2022 STEM Action Grantees

3D Girls, Inc. envisions a future where the next generation of young women are self-sufficient leaders who are fully empowered to advocate for themselves and their families through quality mentoring; prenatal and parental education; and social and emotional wellness support. Last year, the organization received a STEM Action Grant to support their Girls Link Up Mentoring Program, dedicated to supporting young girls of color in their pursuit of STEAM education and career pathways. This year, $4,000 in funding will go toward monthly program kits, supplies, lesson plans and STEM materials to engage girls in weekly mentoring sessions during the 2022-2023 school year.

Accessible Prosthetics Initiative, a program based out of the University of Maryland, will receive $5,000 for device development for amputees, education, networking and other efforts that together aim to increase the accessibility of prosthetic devices in underserved communities. The initiative plans to use these funds for education and production projects Including fun STEM experiences for local students, the purchase of a 3D printer and the prototyping of their first original design: a myoelectric prosthetic arm.

ANGARI Foundation uses technology, film and other media to raise awareness and strengthen science education through many research and community initiatives. They will use their $4,000 STEM Action Grant to support the inclusion of a local Title I middle school in their Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks Expeditions program, which immerses teachers and students in hands-on marine science at no cost to any participant. The students will work closely with shark scientists from a local university to fish, tag and collect data for shark research and conservation. Aligned with the Foundation’s larger goal of fostering connection between scientists and the public to create a global investment in marine and environmental sciences, the program will include classroom visits during the 2022-2023 school year as well as a full-day offshore expedition.

Art Technically provides STEAM education to disadvantaged K-12 students across Tennessee. With multiple projects spanning creative coding and astrobotany workshops to robust STEM and arts advocacy initiatives, Art Technically intends to put $4,000 in funding toward their Hello World student science journalism program. Memphis-area college students will receive scholarships for their work as science journalism mentors to middle and high school students, which involves leading student pitch sessions, article writing guidance and submission for publication. Participating students will have the opportunity to publish their work in the Art Technically blog, Hello World, and their school papers with editing support.

Austin Youth River Watch creates a safe place for Austin-area teenagers to grow and gain confidence while experiencing hands-on science and learning to be active stewards of our planet. Their students, known as “River Watchers,” take part in the collection and analysis of water quality data, participate in environmental restoration projects and go on accessible and inclusive outdoor adventures. The $4,000 grant will assist with operating costs, including stipends for participants, transportation and nutrition needs, to support equitable access to and better representation in the outdoors.

Be Loud Studios amplifies kid confidence through radio and digital media production, encouraging them to not only be consumers and listeners, but also creators. Based in New Orleans, Be Loud offers students the chance to write, record and mix their own radio segments, with most scripts focused on personal identity and exploration. A second-year grantee, last year’s funding supported Be Loud on the Road, an eight-episode series that featured students investigating and reporting on issues in their local communities. In 2022, $5,000 will support Be Loud Live, a Saturday morning learning experience that helps the program’s young DJs draw inspiration from the city’s beautiful and complicated culture to produce content that comes from a stronger place of doing, knowing, seeing and making.

Black Girls Do Engineer will receive $1,000 toward their goal of getting two million Black American girls to pursue STEM careers by the year 2050. In the low-socioeconomic Houston Metro area, Black Girls Do Engineer provides a supportive environment where young women ages 6 to 21 can expand their intellectual and academic confidence through hands-on programming in subjects ranging from artificial intelligence to sustainable energy. A two-time STEM Action Grantee, this year, the organization plans to bring the girls on an excursion to the local Botanical Gardens during one of their Life Science sessions, exposing them to a variety of ecosystems in the region and teaching them about the conservation of plants and the natural environment.

The Blue Marble Space Institute of Science in Seattle will use $4,000 to expand participation of tribal students in fields such as rocketry, robotics and high-altitude balloon science to inspire them to pursue careers in STEM. The funding will go towards equipment, travel and Native American Elder and Knowledge Holder honorariums as part of their efforts to reestablish educational relationships with tribes in the Pacific Northwest. Conducted with funding from the 2021 STEM Action Grant, these initiatives will continue to reach new tribes in 2022, bolstering the Institute’s overall commitment to science research, STEM education and global collaborations that diversify our understanding of what it means to be human.

C Cubed Training seeks to bring the world of computing and cybersecurity to students and adults in the southeastern Colorado community, where the population is one-thirds Hispanic, a quarter live in poverty and less than 75% have access to high-speed internet. Historically a mining town, C Cubed’s goal is to help this rural area reinvent itself through technology and STEM education, furthering its potential to succeed in today’s modern world. The organization offers a variety of classes to the public free of charge where participants can become capable citizens of the digital world, exploring everything from cybersecurity basics to computer repair and graphic arts. A $3,000 grant will be used to purchase equipment and cover the costs of certification fees for students in need.

Calculated Genius Inc. introduces youth ages 14-18 to sustainable and rewarding careers pathways in STEM. By connecting underrepresented youth to engineering at this stage, the organization is ensuring students can prosper in the field in college and beyond. The Chicago-based group provides mentorship, STEM+ programming for high school students and scholarships for women pursuing post-secondary degrees in engineering or computer science. A $5,000 STEM Action Grant will support their 2022 Summer Scholars program, which introduces students to real-life applications of technology, engineering and entrepreneurship to encourage their continued pursuit of STEM majors.

With a service area that spans over 26 million acres, about 25% of the state, California Desert Land Conservancy, also known as Mojave Desert Land Trust, aims to empower the next generation of conservationists and advocates to preserve and protect the unique landscapes of California’s deserts. Last year’s grant funded the Desert Discovery Field Studies program, which provides school-age children with classroom activities and outdoor field explorations that enrich their understanding of the environment and local desert ecology, all while supporting diversity and inclusion in conservation education. The 2022 grant of $2,500 will meet staffing and supply needs, instilling additional students and teachers with the knowledge and experience needed to be good stewards of desert ecosystems.

CodeVA partners with schools, parents and communities to bring computer science education opportunities to all Virginia students. In 2022, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RHA) asked CodeVA to expand its Eureka Workshop programming to new STEM classrooms in three of the local public housing communities, home to some of the city’s most under-resourced students. Building on work done last year, this year’s $4,000 STEM Action Grant will support expenses required to create free and equitable access to computer science and STEM programming for elementary and middle school students in RHA housing.

Columbia College Girls Who Game invites middle and high school girls with a passion for gaming to engage in cooperative and competitive play while learning about career opportunities in STEM and the gaming industry. In Missouri, where the program is based, only 50% of high schools offer computer science courses. In science and math, girls are falling behind their male counterparts. A $3,500 STEM Action Grant will help combat this gender inequity by providing camper scholarships, hiring additional staff and ensuring continued growth of the program. Ultimately, the organization hopes to build diverse gender representation in competitive eSports and careers in game design and development in the future.

Culturally Relevant Science is an innovative online platform where underrepresented students can see themselves in STEM. Their free resources include everything from lesson plans with affordable labs that can be obtained from local grocery stores to videos in which Black and Brown students conduct experiments while pride flags wave in the background of virtual classrooms. Other than curriculum development, the program also offers professional development for teachers and field trip sponsorship for students in Georgia, the program’s home state. A $4,000 grant will contribute to all three of the program’s major services, encouraging inclusive engagement in STEM for all.

Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA) works with recent survivors of war and genocide and offers opportunities to help refugee youth to grow academically. In 2021, a STEM Action Grant serviced a new weekly robotics program, where refugee students had the opportunity to build drones, weather stations, smart lamps and more. The 2022 grant of $4,000 will serve students in grades 6–12 as they hone their problem-solving, collaboration and STEM skills through robotic explorations. Founded in Chicago in response to the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya ethnic minority in Myanmar and their resettlement in the United States, FORA is an educational empowerment center that helps refugee students and their families gain the foundational skills they need to thrive in their new homeland.

Full STEAM Forward, Inc. (FSF) seeks to promote equity in science education by engaging young girls from under-resourced minority populations in STEAM-based programs designed to develop a sustained passion for the sciences. The 2021 STEM Action Grant from the Society for Science was the first independent grant received by FSF in their first full year of operation, and over the course of the grant period the organization was able to create a fully integrated two-year program, hire new staff and launch a new website. This year, $4,000 will go toward teacher salaries and project materials, as FSF continues to deliver impactful, in-demand programming for the students who need it most.

Girls Dream Code was founded in 2020 in Minnesota to provide free tech workshops, events and resources that empower young minority and low-income girls to pursue an interest in technology and help decrease the field’s gender and diversity gaps. The organization’s youth development program Code Your Path is a fun and hands-on way for girls to learn coding and software development through collaborative work on a web app project. A $4,000 grant will assist with food and supply costs, enabling the organization to focus on building partnerships with local schools and community centers; the grant is also partially allocated to provide scholarships that will impact even more girls of color as they seek higher education in STEM.

Junior Medical Academy (JMA) is an international nonprofit that works with vulnerable populations to ensure their access to a quality education. Grounded in the knowledge that educational mentorship is one of the largest factors in helping keep students out of jail and poverty and decreasing their risk of abuse, JMA pairs volunteer student mentors with those in need of academic guidance, in addition to other programs that provide medical curricula, educational materials and Wi-Fi access to those without. With offerings that have touched 20+ states, 100+ cities and 25+ countries across five continents, a $5,000 grant will enable the program to reach an additional 1,000 disadvantaged students in the United States.

Latinas in STEM seeks to inspire and empower underserved Latina students to pursue STEM careers and to give parents the tools they need to support their daughters in the process. The Latinas in STEM 101 Conference is a free, one-day event open to 300 students and their parents that supports this goal through workshops, a college and career expo, informational sessions and more. The conference was previously supported by a STEM Action Grant in 2019, and this year will receive $2,500 to put toward its technology and materials expenses.

Lincoln Hills Cares (LHC) develops the next generation of leaders by offering young people from the Denver community the chance to experience and explore the natural wonders that are just outside their doors, but which are often unattainable due to socioeconomic barriers like transportation access and financial constraints. Upcoming expansions to this pathway include the promotion of an E-STEM curriculum that allows students to practice environmental protection and sustainability activities in the Rocky Mountains. This year, LHC will receive $3,000 in funding toward their very first summer professional development opportunity for teachers.

MakerGirl has educated over 5,000 girls ages 7–22 through their multi-level 3D printing and computer-aided design workshops, with a focus that allows their students to be both analytical and creative. A $4,000 grant will kickstart their Project Engineers program, where sixth to ninth-grade girls will build upon skills learned in previous levels as they advance from student participants to change makers. These funds will provide scholarships to 50 students, allowing them to access this educational opportunity at no cost. This is vital to the organization’s mission of making STEM education accessible to all.

National Youth Science Foundation (NYSF) will receive $3,000 toward its summer 2022 STEM Academy program. With six different week-long day camps at four locations across the state of West Virginia, NYSF will offer food, transportation and lessons across topics as diverse as microbiology, cybersecurity and conservation to middle school students, inspiring lifelong engagement and ethical leadership in STEM through the program’s proven educational model. By building community among students, teachers and professionals, NYSF programs complement and enhance traditional school curricula, leading to careers in STEM and related professions.

Northwest Ecological Research Institute (NERI) seeks to further knowledge of the Pacific Northwest’s natural history through research, training and outreach. Since the organization’s founding in 1985, NERI associates have led a variety of conservation and educational projects including species surveys, nest box installations, habitat restorations and more. Their 2021 STEM Action Grant supported paid internships for young women of color who would have been unable to participate were the opportunity not funded; this was something the organization had sought to do for many years. A 2022 grant of $5,000 will continue to provide female indigenous students with a diversity of field biology experiences and the encouragement to pursue a career in the biological sciences, with the goal of building inclusive exchanges of information that center on the indigenous experience.

‘Ohana Kilo Hōkū is a Native Hawaiian organization that seeks to expand and support opportunities for the study of astronomy and space science in the state of Hawai’i and beyond. Last year, the organization hosted a STEM Action Grant-funded workshop for mentors and educators to discuss the kinds of curricula they believed would get students excited about space science. Based on that workshop, the organization is implementing those ideas and developing resources, such as flash card videos of space terms read in both Hawaiian and English and astronomy-based video games to fulfill their mission. This year, a $4,000 grant will support the ‘Ohana Stargazing program, which brings public stargazing events to predominantly Native Hawaiian communities with the purpose of developing relationships that will enable them to host their own stargazing events.

An Open Book Foundation connects Washington, D.C.-area students with authors, illustrators and their books to build equitable access to a lifelong love of reading. A $4,000 STEM Action Grant will bolster the foundation’s STEM Residence Program, which unites students and teachers to visiting authors through hands-on experiments and activities directly related to the themes of their STEM-focused books. At the conclusion of the residency, copies of books and any materials used are given to all program participants, empowering these students to continue their scientific exploration and grow a personal library at home. The program has seen student interest and engagement with science grow as a result of one-on-one conversations with authors who have expertise in a variety of STEM fields.

OpenWise Foundation’s (OWL) vision is “a world where every child can develop their potential in science, technology, engineering, and math.” A 2021 STEM Action Grant allowed them to hire part-time summer program staff, easing the burden on their all-volunteer team and allowing the organization to reach even more students. In 2022, OWL will receive $5,000 of additional funding to pay summer associates and double the size of their classes. Working predominantly with Black and Brown youth (ages 11 to 14) in southeast and northeast D.C., OWL envisions a world where every child can develop their potential in STEM, embedding their long-term educational curriculum with social and ecological justice as well as opportunities for youth service and leadership.

Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research (PSBR) offers a wide variety of educational programs to promote a better understanding of biomedical research and its contributions to human and animal health. Since 1990, they have reached more than 45,000 students, 2,800 teachers and 16,000 members of the public. PSBR will receive $4,000 toward the expansion of their program, SPARC (Science Program and Research Coach), at Esperanza Academy Charter School in Philadelphia, which will provide around 30 underserved middle school students with intensive, hands-on biomedical science programming designed to inspire young scholars to pursue science-related education and careers.

Pink Space Theory seeks to close the gender and race gaps in STEM fields by exposing underrepresented girls and youth to STEM learning experiences, preparing them to pursue their future passions and careers. STEM Action Grant funding in 2021 went toward critical operational expenses for many of the offerings under the Prince William County-based organization’s signature Girl Power program series, which includes the G.R.E.A.T. Math Minds six-month tutoring, mentorship and enrichment program, and the coding and computer science program Make Tech Pink. Pink Space Theory will receive $4,000 for these expenses in 2022, supporting the hiring of an additional instructor and other administrative fees and functions.

Resources Inspiring Success and Empowering (RISE) serves current and former unhoused youth in Texas by bridging the gap between the transitioning young adult and their community through housing, mentorship, outreach and education. RISE will receive $3,500 to cover the costs associated with providing STEM experiences to girls in foster care, including supplies and camp counselor stipends for the {HER} Code Summer STEM Experience. This year will see the program expand its curriculum to include supportive behavioral activities such as counseling, trauma-informed yoga and art therapy.

Rosie Riveters provides pre- to middle-school girls from diverse backgrounds with interactive in-person and virtual programs that encourage imagination, critical thinking and confidence, all with the goal of closing the gender gap in STEM. A multi-year grantee, funding from the last two years focused on the development of free digital content (created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to approximate the organization’s in-person STEM programming) and the creation of an online interface to host that content. A new initiative, Rosie Labs, will further expand upon these endeavors, with $5,000 in funding enabling elementary school teachers to facilitate this online curriculum in their classrooms without needing to develop curricula or procure supplies.

Saginaw S.T.E.M. is committed to fostering interest and involvement in the world of STEM for underserved communities in Central Michigan. The organization will receive $4,000 for their STEM Saturdays program, in which venues are transformed into laboratories where children participate in hands-on science activities supervised by local volunteers. Event topics vary widely to give students and their families a holistic understanding of the many options available to future scientists. Last year, over 2,000 community members took part in events that explored the physics of sound, the heart and circulatory system, all helping to expose thousands of Michigan children to potential STEM careers to meet the growing national demand.

Through their work, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is creating a knowledgeable and diverse next generation of climate stewards and leaders. As the leading voice for clean water and continued public investment in the Boston Harbor region, they are addressing issues of environmental justice, pollution and water quality on metropolitan beaches and identifying solutions to these challenges. A $4,000 grant will help expand the organization’s environmental education curriculum and the programs that already bring thousands of young people and community groups to the area’s public waterfront spaces each year. Save the Harbor is committed to making Boston Harbor, the Islands and area beaches more inclusive, equitable and accessible for everyone to enjoy, knowing that racism and oppressive systems have prevented that from becoming a reality.

See3D, Inc. organizes the international printing, design and distribution of 3D printed models and other STEM content for those who are blind, visually impaired or have low vision. The organization will receive $5,000 to create model kits that allow blind students and adults to explore the life cycle of butterflies, with accompanying learning guides in braille. See3D’s mission is to provide innovative programming that empowers blind students of all ages to see themselves in STEM fields. To date, the group has distributed models to learners in 27 states, 17 countries and 26 organizations.

TEACH brings exciting, hands-on educational programming to youth in hospitals, providing an outlet for children of all ages to passionately engage with the sciences through fun, interactive experiments. A previous STEM Action Grant contributed to their online platform, which at one point enabled the organization to expand to new hospitals in six states over a two-month period. With $4,000 in funding, TEACH aims to continue this expansion, aiming to engage 1,500 additional children across the country in 2023. 

Tech Kids Unlimited (TKU) is on a mission to empower neurodiverse students to build computer science and technology skills. A 2021 grant saw these students partner with clients on digital products, developing work-based competencies and self-advocacy skills as part of TKU’s Digital Agency program. The Digital Agency will again receive a $5,000 grant in support of their efforts to combat cross-socioeconomic disenfranchisement by addressing gaps in access to careers in technology and provide students with autism and other challenges with a supportive, individualized environment in which to learn and create.

The GEMS Camp (Girls interested in Engineering, Math and Science) will receive $4,000 to conduct STEM summer camps for middle school girls of color and low-income families from four Texas cities. Using a holistic approach to STEM education, The GEMS Camp emphasizes building confidence in five core areas they call 5 Karat Gems: Academics, Career, Creativity, Leadership and Service. Supported by STEM Action Grant funding, the GEMS Camp plans to acquire mini-hydroponic kits to teach girls about food justice in their communities. Two additional locations will also expand the program’s reach to more Texas girls in STEM.

Treasure Coast Girls Coalition Inc. (TCGC) is reengineering the way STEM is taught in Indian River County, Florida. They are expanding access, fostering a sense of belonging and building resilience in marginalized girls from ages 9-18 through enhanced curricula, digital technology and emotional intelligence training. A key component of TCGC is their belief in taking a proactive and collaborative approach to mitigate students’ trauma and toxic stress, such as that caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, through safety, structure and emotional support. A $5,000 grant will help the program scale student educational opportunities, from participation in summer camps to student retreats, emotional support and advocacy.

Two Brothers Farms focuses on instilling lifelong principles in Mississippi youth through programs that build a healthy mind, body and spirit. By opening engaging pathways for low-income, underrepresented communities to STEM, the organization hopes to attract more girls, youth from minority backgrounds and veteran farmers to STEM careers later in life. Their STEM on the Farm program takes an innovative approach to engaging students from diverse backgrounds in STEM concepts by blending farming with meaningful learning opportunities. With a $4,000 grant, the program will purchase supplies, including office desks for its staff, a library of farming resources for program participants, and seed and garden equipment for a project where youth will learn agricultural skills to help them provide healthy, locally grown and often inaccessible food to their families.

Venture Outdoors will receive a grant of $5,000 toward their Outdoor Learning Lab program, which connects youth from low-income neighborhoods to outdoor experiences and environmental education. The program has connected over 250 Pittsburgh youth annually to through activities such as hiking, kayaking, fishing, biking and environmental education. Previous STEM Action Grants have enabled the organization to infuse more STEM into its programming and to expand its partnerships with local groups, building long-term learning relationships and a community of environmental stewards. During the 2022-2023 school year, students will participate in special off-site field trips as well as in- and after-school lessons designed to be accessible to nearby green spaces, demonstrating that the benefits of being outside can be enjoyed anywhere, even in the middle of the city. 

Women’s Audio Mission (WAM), a two-time recipient of the STEM Action Grant, has used music and media to attract over 4,000 under resourced women, girls and gender-diverse individuals a year to creative STEM studies, careers and hands-on skills training. Offering both in-person and online instruction, their award-winning Girls on the Mic program provides on-demand education modules, helping support thousands of underserved female and gender-diverse students in becoming the leaders and innovators needed to create systemic change in technology industries. With a $5,000 grant, WAM will further expand their programming to reach Title I, low-income serving schools in Northern California and develop their online STEM training resources to continue to reach youth across the country.

Youth Code Jam (YCJ) brings playful, creative energy to computer science and creates targeted opportunities for those systemically left out of technology education. Their community outreach events, enrichment camps and clubs are hugely varied and tailored to meet the needs of those least represented and face the greatest barriers to access in tech. The group is working to ensure that every child gets a fair chance to be computer literate. A multi-year grant recipient, YCJ used funding in 2021 to add closed captioning and ASL interpreters to their materials. In 2022, a $4,000 grant will help pilot a program in collaboration with community partners like Celebrate Dyslexia and local public schools to identify and implement best practices for teaching computer science in an environment appropriate for and welcoming to students with dyslexia.

This year, Black Girls Dive Foundation based in Owing Mills, Maryland is a recipient of a special Presidential Award. An emeriti organization of the program, Black Girls Dive, received the STEM Action Grant for four years. The organization is committed to facilitating the participation of underrepresented young girls and women in the exploration and conservation of diverse marine ecosystems, empowering them to engage in and explore their STEM identities.

The mission of Electric Girls is to build girls’ confidence and capabilities in STEM through summer camps and school programs. For their work fostering environments that give girls spaces, resources and guidance to make mistakes and learn from one another — all while pursuing their interests in robotics, computer programming, design and more — the New Orleans-area organization was recognized three times with a STEM Action Grant. The Society is proud to honor Electric Girls with a Presidential Award.

The Indigenous youth-led nonprofit Kul Wicasa Wópasi will receive the Presidential Award in honor of the collaborative community endeavors it supports in the Kul Wicasa Oyate Tribal Nation. A four-time recipient of the STEM Action Grant and knowledgeable friend to other Society programs, the organization and its partners have championed the involvement of Native youth in STEM experiences for many years, with projects exploring everything from food sovereignty to art, technology and beyond.

SAFE Alternative Foundation for Education (SAFE) provides diverse educational programming and vocational exposure to underserved students in Baltimore, Maryland. When a high-school sports injury changed the planned career trajectory of the organization’s Founder and Executive Director, Van Brooks, he saw firsthand how education is the true key to success – and dedicated himself to sharing it with others. After four years as a STEM Action Grantee, the organization is being honored with the Presidential Award for the resources and real-world opportunities it provides to students in helping them achieve their goals.