ABOUT US
LA STEM is a collective that serves as the STEM Ecosystem for Los Angeles, bringing together education organizations (formal, informal, out-of-school, and higher education), civic, business, and industrial sectors in amplifying STEM education for children and youth in Los Angeles, especially those from marginalized or under-resourced communities, opening access to STEM learning for all.
Mission 
Collaborating to provide the young people of Greater LA equitable access to high-quality learning experiences, opportunities, and resources.
Vision 
A Greater Los Angeles where all learners have the opportunity to become creative, critical thinkers, and doers.
Our Values
We design for the margins, ensuring that NO ONE is excluded from the opportunities we provide. We recognize the historical inequities of access to STEM learning experiences. We seek to address those inequities by having an Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) plan that is actionable, results-focused, and reviewed regularly by the members to maximize effectiveness and accountability.
We respect our constituent communities. We use asset-based language to describe the communities we serve. We are consistent in how we talk with funders, member organizations, educators, coordinators, and learners.
We are thoughtful and intentional about providing culturally relevant experiences for our constituents and members. We measure our impact through data and evaluation. We hold ourselves accountable and take corrective action when needed. Our commitment is to provide quality STEM experiences.
We recognize the value of all voices. We know that we are stronger together and greater than the sum of our parts. By working collectively, we provide a more diverse range of experiences for our constituents, and we build the sector by supporting continued learning and professional development. Focusing especially on learners from marginalized or under-resourced communities, we amplify access to STEM learning for all.
LA STEM is a model of STEM learning that expands experiences beyond the traditional approaches of institutionalized learning. We support the activities and aspirations of learners and the communities that they live in offering programming that is:
– Provider Led
– Diverse
– Collaborative
LA STEM envisions a region where everyone can nurture their creative and critical thinking, where STEM facilitates social and emotional connections, and where the world looks to emulate LA STEM’s model. Through the collaboration of resources afforded by an ecosystem, that we will fulfill our mission and see a Los Angeles full of joyful children and youth who are excited, confident and prepared to chart any future they want, affecting their own lives and the future of their communities and the world.
We think the world can be a better place. We think STEM can help us get there. We strive to inspire more STEM-literate youth and share our methods as a model for others.
Our Members
LA STEM is comprised of more than 90 STEM organizations from across Greater Los Angeles, ranging from large science museums, to university programs, to non-profits and community-based organizations. We seek to draw from all different perspectives and enhance our membership so that education, civic, business and industrial sectors are all represented through LA STEM, thus amplifying STEM education for children and youth in Los Angeles, especially those from marginalized or under-resourced communities, opening access to STEM learning for all. View our full member roster with contact information here.
Leadership Team
LA STEM is directed by a Steering Committee representing the following organizations:
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- The Columbia Memorial Space Center
- Engineer Factory
- Friends of the Los Angeles River
- Girls IN Focus
- SoLA Robotics
- PS Science
- The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
- Roundhouse Aquarium
- USC Viterbi K-12 STEM Center
- Wildwoods
LA STEM Staff
LA STEM Timeline
The LA STEM Collective grew out of a task force assembled in 2019 by Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office to examine out-of-school time (OST) opportunities for the children of Los Angeles. With a strong belief in the value of informal education for the development of children, the LA STEM Collective has made this issue the focus of our core values. We want to close that opportunity gap. We strive to weave together a strong network of diverse sectors to create an ecosystem that allows all learners the opportunity to become creative, critical thinkers and doers.
LA Mayor Eric Garcetti assembles an out-of-school time (OST) task force.
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic begins, schools close, everyone goes into lockdown.
2020
Task force members pull together a handful of STEM organizations to provide distance learning opportunities for LA students.
2021
The Fall of 2020 to Spring of 2021: The group of STEM organizations grows to more than 25, providing synchronous and asynchronous STEM education during the school day, plus after-school enrichment.
Wildwoods, a project of Community Partners, begins serving as the backbone organization for the LA STEM Collective, thus providing essential operational support as well as 501(c)3 status.
2021
We continue remote after-school enrichment with LAUSD and take part in the first Summer of Joy with GPSN: In-person STEM programming for LA youth.
2022
Fall of 2021 – Spring of 2022: LA STEM is awarded a $1.5M contract for members to conduct virtual after-school enrichment programs with LAUSD.
2022
The LA STEM Collective receives our first grant from the Broad Foundation to create an organizational governance structure and begin strategic planning.
2022
We continue remote after-school enrichment with LAUSD and participate in the second Summer of Joy with GPSN: In-person STEM programming for LA youth.
2022
The LA STEM Collective receives a grant from the California Community Foundation for members to conduct community-based STEM activities
2023
LA STEM holds a convening of community-based organizations at the Natural History Museum to learn how we can best support their work with STEM learning opportunities.
2023
LA STEM takes part in the third Summer of Joy supported by GPSN: In-person STEM programming for LA youth.
2023
The LA STEM Collective receives a $1,000,000 grant from the Broad Foundation to hire staff and begin building out the infrastructure of our organization.
2024
LA STEM hires our first full-time employee: Ecosystem Manager, tasked with growing our membership and community network. The Collective holds a Symposium with breakout sessions for member organizations at the Natural History Museum LA STEM launches a new website
2024
LA Member organizations provide in-person programs for Summer of Joy #4, providing in-person STEM learning activities for LA youth.