NewtonSTEM is supporting the LEAH Project and Science Club for Girls — two excellent programs that provide STEM education, inspiration, and mentoring for girls and young women from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM fields. Please click the bold links below to join in and make your contribution, too.

The LEAH Project has proven successful in empowering Boston-area youth — low-income, of color, and/or first generation college — to diversify STEM fields and succeed in them. Guided by its parent organization, Health Resources in Action, the LEAH Project offers paid STEM internships, college and career readiness programs, and leadership opportunities to build confidence and provide skills and connections that youth need to thrive. Join NewtonSTEM in supporting the LEAH Project with your donation of any amount.

Science Club for Girls is a non-profit that does a terrific job fostering excitement, confidence, and literacy in STEM for girls and young women from underrepresented communities in the Boston metro area. This fall, SCFG has expanded by 40% to reach 350 youth with 83 mentors in its Science Clubs — four in-person clubs and 30 virtual. There are still 230 girls on its waiting list, and SCFG aims to raise $50,000 by December 31 to extend its reach to meet this need and will match contributions (up to a total of $30,000) toward this goal. Join NewtonSTEM in supporting SCFG with your donation of any amount. 

The Technovation Challenge is a free, worldwide, technology entrepreneurship competition in which each teams of up to five girls (in three divisions by age:  8-12, 13-15, 16-18 years old) identify problems in their local communities, build prototype applications for them (AI or mobile apps), develop business plans, and pitch the plans to potential investors. Teams meet January-April for 3-4 hours weekly with mentors from the tech/business community in preparation for regional and worldwide events in May and June. Sign up here. The MassTLC Education Foundation, which hosts the program in the Boston area, seeks volunteer mentors with expertise in coding, design, marketing, or finance. Email Sara Fraim at sara@masstlc.org for more information.

The LEAH Project has proven successful in empowering Boston-area youth — low-income, of color, and/or first generation college — to diversify STEM fields and succeed in them. Guided by its parent organization, Health Resources in Action, the LEAH Project offers paid STEM internships, college and career readiness programs, and leadership opportunities to build confidence and provide skills and connections that youth need to thrive. Join NewtonSTEM in supporting the LEAH Project with your donation of any amount.

As one LEAH Youth Leader says,

“LEAH has made me feel strong and capable enough to pursue my dreams in medicine. If it wasn’t for their rigorous Biomedical Research internship, I wouldn’t have thought I was capable of learning biomedical research. Because of LEAH’s guidance and support during online learning, I was able to learn and perform DNA extraction and other molecular biology experiments. The LEAH staff also provided a space for me to meet other youth who share similar interests, whom I am able to laugh and learn with. Most importantly, I grew academically and socially because I was challenged by my teaching assistants in the summer and feel ready enough to teach younger youth and challenge them to learn as much as possible. LEAH has been a wonderful and eye-opening opportunity for me.”

Science Club for Girls is a non-profit that does a terrific job fostering excitement, confidence, and literacy in STEM for girls and young women from underrepresented communities in the Boston metro area. This fall, SCFG has expanded by 40% to reach 350 youth with 83 mentors in its Science Clubs — four in-person clubs and 30 virtual. There are still 230 girls on its waiting list, and SCFG aims to raise $50,000 by December 31 to extend its reach to meet this need. Join NewtonSTEM in supporting SCFG with your donation of any amount. We’re aiming to raise $500 — 1% of SCFG’s goal.

Harvard Museums of Science and Culture will reopen to all visitors on Friday, November 26, with advance reservations and proof of Covid vaccination or negative PCR test required. Through December 31, HMSC is offering a 15% discount on annual memberships.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is again hosting its Airport Design Challenge for individuals or teams of up to five students in Grades K-12, from November 15 through January 14. Participants use the free version of Minecraft to design virtual airports based on guidance from FAA aerospace and engineering experts. Participating students meet aviation professionals, engage with other designers, and learn about the aerospace industry. Parents/guardians of students register here.

MassRobotics will soon launch the second year of its paid JumpStart Fellowships and is now extending the program to include Grade 10 and also extending the application deadline to November 19. JumpStart Fellowships provide high-school girls with training (3D Modeling/CAD, programming, fabrication and prototyping), industry exposure and networking, and opportunities leading to a career in engineering.  The program is open to female students in Massachusetts schools in Grades 10-12 with a passion for robotics and technology — and especially those who are Black/Latinx living in Boston. The program will meet on Saturdays, January 8 to May 14, as well as 9AM-4PM daily during the school break February 21-25.  Fellows will be eligible to apply for paid internships for summer of 2022. The deadline to apply (including a short essay and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or other trusted adult) has been extended to November 19 (although the application form still says November 1).

The Computer Science Teachers Association will award up to four ACM Cutler-Bell Prize scholarships to high-school seniors pursuing computer-science studies in college. Each award will be $10,000 of financial aid administered by the colleges. Applications are due 10AM Eastern time on January 10. Review the application questions here and this story about one of last year’s winners. For more information, email awards@csteachers.org.

MassBioEd’s  Apprenticeship Programs — one for Biomanufacturing Technicians and one for Clinical Trial Associates — offer facilitates pathways into the biomedical industry through technical training, on-site work experience with employer partners, and income support. For more information, see this flyer, fill out this Statement of Interest, and email BioTalent@massbioed.org.