Contact: Linda Christopher
COMMUNITY NAME – Orange County
PHONE NUMBER – 949 760-4407
EMAIL ADDRESS: lchristopher@ocstem.org
As White House Focuses Nation’s Attention on Astronomy, STEM Funders Network Announces Goal for 100 City and Regional STEM Networks
(October 19, 2015 – Washington, DC) Building on more than a decade of research into successful STEM collaborations, the STEM Funders Network and 350 committed local funders and organizations are announcing a five-year effort to create 100 tight-knit local STEM networks—STEM ecosystems—that bring together broad-scale, cross-sector collaborations to nurture and scale effective science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning opportunities for all young people, especially girls and underserved populations. The Orange County STEM Initiative’s participation is a demonstration of their existing progress in developing a strong STEM community and recognition of their commitment to continue this work.
The national STEM Ecosystems Initiative was launched in September 2015 with 27 inaugural communities, more than $20 million in funding, and a goal of reaching 600,000 teachers and students in its first three years. The Orange County STEM Initiative is one of the 27 inaugural communities participating in an upcoming workshop at the White House, which will be focused on convening and helping to expand a growing community of practice of local leaders who are expanding STEM opportunities in their communities.
“The White House Astronomy Night exemplifies how bringing together scientists, astronomers, industry leaders and others can inspire youth and stargazers from across the country,” said SFN co-chairs Gerald Solomon, executive director, Samueli Foundation, and Ron Ottinger, executive director, Noyce Foundation. “The STEM Ecosystems Initiative creates these kinds of partnerships locally and in a sustained way to ensure STEM learning is truly ‘everywhere’ and is a top priority for communities supporting youth to develop the skills and knowledge they need for success in a global workforce.”
The Orange County STEM Initiative (OC STEM), is excited to be a part of the nationwide partnership around STEM Ecosystems and will be actively involved in the national Community of Practice with the STEM Funders Network, said Linda Christopher, Executive Director for OC STEM.
The 27 communities in the initial cohort of a national Community of Practice are demonstrating cross-sector collaborations to deliver rigorous, effective preK-16 instruction in STEM learning. These collaborations happen in schools and beyond the classroom—in afterschool and summer programs, at home, in science centers, libraries and other places both virtual and physical. They spark young people’s engagement, develop their knowledge, strengthen their persistence and nurture their sense of identity and belonging in STEM disciplines. As these STEM Ecosystems evolve, a student will be able to connect what they learn in and out of school with real-world learning opportunities, leading to STEM related careers and opportunities.
Launched in Denver at the Clinton Global Initiative, the STEM Funders Network STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative forms a national Community of Practice with expert coaching and support from leaders such as superintendents, scientists, industry and others. The first gathering of this Community of Practice will be hosted at the White House in November.
The following sites were selected from an invited pool of 70+ applicants to join the STEM Ecosystems Initiative’s first cohort creating a national STEM Community of Practice:
• Arizona SciTech Ecosystem (Phoenix, AZ)
• Bay Area STEM Ecosystem (San Jose, CA)
• BoSTEM (Boston, MA)
• Chicago STEM Pathways Cooperative (Chicago, IL)
• Colorado STEM (Denver, CO)
• East Syracuse Minoa Central School District STEM Learning Ecosystem (East Syracuse, NY)
• ecosySTEM KC (Kansas City, MO)
• Great Lakes Bay Regional STEM Initiative (Freeland, MI)
• Greater Austin STEM Ecosystem (Austin, TX)
• Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative (Cincinnati, OH)
• Indiana STEM Ecosystem Initiative (Indianapolis, IN)
• Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Partnership in Western New York (Buffalo, NY)
• EvanSTEM (Evanston, IL)
• Los Angeles Regional STEM Hub (Los Angeles, CA)
• NC STEM Ecosystem: Driving the Future (Research Triangle Park, NC)
• Northeast Ohio STEM Learning Ecosystem (Cleveland, OH)
• NYC STEM Education Network (New York, NY)
• Orange County STEM Initiative (Corona Del Mar, CA)
• Oregon’s Statewide Regional STEM Hub Network (Salem, OR)
• Pittsburgh Regional STEM Ecosystem (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Providence After School Alliance (PASA) AfterZone STEM – FUSE Initiative (Providence, RI)
• Queens 2020 (Corona, NY)
• San Diego EcosySTEM (San Diego, CA)
• STEMcityPHL Regional Network (Conshohocken, PA)
• Tampa Bay STEM Network (Tampa, FL)
• Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance (Tulsa, OK)
• Ventura County STEM Regional Network (Learning Ecosystem, Camarillo, CA)
Learn more about the initiative at stemecosystems.org.
About the STEM Funders Network: The SFN was formed in 2011 by a small group of funders from the Grant Makers for Education community to focus attention and better coordinate funding in support of robust STEM programs across the country. The SFN members fund individually as well as collectively and their work has supported the adoption and implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards in all 50 states as well as dozens of STEM programs of promise.
STEM Ecosystems funding members of the STEM Funders Network include: Samueli Foundation, Noyce Foundation, Overdeck Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation, and Simons Foundation with support by Amgen Foundation, Broadcom Foundation, KDK Harman Foundation, Pinkerton Foundation and Tiger Woods Foundation.
For more information, please contact info@stemecosystems.org OR rfuntanilla@ocstem.org
###
