Roots 2 STEM: Grow the next generation of STEM leaders!

The problem: Technological advancements in Research Triangle Park are the heart of the STEM community in North Carolina. However, forecasters predict that the area lags behind in developing the workers needed for these high-tech fields.

High paying jobs that promise prosperity for our community are, instead, going to out of state workers who must be recruited and add to the growth of our county. Many local families often miss out on these economic opportunities because they have not had the resources to pursue necessary job training or higher education in these fields.

Specifically, research shows that many youth, especially young women and students of color, are under-represented in STEM fields due to issues like a lack of access to STEM enrichment, failure to identify and provide these students with a STEM educational track, and limited access to role models and mentors that look like them.

The strategy: However, we can do better. We can fill these jobs locally and ensure that the promise of these careers benefit Wake County families.

Bolstering the community’s strength by planting the seeds of success in our youth and fostering equitable access to a STEM education will create a strong, qualified local work force and expand economic and social mobility for student traditionally excluded from these professional careers.

What if you could help a child by opening a door to let them explore their scientific curiosity, their creativity and their mental acuity? What if you could create a connection between a child's untapped natural gifts and the promise of a successful career for children who otherwise could not afford the same experiences as their classmates?

Children in Raleigh and Wake County should have equitable access to STEM education to prepare their minds for future possibilities, rather than define their future based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status.

By providing STEM enrichment opportunities to under-represented students who have been identified as having a strong interest or potential aptitude in fields like science, technnology, engineering, and mathematics, and by removing traditional barriers to their participation in STEM education, we can grow and develop the next generation of STEM leaders.

Roots 2 STEM: Through the City of Oaks Foundation's Roots 2 STEM program, we will underwrite highly effective STEM summer camp opportunities for children ages 5- 15, prioritizing young women, young black and brown students, and students without the economic resources to participate in these programs.

Additional STEM opportunities will be provided throughout the year through local community centers in neighborhoods near local elementary schools and where the need for such programs is the greatest.

Financial assistance for high performing students to attend programs outside of these neighborhoods may also be available.

Please help us expand the number of families we can serve by making a charitable donation today to support the Roots 2 STEM program! We need your support in making a positive and meaningful impact right here in our local community. Thank you for your donation!