Research Triangle Park US2020

In partnership with US2020, Research Triangle Park has become a showcase region to build a movement of STEM mentoring to increase access and interest in STEM careers among low income youth by providing catalytic hands-on science experiences taught by STEM professionals. Research Triangle Park (RTP) is home to over 170 global STEM corporations and located between three major universities (Duke University, NC State University and UNC Chapel Hill). We seek to leverage our elite workforce of globally competitive scientists, researchers, mathematicians and engineers in these fields to unlock a pipeline of volunteer STEM mentors for K-12 schools, colleges and universities and build a culture of STEM mentorship as a way of doing business in RTP. Although RTP companies are already highly invested in area schools, our youth-serving non-profits, while high performing, currently only have very limited access to corporate volunteers. Our US2020 efforts will develop and grow high impact STEM mentoring initiatives and bring all stakeholders together in a community of practice to analyze and scale these varied STEM mentoring approaches for low income youth. Together we will decrease the achievement gap, increase gender and racial diversity in STEM, and help build an even more educated, inspired and innovative workforce committed to giving back.