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Our Work
LA STEM is an organized network that supports a more robust delivery of STEM education for the young people of Los Angeles. This network enables:
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greater sharing of
resources
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efficiency and
effectiveness in
implementation
and scaling
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equitable access
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support and
incubation of
emerging STEM
learning
organizations
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secures
programmatic and
development
sustainability for
lasting impact
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continuous
career pathway
support
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What We Do
The Need
STEM education helps students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity skills, which are essential for success in the 21st-century workforce.
Historic inequities have limited access to those opportunities for all. In many parts of the greater Los Angeles area, there are still widespread “STEM deserts” where resources for schools and families are limited or nonexistent.
The LA STEM Collective seeks to bridge these gaps by engaging community-based organizations, corporations, and schools to create a network of pathways to those learning opportunities: a STEM Ecosystem.
Education & Access
The Collective facilitates and streamlines funding opportunities for the Los Angeles STEM education and outreach sector by serving as a “one-stop-shop” for large-scale initiatives. Working across the region, we also provide a platform for smaller STEM organizations to access funding and networking opportunities traditionally beyond their reach.
Our direct service programs include:
After-school enrichment programs
- Field trips to science centers, aquariums, and outdoor spaces
- School outreach programs
- Teacher professional development programs
- Community events
These programs take place in a range of settings:
In a forest
- On the ocean
- By a river
- In a lab
- On an archeological dig
- In a control center
- On a film set
- In a machine shop
On the deck of a tall ship, battleship, or research vessel
- At a tidepool
- On playgrounds
- In parks
- In classrooms
- In neighborhoods
- Online
Professional Learning
A core element of the mission of LA STEM is a commitment to the quality of STEM learning opportunities for students and families. We provide professional development led by our member organizations for our member organizations. We help our peers stay up-to-date on best practices and current research findings.
Career Pathways
The LA STEM Collective works with our corporate and university partners to help connect youth with training, education, and intern opportunities that help create the STEM workforce of tomorrow. We focus those efforts on the under-served and under-represented communities of Los Angeles.
Ecosystem Convenings
LA STEM regularly brings together leaders from all sectors that are part of the science, technology, engineering, and math fields to build and maintain a robust network of support.
These quarterly gatherings provide a forum for networking and resource exchange, as well as the opportunity to hear from experts about best practices, new developments, and the latest technologies.
Cities Connecting Children to Nature – Los Angeles County
The LA STEM Collective is part of a nationwide initiative dedicated to increasing equitable access to nature and green space. Learn more here.
LA STEM News and Resources
Find the latest LA STEM Collective news, press releases, and resources here.