Bolstering STEM: A Citywide Call to Action
PHILLYACTIVE™ (NEWS THAT GETS PHILLY ACTIVE) The City of Philadelphia Announces Touts Major Efforts to Increase STEM Education, Mentorship for Students.
By Christopher “Flood the Drummer®” Norris
11.12.13: Philadelphia – (Technology/Education): A week before City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson is to host a panel discussion on integrating STEM into early-childhood education, the City of Philadelphia today announced it has been selected as one of thirteen first-round finalists for the US2020 City Competition, a Clinton Global Initiative project that capitalizes on the role of cities as centers for innovation, supporting outstanding efforts to build science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) mentoring capacity at the local level.
Led by Chief Education Officer Lori Shorr – who will serve as a panelist at Councilman Johnson’s event next Tuesday, November 19th, 2013, from 1:30-3:00pm at City Hall, Room 400 – Philadelphia has brought together, with support from the Mayor’s Office of Grants, a strong guiding coalition of partners to enhance and expand STEM-related opportunities for Philadelphia youth – particularly those who are low income, of color and/or female, to provide focused, hands-on mentoring from local STEM professionals.
“In Philadelphia and across the country, there is a critical need for increased participation in STEM related education and fields. Our City has incredible STEM resources available to excite, educate and prepare our young people – especially girls, children of color and children from low-income families,” stated Mayor Michael A. Nutter in a press release. “As a part of our US2020 application, we are bringing together a coalition of STEM partners from colleges and