STEM Next Opportunity Fund

Happy National STEM Day! ?? Today, we’re celebrating the power of afterschool STEM! Through programs supported by STEM Next, youth across the country are gaining hands-on experience, building skills, and exploring their future in STEM fields. Here, we’re highlighting some amazing youth and educators in STEM that we have been proud to support through our Flight Crew and Million Girls Moonshot initiatives. Anike Akinfolarin , Maryland Flight Crew 2024 / Christina Clark, Founder of the Stem Education and Innovation Center in Virginia / Aika Lanes, Montana Flight Crew 2023. We also want to give our own shout-out and special thank you to the funders like Intel Corporation who make this work possible. Together, we’re creating a future where every young person can explore, innovate, and lead in STEM! ???

We loved to see how many of our partners and grantees uplifted the power of STEM in afterschool programs during #LightsOnAfterschool celebrations this month! The South Carolina Afterschool Alliance, with support from a Million Girls Moonshot grant, hosted its second annual SC STEM Extravaganza, which drew more than 1,000 kids to the festival, where they were immersed in a variety of hands-on STEM activities. In other states, Flight Crew members gave remarks at high-profile statewide events to advocate for STEM in afterschool. Events like these highlight the positive change afterschool programs bring to communities. We are thankful to our partners and grantees for supporting us in building a future where all young people have the opportunity to explore, innovate, and dream big through STEM. #MillionGirlsMoonshot #AfterschoolWorks

The latest impact reports are in, and the data is clear: Year 3 of our Million Girls Moonshot initiative was a milestone year in expanding high-quality STEM opportunities through out-of-school-time programs. From September 2022 to August 2023, the Moonshot engaged 1.15 million youth—including 570,000 girls—in high-quality, hands-on STEM experiences through afterschool programs. One key finding to note: Girls who participated in Million Girls Moonshot-connected programs said they were more or much more interested in STEM than they had been before. With STEM Next’s national, state, and local partners, we’ve now connected over 5 million young people to STEM to date since launching the Moonshot in 2020. This just adds to the mounting evidence that investing in out-of-school-time STEM works to reach youth underrepresented in STEM. And this is why we’re building on the momentum of the Million Girls Moonshot to reach 20 million more youth by 2030 and expanding our Moonshot-proven methods through the Institute for a STEM Ready America. Read the full Year 3 report to see how we’re shaping the future of STEM together: https://lnkd.in/g7wcTkEn #STEMEducation #STEMEquity #MillionGirlsMoonshot #STEMReadyAmerica

Helping girls and gender-expansive youth in STEM find their voice is a point of pride for our Flight Crew initiative. But to see them use it to advocate for the power of afterschool? Goosebumps every single time. Here’s 2024 Flight Crew member Max Maynard during Ohio Afterschool Network’s #LightsonAfterschool celebration: “Through that experience, I met leaders from around the country, and also began to realize the power of my own voice. Afterschool programs have given me the opportunity to understand more about my place in the world.” Thank you, Max, for sharing your voice to advocate for STEM in afterschool!

Happy Lights On Afterschool! ?? This October 24, 2024, we proudly join the Afterschool Alliance in celebrating the 25th anniversary of Lights On Afterschool, the nation’s only event dedicated to highlighting the vital role afterschool programs play in the lives of children, families, and communities. Afterschool programs are more than just a safe space—they are the gateway to opportunities like STEM learning, robotics, community service, poetry, and more. These programs not only empower students to explore new interests and develop critical skills but also foster a love for learning, preparing them for the challenges of the future. As we celebrate this milestone, we recognize the power of out-of-school time (OST) programs in driving STEM engagement. Through hands-on experiences, OST programs allow young people to explore STEM fields in exciting and accessible ways. The millions of students reached through these programs represent the future of science, technology, and innovation. Join us in celebrating Lights On Afterschool and supporting the growth of afterschool programs! #LightsOnAfterschool #AfterschoolWorks #OST #STEMEducation #STEMLearning

Happy National Chemistry Week! This week, we’re celebrating the power of chemistry to unlock career pathways in fields like medical research, biomedical engineering, and beyond. From understanding the building blocks of life to developing life-saving medicines, chemistry is at the heart of innovation. Take it from these 2024 Flight Crew members, who have developed a love for chemistry and STEM through their experiences in afterschool programs and now hope to pursue careers in biomedical engineering. A huge thank you to our partners Johnson & Johnson and Novartis, both leaders in pharmaceuticals whose support helped make the 2024 Flight Crew journey possible. Together, we’re inspiring youth to see themselves as the problem-solvers of tomorrow—creating a future where everyone has the chance to thrive in STEM. #NationalChemistryWeek #STEMforAll #2024FlightCrew #YouthInSTEM #GirlsLeadSTEM

??WE WERE PICKED FOR SXSW!!?? STEM Next Opportunity Fund is beyond excited to announce that our panel, Youth-Led STEM: A Seismic Shift in Education, has been selected from 14,000+ submissions for SXSW EDU 2025! This youth-led session will feature STEM Next’s Flight Crew members Isabella Green and Guadalupe Miranda, alongside Lino Marrero and Sritej Padmanabhan National STEM Challenge Champions from EXPLR Media — inspiring young innovators who are revolutionizing the STEM field. They’re launching movements, creating new educational opportunities, and challenging outdated ideas about who belongs in STEM. Thank you so much to everyone who voted for our panel! Come join us in Austin this March! https://bit.ly/409AzSv #SXSWEDU #YouthLedSTEM #STEMEducation #InnovationInSTEM #FutureOfEducation #STEMNext #EdTech

??? What an incredible event! Yesterday, in partnership with NASA, STEM Next celebrated Afterschool Alliance‘s Lights On Afterschool with a special webinar featuring Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA’s Launch Director for Exploration Ground Systems. Charlie shared her journey from a love of math and creative writing to being NASA’s first female launch Director and emphasized how curiosity has fueled her success in space exploration. She encouraged students to pursue careers in STEM but also highlighted that you don’t need to be an engineer or astronaut to work at NASA—there are countless paths to contribute! ?? Whether through engineering, science, or other fields, the future is wide open. Charlie also shared her excitement for what the Artemis mission will bring to learn more about our future and home planet! Did you or your students attend? What was your favorite takeaway from Charlie’s talk? Let us know in the comments! ?? #LightsOnAfterschool #STEMNext #NASA #WomenInSTEM #Artemis #STEMCareers

?? Today, on the International Day of the Girl, we celebrate the 2024 Flight Crew and the remarkable young leaders who recently completed their journey with us! These inspiring youth from across the country have been breaking down barriers and sparking curiosity in STEM through their impactful work in their communities. Motivated by their STEM experiences beyond the classroom, the 2024 Flight Crew has proven that the future of STEM is bright and inclusive. As we say farewell to this incredible cohort, we honor their dedication to empowering their peers and challenging stereotypes in STEM fields. Let's continue to amplify their voices and create spaces where all youth can thrive in STEM. A special thank you to our partners Lockheed Martin, Intel, Qualcomm, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis and Aramco for their continued support of the Flight Crew and their commitment to advancing opportunities for young leaders in STEM. #DayOfTheGirl #STEMLeaders #STEMforAll #GirlsLeadSTEM

?? STEM Next Partners with NASA for Lights On Afterschool! ?? At STEM Next, we’re dedicated to expanding access to transformative STEM learning opportunities for underrepresented youth by scaling programs and building capacity. This year, we’re excited to partner with NASA for the nationwide Lights On Afterschool event, organized by the Afterschool Alliance, to celebrate the crucial role afterschool programs play in the lives of children, families, and communities. As part of this special event, we are hosting a live Q&A with NASA’s first female launch director, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, on October 16! Students will have the chance to hear from Charlie about her incredible journey in STEM and ask questions about her career. We’re also thrilled to announce that Alex, a member of our #MillionGirlsMoonshot Flight Crew, will be introducing Charlie during the event. Alex has been a passionate advocate for STEM education and her leadership continues to inspire girls and underrepresented youth to explore STEM opportunities. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to inspiring the next generation of leaders in STEM, providing real-world learning experiences, and ensuring every young person has the opportunity to reach for the stars. ?? Sign up today and join us in celebrating the power of afterschool programs and STEM education! https://lnkd.in/epUdQ8-v