Project Exploration

Since 1999, Project Exploration (PE) has served youth from communities historically underrepresented in the STEM fields and works to remove barriers that prevent black, brown, and low-income youth and young women from accessing and pursuing STEM opportunities.

Opportunities in STEM education are historically blocked for these young people. Barriers include academic prerequisites, program fees, transportation and basic social support systems. Deliberate efforts must be made to actively build STEM learning opportunities in communities that face systemic racial segregation, disinvestment, and disproporitionately high rates of violence and trauma. Even when underrepresented students pursue STEM, Black and Latinx students and women often leave due to feelings of discrimination.

PE makes STEM education accessible through:

• Free, hands-on out-of-school time STEM programs - volunteer opportunities include guest speaking opportunities, leadership of hands-on STEM activities, space beautification, and STEMkit builds.
• City-wide, community-building STEM Co-op initiatives - volunteer opportunities include leadership and support of community events and activities and mentorship of high school or college-aged students

Other volunteer opportunities with Project Exploration include skill based projects (e.g. photography, data analytics) and/or participation in PE's Board of Directors or Junior Board.