STEM Nonprofits

A few weeks ago,  Marissa Zych, a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology, reached out to me about posting/sharing about nonprofits that help promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) initiatives for younger students. I know so many school districts are promoting STEM or STEAM courses for their students and we all know we have to prepare students for life after graduation and STEM activities do just that! Below is what Marissa sent me: 

Nonprofits have the opportunity to see a problem and analyze it, come up with a creative solution, and expand upon what educators are teaching. Utilizing the base that the education system constructs, nonprofits allow for continued education and provide advancements within specific fields. It certainly isn’t easy to create a successful nonprofit. It takes heart, great support, and engaged stakeholders, but there are some non-profits out there that are doing a great job....Check out the ones below! 

Girls Do Hack
It’s important to make sure young people are getting proper education, even extending outside of the classroom. With the help from sponsors like Misha Malyshev, a program called Girls Do Hack became possible. This program has mentors that work in science, technology engineering, and math fields. These mentors are there to inspire young women to potentially follow in their footsteps. This is an extremely important program that may help bridge the ratio gap of men and women in these fields.  
For more information: http://girlsdohack.adlerplanetarium.org/ 

Code.org
Code.org is a relatively new nonprofit that is dedicated to explanding participation in computer sciences. Founded in 2013 by brothers Ali and Hadi Partovi, this initiative targets women and underrepresented students of color to learn software development. This nonprofit designs it’s own courses, trains teachers, partners with large school districts, helps change government policies to expand the reach and education of computer sciences. 
For more information: https://code.org

Synapse Project
The Synapse Project, founded in 2011 by a then-15 year old Grace Greenwald, holds the goal to  make everything related to neuroscience available to girls of all ages. This initiative’s goal is to get young women talking about the brain in the sense of medicine, psychology, technology, education, and child development. This nonprofit also connects these young women with professors, doctors, and scientists to further the conversation and ignite interest in these fields. 
For more information: http://the-synapse-project.org


If you're like me and STEM/STEAM hasn't quite reached your entire district yet, check out these resources for getting started or for more info: 
http://growingastemclassroom.blogspot.com/p/freebies.html

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Engineering-Starter-Kit-for-Teachers-elementary-level-977781