Lena Park CDC Provides Access to 21st Century Technology and STEAM Educational Experiences
Providing affordable housing, clinical and social services, STEAM focused youth programs, college and career prep programs, and technological skill building experiences, Lena Park CDC supports its residents’ physical, financial, and mental well-being while expanding their access to 21st century technology and STEAM education.
“The mission is to serve the community and provide affordable housing,” says Andrea Kaiser, Executive Director of Lena Park CDC. “When we reopened, we voted to make STEAM learning and workforce opportunities a priority. By enhancing 21st century skills we are helping expose people to new educational and career choices.”
300 GE Employees Dive Into Boston’s Afterschool Programs and Nonprofits
Collaboration is the key to success. On January 18th, 300 General Electric employees saw this mantra come alive across Boston‘s rich landscape of afterschool partners. The GE Foundation, its philanthropic arm, strives to transform communities and shape the workforce of tomorrow. In order to achieve this goal, GE advances STEM and college readiness opportunities for young people.
In total, the 300 volunteers participated in six different hands-on activities, ranging from conducting mock-interviews with 8th grade students preparing for high school to advising on the implementation of citywide college readiness badges.
Resource Spotlight: Assessing Science Practices
Written by Pam Pelletier, Director of K-12 Science & Technology/Engineering at BostonPublic Schools, in collaboration with Katherine L. McNeill and Rebecca Katsh-Singer, this article discusses assessment strategies to help STEMeducators gauge students’ abilities to engage with the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices.
The article offers a simple Science Practices Continuum Assessment tool to aid in informal, embedded assessment, and potential instructional activities to support two practices, engaging in argument from evidence and constructing explanations.
Click here to read the article
Partner Events and Announcements
Funding Opportunity: New York Life Foundation Aim High Grants
The New York Life Foundation, in partnership with the Afterschool Alliance, is awarding 18 grants up to $100,000 to after school and summer programs serving middle school students. Click here for more info
Boston and Metro North STEM Network Meeting February 8th
Attendees will learn about progress being made in each of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council’s priority areas, discuss local inventories of programs and partnerships, and participate in small group discussions. Click here for more info
Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center Job Opening
Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is currently seeking a full time Green Ambassadors Program Manager. Click here to view the application
CitySprouts Seeking Summer Fellows
CitySprouts is currently seeking college students to serve as Summer Fellows. Click here for more info
CitySprouts Seeking Volunteers
CitySprouts is currently seeking volunteers to help plan their annual fundraising event, DigIt! They are offering a variety of ways to get involved. Contact Andrea Locke at alocke@citysprouts.org for more information.
MathPOWER Job Opening
MathPOWER is currently seeking a Math*STARS Site Director to manage its afterschool program at the Curley School in Jamaica Plain. Click here for more info