The Aviation Education 4 Kids Workshop

K-12 STEAM education

San Gabriel Valley

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

In underserved communities across Los Angeles County, too many students lack access to inspiring, hands-on STEM education. Without exposure to real world opportunities, many begin to disengage from school, fall behind, and lose sight of their potential. This disconnect makes youth more vulnerable to negative influences, including gangs and street violence that offer false a sense of belonging. The traditional classroom often fails to spark curiosity or show kids how science and hard work can lead to real careers. For students facing poverty, instability, or underfunded schools, this lack of connection can be the turning point. At Youth Inspiration Nation, we believe these kids aren’t lacking intelligence, they’re lacking opportunity. By connecting them to aviation, mentors, we give them something more powerful than just knowledge, we give them a reason to believe in themselves and a reason to stay on a positive path. ✈

This grant will support Youth Inspiration Nation’s free, 7 week Aviation Education 4 Kids program for underserved 5th–8th grade students, typically ages 9–14, across the San Gabriel Valley. Designed to make STEM exciting, accessible, and life changing, the program blends hands-on science lessons with aviation experiences that connect learning to real careers. Each session includes instruction in aerodynamics, flight simulator based flight training, and exposure to aviation professionals. Students train on both static and full motion flight simulators, take a class trip to iFly Indoor Skydiving to experience the forces of flight, and in their final week, fly a real airplane with a certified flight instructor, earning their very first documented flight time. ✈
The program doesn’t just teach science, it gives students purpose and direction. It helps them stay in school, avoid gangs and stupid stuff, and believe in their future. But despite its impact, our program is at risk. We've sustained it through personal financial sacrifice and the tireless work of a small, mostly unpaid team. Rising costs and limited funding now threaten our ability to keep our doors open. This grant is not just about expansion, it’s about survival. It will help fund simulator maintenance, outreach, rent, and critical support for our three person staff, whose dedication keeps this program running. With LA2050’s support, we can stabilize, grow, and reach more youth with a message of hope and possibility. ✈

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will be home to a new generation of confident, curious, and career bound youth who see themselves as future pilots, engineers, and innovators. Students who once felt left behind will be re-engaged through aviation education that’s immersive, inspiring, and free. Gang involvement will decrease as kids find purpose and belonging in a safe, supportive environment. In the long term, we aim to scale our model to reach more Title I schools, launch satellite programs in neighboring cities, and train former students to become mentors and instructors. Our vision is a county where every child, regardless of background has access to hands-on STEM learning, exposure to high paying careers, and a clear path to graduation. We launched this program in Los Angeles (County), City of Angels, a place where flight is more than a metaphor. Here, we give wings to dreams. With your support, those dreams will soar across Los Angeles and beyond. ✈