Message from our Executive Director - STEM for All
As we flip the calendar to a new year, it's time for setting new goals. Yet some of our resolutions are not new because it is work that takes years, decades, even lifetimes. Sometimes you make progress only to realize so much more is needed. When we founded this organization, we wanted to make inspiring STEM learning experiences accessible for every child, family, and school. Over the years, many people joined the cause and helped us reach hundreds of thousands in our greater community with unique, hands-on STEM learning experiences. We started with mobile programs, driving to schools and venues across the region, then added our interim home and first science center, the Children's Science Center Lab, and continually worked to build a large regional science center to expand mission both within and beyond our walls. All of this was done with the aim of reaching all across our large, diverse community. The global and societal challenges in 2020 and 2021 taught us just how important this work is and how much more effort is needed to accomplish this goal.
There are many steps to building a science center and a new institution, from designing exhibits and programs to planning the building and facilities, yet the human foundation we are laying is the most important. Two pieces of that are our efforts to grow youth development programs and our work to ensure greater diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in our organization, for those we serve, and our greater community. Together we can achieve "STEM for All."
Nene Spivy
Internship Applications Now Open!
Two internship applications were released on January 3. Please share this information with high school students whom you think would be interested!
STEM Youth Development Internship
Spring 2022
The STEM Youth Development Internship is available to high school students ages 16+ who have a passion for STEM learning. They will be able to develop and practice professional skills at the Children's Science Center Lab while engaging in various hands-on activities. Applications are due by 5:00 pm on January 24, 2022.
Apply here.
Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Internship
Summer 2022
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Internship is available to rising high school seniors and rising first year college/university students who are 17+ and interested in learning more about exploring cyber security as a possible career option. Applications are due by 5:00 pm on February 15, 2022.
Apply here.
Questions? Contact internships@childsci.org.
Save The Date! New Volunteer Appreciation Party Date
As you know, the volunteer appreciation party scheduled for January 8 was postponed due to the Omicron surge, the lack of testing availability, and recent travel for many of our volunteers. Moving the party to the spring allows us to hold a fun and interactive celebration with food and games when (we hope) COVID cases are fewer.
The new date for the Volunteer Appreciation Party is Saturday, April 2nd from 5:30-7 PM. Watch your email for the invite about a month beforehand.
COVID-19 Volunteer Update
We are very slowly welcoming volunteers back to the Lab, starting mainly with our more experienced volunteers. We have had over 500 volunteers sign up on the volunteer portal since the pandemic began, so we know there are many more who would love to help out. One major step in welcoming new volunteers to the Lab is resuming volunteer orientations. We are actively working to get these up-and-running again in the next month or two. This will allow interested volunteers over the age of 16 to begin signing up for Lab shifts and interacting with our guests during timed-entry sessions. Our next blog will likely have more specifics on volunteer orientations, so keep an eye out!
Our Commitment to DEAI
Redoubling Our Efforts
In early 2020, funding from the Peter and Mary Levin Foundation supported our efforts to increase capacity to broaden STEM participation for underrepresented audiences. This grant allowed us to implement a year-long training program and enabled us to continue our long-standing commitment to reach diverse audiences with scholarship programming.
Through this work, the ensuing global pandemic and its societal impacts, and the demands for social justice and racial equity after the murder of George Floyd, it became clear that our organization could do much more to engage all members of our community and support our staff through the lenses of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. We thought critically about our organizational culture and practices and the need to prepare our team to better serve all in our large, diverse community as we grow into a full-scale regional science center in the coming years. We sought out resources and training from our industry associations and community.
In our 2021 annual plan, we committed to developing a multi-year Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) Roadmap to drive our annual and strategic planning process. We applied for the DC Step Up Program at Deloitte which provided a team of consultants to assist us in developing the Road Map. With the help of the Deloitte Team, staff, and board members, we used a measured and collaborative approach to identify a wide range of opportunities to create a more inclusive environment for staff, volunteers, and the audiences we serve. While we have been dedicated to ensuring we reach diverse members of our community since our earliest days, we are redoubling our efforts and are committed to achieving more enduring diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
Learn more here.
Honoring an Outstanding Dedication to STEM
In the last blog, we introduced you to last year's 6 President's Volunteer Service Award winners. On Saturday, January 8, we honored these recipients with a short program at the Lab. Gary Crum, board president, presented medals and certificates to each recipient and spoke briefly about their service. The program wrapped up with cupcakes. Thank you - again - to these dedicated volunteers!
Galaxy Digital Tip
Going forward, most blogs will include short tips on using our volunteer portal, Galaxy Digital. These will usually be inspired by questions we've received from volunteers. Do you have a Galaxy Digital question? Let us know at volunteer@childsci.org.
Cancelling a Shift
Did you sign up for the wrong shift? Did your plans change after you signed up? No problem. You can cancel a shift by returning to the Opportunity where you signed up and selecting "Manage Responses." Then, de-select the shift(s) you no longer wish to work and resubmit the form. Remember, if you are cancelling less than 48 hours before your shift, please also email the event organizer and/or the Volunteer Coordinator (volunteer@childsci.org) so that we can find a replacement.
