In this joyous season of giving, we extend our deepest gratitude to you, a valued supporter of Project Exploration. Your commitment to our mission has been the driving force behind our success, and we are thrilled to share some exciting news with you.
🚀 Major Announcement: Unveiling a new Launching Pad for STEM in Chicago’s Austin Neighborhood! 🌈
We are delighted to announce that we have signed an agreement with Chicago Public Schools to establish a groundbreaking new STEM Learning Center on Chicago’s West Side, leveraging an underutilized CPS building. While our inaugural STEM Learning Center proved to be an invaluable model for STEM education geared towards the needs of K-8 learners, our newest STEM Learning Center will focus on:
- Providing up to 6 days weekly of free, hands-on STEM programming to 6th-12th grade explorers and their families
- Establishing residencies for world-renowned museums, STEM institutions, colleges and universities to co-invest in this new community alongside PE
- Creating a training ground for young adult STEM program instructors, STEAMbassadors, who once trained will be deployed city-wide to lead STEM program activities in STEM deserts while they are mentored on their own education and career journeys
- Investing in teacher professional development in STEM
This initiative represents our continued response to the pressing need for accessible STEM education in underserved areas, and it marks a significant step towards bridging the opportunity gap for young minds eager to explore the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from early childhood to adulthood!
Why Chicago’s West Side?
Austin is a vibrant community filled with untapped potential. By establishing a STEM Learning Center here, we aim to empower local youth with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the rapidly evolving world of STEM. This center will be a beacon of hope in one of Chicago’s STEM deserts, fostering curiosity and innovation among the next generation of scientists, engineers, and leaders, and create intentional pathways whereby our community of learners can continue to grow in their STEM identities in high school, young adulthood, and beyond.
Help Us Bring This Vision to Life!
As we gear up for Project Exploration’s 25th anniversary, we invite you to be part of this transformative journey. Your support has been instrumental in our past successes, and we believe that, together, we can create lasting change for countless young minds in Chicago and beyond.
Ways to Support:
- Make a Donation: Your generosity will directly contribute to the development of the STEM Learning Center. Visit to make a secure online donation.
- Spread the Word: Share our mission with your network and encourage others to join the cause. Follow us on social media (@projectexploration) and stay tuned from now until the end of the year for our #EquityinSTEM campaign where you will meet suse the hashtag #EquityinSTEM to amplify our message. Stay tuned from now until the end
- Volunteer: Consider donating your time and expertise towards developing makerspaces, tech labs, and more at our new STEM Learning Center. Email us at [email protected] to explore opportunities to get involved.
Together, we inspire tomorrow’s innovators and create a brighter, more equitable future through STEM education. Thank you for being a vital part of the Project Exploration family. Here’s to nearly 25 years of impact and countless more to come!
With gratitude,
Natasha Smith Walker
Executive Director
Project Exploration