including Leimert Park and Inglewood. With expertise in tech and arts, our volunteer-driven model operates independently of funding, responding swiftly to community needs. Local data reveals median incomes of $30,000 to $45,000, with 20%-30% below the poverty line, and significant educational disparities. Amid these challenges, KAOS Kids promotes innovation and holistic wellness, offering creative, responsive education rooted in resilience and community strength.

KAOS Kids provides A-STEAM workshops, redefining access to science, technology, engineering, and math through art. Participants, from community members to aspiring artists, engage in five-week courses or opt for walk-in sessions in robotics, chess, gardening, augmented and virtual reality, and creative pop-up activations. Our tiered system supports growth from students to teaching assistants, co-teachers, and independent teachers, who are empowered to develop their own workshops. The CMO zero-emissions shuttle contract with the city exemplifies our commitment to sustainability, inviting community input on clean mobility systems. Under Ben Caldwell's guidance, KAOS Network bridges community spaces and elite academic environments, fostering an open-source educational ecosystem with programs free of charge. Our partners include the LA Public Library and its Octavia Lab, and collaborations with diverse artistic and scientific institutions. We're also developing partnerships with the Octavia E. Butler STEAM Middle School in Pasadena. Saturday sessions and monthly art walks offer a platform for innovation with a 50-50 revenue split, nurturing vibrant learning and discovery communities.

KAOS Kids aims to empower learners of all ages across Los Angeles by evolving participants into teaching artists and professionals through our A-STEAM pathways. With this grant, we will enhance our training structure, facilitating tiered roles from students to teaching assistants, co-teachers, and instructors—foundational for expanding KAOS Kids. In the short term, our focus is on establishing this tier structure and activating the Altadena site to support wildfire recovery and community resilience.
Long-term, we foresee integrating our framework into schools and communities, solidifying KAOS Network as a pillar of transformation. Our history, from pioneering Olympic teleconferencing in 1984 to multi-site arts hubs in 1995, highlights our ability to lead in technology and creativity while maintaining grassroots engagement for broad impact.