Stem Alliance Of Larchmont-Mamaroneck Inc

THE STEM ALLIANCE WORKS TO CREATE A NETWORK OF STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT BRING CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER TO USE STEM SKILL AS A MEANS OF SOLVING PROBLEMS AND FOSTERING INNOVATION. WE SEEK TO CONNECT LEARNERS TO STEM SKILLS THAT ARE BOTH URGENTLY NEEDED TO ADDRESS TODAY'S PROBLEMS AND THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER WAGE EARNING AND FEWER PERIODS OF JOBLESSNESS FOR JOB SEEKERS. AS SUCH, STEM SKILLS ARE A LADDER OF OPPORTUNITY HELPING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. WE ARE DEDICATED TO EQUAL ACCESS TO STEM ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES FOR ALL.

CO-OP SUMMER ENRICHMENT: THE STEM ALLIANCE IS HIRED BY THE MAMARONECK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ORGANIZE AND RUN THE CO-OP SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, OUR AREA'S ONLY SUMMER PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN. ESTABLISHED OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO, CO-OP SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES SIX WEEKS OF STEM FOCUSED ACADEMIC AND SUMMER RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR MAMARONECK SCHOOL DISTRICT ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. GENERALLY, CO-OP SERVES 245 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, 48 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 20 LEADERS-IN-TRAINING FROM GRADES 7 TO 8. 90% OF THE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND RECEIVE FREE LUNCH OR REDUCED LUNCH. THE REMAINING 10% OF STUDENTS ARE NOMINATED FOR THE PROGRAM BY A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR BASED UPON SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL OR ACADEMIC NEEDS. THE PROGRAM ALSO EMPLOYS MORE THAN 60 DIVERSE, LOCAL TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS TO PROMOTE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND EMPLOYMENT IN STEM EDUCATION. CO-OP SERVES A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE OVERALL ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF AT-RISK STUDENTS. TYPICALLY, 72% OF CO-OP CAMPERS ARE HISPANIC AND 72% SCORED BELOW GRADE LEVEL ON THE STATE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT TESTS. THIS PROGRAM SERVES AS A SUMMER SLIDE INITIATIVE WHILE ALSO CONNECTING UNDERSERVED CHILDREN TO STEM SKILLS THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO FUTURE EMPLOYABILITY AND HIGHER WAGES. THE RESEARCH ON SUMMER LEARNING IS LARGELY A CONFIRMATION OF WHAT WE INTUITIVELY KNOW: CHILDREN'S EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL ARE CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT TO THEIR SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC GROWTH. HIGH-QUALITY SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES CAN SUPPORT AND IMPROVE A YOUNG PERSON'S SOCIAL, ACADEMIC, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. CONVERSELY, YOUTH WHO LACK ACCESS TO ENRICHING SUMMER EXPERIENCES, SUFFER NOT ONLY SLOWED DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO AN ACTUAL DECLINE IN SKILLS OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE NEGATIVE RESULTS OF THIS PHENOMENON, OFTEN CALLED "SUMMER LEARNING LOSS OR THE SUMMER "BRAIN DRAIN," ARE CUMULATIVE AND, OVER TIME, CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN LOW AND HIGH INCOME STUDENTS. THE DECLINE IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS IS DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS, THOSE LEAST LIKELY TO HAVE ACCESS TO SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. TO COMBAT SUMMER SLIDE AND INCREASE STEM EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE LOCAL CHILDREN, THE STEM ALLIANCE CREATED AN INNOVATIVE SUMMER PROGRAM THAT TEACHES CRITICAL STEM SKILLS WHILE ALSO PROMOTING SUMMER FUN. IN A TYPICAL SUMMER, CO-OP STUDENTS ROTATE THROUGH ONE WEEK PROJECT-BASED LEARNING INQUIRIES IN STEM DISCIPLINES SUCH AS: DISSECTION, FLIGHT, STOP MOTION ANIMATION, DESIGN LAB, TECHNOLOGY AND WATER ENGINEERING. ADDITIONAL STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES INCLUDE ACTIVITY ROOMS WITH THEMES LIKE ENGINEERING AND MATH. FINALLY, STUDENTS TAKE FIELD TRIPS TO LOCATIONS SUCH AS NY HALL OF SCIENCE, HUDSON RIVER MUSEUM, MARITIME AQUARIUM AND OTTER CREEK OR PARTICIPATE IN ON-SITE WORKSHOPS FROM THE WESTCHESTER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND THE MARITIME AQUARIUM. IN SUMMER 2021, THE STEM ALLIANCE MODIFIED THE PROGRAM TO MEET COVID-19 COMPLAINCE THROUGH A POD STRUCTURE AND WE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED INVESTMENT IN PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR STAFFING. THESE PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBERS INCREASED OUR STEM ENIRCHMENT OFFERINGS (DOUBLING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME FOR CAMPERS) AND ALSO ENSURED THAT CHILDREN WERE FOLLOWING COVID-19 SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKING REQUIREMENTS.

DIGITAL EQUITY NOW: DIGITAL EQUITY NOW IS A STEM ALLIANCE INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE A DEVICE, WIFI CONNECTIVITY AND FIFTEEN HOURS OF TECH EDUCATION FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS AND CHILDREN IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY. THE MISSION IS SIMPLE: CREATE EQUAL ACCESS TO DIGITAL COMPETENCIES BECAUSE EQUITY CREATES OPPORTUNITY. THE IMPLEMENTATION IS EVEN SIMPLER: WE PARTNER WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTY TO OFFER ON-SITE INTRODUCTORY TECH EDUCATION COURSES FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS. AFTER COMPLETING THE PROGRAM, THE PARTICIPANT RECEIVES A FREE DEVICE AND AN ACTIVE WIFI HOTSPOT. TECH EDUCATION CURRICULUM IS CUSTOMIZED TO FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF EACH COHORT WITH DIFFERENT TARGET GOALS DEPENDING ON THE GROUP BEING SERVED SUCH AS HEADSTART PARENTS, FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, YOUNG ADULTS, AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. PRE AND POST-SURVEY RESULTS OF 209 CLIENTS TO DATE SHOW:- 93% OF CLIENT NOW FEEL COMFORTABLE OR VERY COMFORTABLE ON A COMPUTER - CLIENTS PLAN TO USE THEIR DEVICES FOR CRITICAL JOB RELATED SKILLS: - 95% TO SEND/RECEIVE E-MAILS - 86% TO FURTHER IMPROVE SKILLS TO GET A JOB - 86% TO RESEARCH NEW INFORMATION ONLINE- ON AVERAGE, OVER 3X AS MANY CLIENTS WERE COMFORTABLE OR VERY COMFORTABLE ON WORKFORCE PLATFORMS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM (DOCS, SHEETS, SLIDES & CALENDAR)- 95% OF CLIENTS DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF PREVIOUS COMPUTER TRAINING THAT THEY HAD AT THE START OF THE PROGRAM (NOTE: 49% OF CLIENTS HAD NO PREVIOUS TRAINING AT ALL AT THE START OF THE PROGRAM) - 55% OF CLIENTS INDICATED THAT THEY WILL USE THEIR NEW TECH SKILLS TO GET A JOB- 74% AGREE THAT THIS ON-RAMP PROGRAM WILL IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE BY HELPING THEM FIND WORK- 100% WOULD RECOMMEND THE CLASS TO A FRIEND

THE STEM ALLIANCE LEADS NUMEROUS OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: - TINKERING NIGHTS AT LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: FAMILY EVENTS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN AND PARENTS ALIKE IN THE PROCESS OF "MAKING AND EXPLORING ALONG A THEME SUCH AS MAGNETS OR ELECTRICITY. - AMC-8 MATH EXAM PREP CLUB A MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUB THAT HELPS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE NATIONAL MATH EXAM- HOUR OF CODE WEEK A WEEK FILLED WITH DOZENS OF ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS AND ADULTS TO LEARN HOW TO CODE INCLUDING CODING ROBOTS.- VARIOUS STEM CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, POP-UP CLASSES AND MINI CAMPS - ALL PROGRAMS SERVED VARIOUS GRADES AND ARE OFTEN ORGANIZED FOR AFFINITY GROUPS SUCH AS ALL GIRLS PROGRAMS OR ALL BLACK PROGRAMS TO CREATE SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR MARGINALIZED OR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS TO EXPLORE STEM LEARNING IN A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.- STEM ALLIANCE SCHOLARSHIP FUND A FUND DEDICATED TO CREATING EQUAL ACCESS TO STEM ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES FOR ALL CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.

ROBOTICS: A MAJOR PRIORITY OF THE STEM ALLIANCE IS TO PROMOTE ROBOTICS EDUCATION WITH THE GOAL OF BUILDING A SERIES OF HANDS-ON ROBOTICS WORKSHOPS, CLASSES AND TEAMS FOR ALL GRADES. ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ROBOTICS (IFR), THE USE OF ROBOTS IN THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE. A KEY DRIVER OF THIS GROWTH IS THE ONGOING TREND TO AUTOMATE PRODUCTION IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN AMERICAN INDUSTRIES ON THE GLOBAL MARKET AND TO KEEP MANUFACTURING AT HOME, AND IN SOME CASES, TO BRING BACK MANUFACTURING THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SENT OVERSEAS. THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM APTLY DESCRIBED THIS MOMENT AS THE BEGINNING OF A FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. DEVELOPMENTS IN PREVIOUSLY DISJOINTED FIELDS SUCH AS ROBOTICS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING, NANOTECHNOLOGY, 3D PRINTING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ARE ALL BUILDING ON AND AMPLIFYING EACH OTHER. OUR WORK IN ROBOTICS EDUCATION SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THIS DEMAND AND THE NEED TO EDUCATE CHILDREN FOR THE JOBS OF TOMORROW. OUR ROBOTICS EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE: LEADING MULTIPLE FIRST LEGO LEAGUE ROBOTICS TEAMS THAT PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL COMPETITIONS STRIVING TO ADVANCE IN THEIR LEAGUES; LEADING REGULAR ALL GIRLS ROBOTICS WORKSHOPS THAT EMPHASIZE BUILDING AND CODING AS WELL AS INTRODUCTIONS TO EXAMPLES OF PROMINENT FEMALE ROBOTICISTS/TECHNOLOGISTS USING THEIR SKILLS TO SERVE OTHERS; HOSTING HOUR OF CODE EVENTS IN SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BILINGUAL WORKSHOPS; BRINGING TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS TO MHS TALKS - AN ANNUAL CAREER PROGRAM AT OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL; HOSTING ROBOTICS CLUBS TO CREATE INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN BASIC ROBOTIC SKILLS AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN ROBOTICS TEAMS IN THE FUTURE; OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TECHNOLOGY, CODING AND ROBOTICS CLASSES FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS; INTRODUCING ROBOTICS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE INCLUDING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN TO 2ND GRADE.