Project Exploration

Stem ecosystem - chicago stem pathways cooperative project exploration serves as the backbone organization of the chicago stem pathways cooperative. This citywide initiative convenes youth-serving organizations, educators, funders, and policymakers to expand access to high-quality stem learning opportunities. The cooperative fosters cross- sector collaboration, supports shared data practices, and informs citywide planning to ensure community stem equity. It advances a vision of a more inclusive stem ecosystem through convenings, research, and professional learning communities.

Community ecosystem - the austin experience / my chi. My future. Project exploration leads place-based stem ecosystem work in chicago's austin neighborhood through initiatives like the austin experience and my chi. My future. These efforts foster safe, connected communities where youth and families access out-of-school-time stem opportunities. By partnering with local organizations and youth leaders, the program builds community trust, supports youth voice, and aligns resources to promote wellness, workforce development, and long-term engagement in stem.

Spring break science camp this weeklong program immerses pe students in the expertise and culture of a stem-based company or institution. Past partners have included: tata consultancy services, which led activities in coding and robotics; and motorola mobility, which paired girls from s4s with a diverse group of professional women. Environmental adventurers (ea) ea is aimed at engaging diverse, urban youth in the environmental sciences, biology, anatomy, and zoology subjects to develop skills in research in a meaningful and hands-on way. The participants involved in the program will do real scientific and environmental work with other participants while learning how to develop a research question to understand the importance of our environment. School-based programs - school-based programs are designed to provide stem programming for students at their home school. Project exploration has identified communities within the west and near west side, far south, south, and southwest side of chicago as program service areas. These communities reflect areas that have limited to no robust stem learning opportunities. Pe partners with local community-based organizations or works directly with cps to determine which schools to serve. Pe collaborates with school administrators and teachers to determine which programs to offer. Place-based programs - place-based programs are designed to provide stem programming within a geographic area and serve as a community stem hub. Project exploration has two place-based locations. The west side stem learning centers at the george leland elementary school campus was launched in 2017. In 2021, pe launched a second partnership with bethel new life to create another place-based stem learning center. Each aims to amplify the value of stem learning in the community, strengthen community cohesion through family programming, and bring citywide stem resources and programs to the local community.