NEW ORLEANS – In partnership with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) Sanchez Multi-Purpose Center, STEM NOLA will launch the STEM 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) in the Lower Ninth Ward. STEM NOLA was awarded a $270,000 grant over 18 months from the Louisiana Department of Education to provide more than 120 children across the city the opportunity to participate in the afterschool 21st CCLC. The Lower Ninth Ward was severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina, which is considered the largest engineering and natural disaster in the history of the U.S.
“Providing STEM to the Lower Ninth Ward community is critical to the long-term sustainability of this City,” said Dr. Calvin Mackie, founder of STEM NOLA. “We are excited to offer students across New Orleans the opportunity to participate in a STEM afterschool program. By exposing our children to STEM at an early age, we are providing them with the foundation for more opportunities to succeed academically and the ability to compete for engineering and other STEM-based careers in the future.”
Available for students in grades third through eighth, the afterschool program is designed to extend the learning experiences of the school day through academic tutorship and engagement of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities. The program is open to children across the city.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 3, 2016, the STEM NOLA 21st CCLC After School Program will operate Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Activities will be held at MLK. Jr., Elementary School and at the NORDC Sanchez Multi-Purpose Center.
The application deadline is Monday, Sept 26 at 5 p.m. and must be completed online at stemnola.com/afterschool.html.
For more information contact Shantell Bolden at (504) 621-5276 or sbolden@stemnola.com.
The mission of STEM NOLA is to grow future innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs through inspiration, engagement, and exposure. The core goals of STEM NOLA include: (1) To help youth develop an interest in STEM and STEM Based activities; (2) To develop the capacities of youth to engage in STEM-BASED activities for learning and recreation; (3) To inspire youth to value the opportunities and possibilities of STEM-Based careers; and (4) To help youth develop the necessary, and transferable 21st Century skills of communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and community.
For over 25 years, Dr. Mackie has presented to school districts, educators, universities, and corporations across the U.S. He is an award-winning mentor, internationally renowned motivational speaker, former engineering professor and a successful entrepreneur. In addition to his work with STEM NOLA, Dr. Mackie is co-founder and Managing Partner for Channel Zero Group, an educational and motivational consulting company. Through his travels and online mentoring presence, Dr. Mackie reaches millions of students and professionals annually. Since its start in December 2013, STEM NOLA has engaged more than 7,000 K-12 students from over 360 schools in STEM hands-on activities.
