YOUTH

Here we are almost at the end of this journey through the alphabet. The topic for the letter Y, “YOUTH,” is a celebration and representation of several organizations and events both current and in recent years that I have worked with to support the young people in our state. After all, they do represent our future and their success is crucial.

Many of the not-for-profit organizations with which I have been affiliated in the past decade or so have been focused on providing educational services for K-12 students, often in STEM disciplines. One that I spent six years on the board of directors and recently ended my last term is TechPoint Foundation for Youth. Headquartered in Indianapolis, it has programs that serve students across the entire state. The largest program, VEX Robotics, began as then-Mayor Greg Ballard’s city-wide initiative and grew across the state when TPF4Y took over as both operational and fiscal manager of the competition several years ago. Now grown to the largest Statewide VEX competition in the nation, it serves elementary, middle and high school students competing annually in venues like Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center.

Other TPF4Y programming teaches coding both in the classrooms and outside, provides grants for STEM projects to teachers across the state each year, and offers programming for science and math pentathlons. During the challenging year of 2020, TPF4Y has successfully pivoted from in-person activities to many online activities to aid students, parents and teachers navigate the transition to online and hybrid learning. Going forward, this may prove helpful to serving those in more remote and rural areas that have been underserved.

Perhaps the most exciting and most recent news out of TPF4Y, underscoring how important their reach is to the youth of Indiana, is the announcement that the Indianapolis Colts have announced as partnership with the organization. By donating $30,000 to kickstart the spring fundraising drive, the Colts organization has helped to spread this STEM Programming even further around the city and state.

Another organization that I worked with in the past to support K-12 STEM programming was Women & Hi Tech. Although much of the programming focused on collegiate and professionals, the programming for K-12 girls was held at two main venues. The first, begun several years ago, was an annual event in partnership with Conner Prairie in Hamilton County. Held on a Saturday in the spring, Passport to High Tech offered young people the opportunity for hands-on activities provided by STEM employers, educators, and others. Typically staffed by female scientists, employees, educators, researchers, and students, young girls had the opportunity to learn from role models who “looked like them.” Here’s hoping that this event will return post-COVID, as it was very well received by parents, students and the professional volunteers.

An annual program, modelled after Passport to High Tech but offered to inner city Indianapolis middle school girls, was Ignite Your Superpower. By bussing students to a college campus to have a similar experience, these students also got to see a college campus—something that the vast majority of them had never done. Another program put on hiatus by COVID, the future of this event is not known at this time, but again it was well received by students, school personnel and professional volunteers.

IN CLOSING

Thanks for reading.  Looking forward to your comments and connections, both virtual and in person in the not too distant future. Until next time . . . . stay safe and healthy and remember, this too shall pass. Next up—Z and the end of this journey through the alphabet. Not sure where we will go next, so feel free to make suggestions.