The Inner Banks STEM Center Gets Grant To Help With Social Justice Projects

As the economy changes, and technology changes, the need for students and young adults to have proper access to STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology & Math) subjects, in a way that is accessible has become more critical. This means opening up the playing field so that a diverse group of young adults will be able to learn and execute upon these topics, especially on a local level. So, it’s always important to hear that local organizations focused on this mission can receive funding. The Inner Banks STEM Center got a much-needed $25,000 grant from Duke Energy. This will help them both to fund their drone program, and to help navigate barriers caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s some important background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused problems in almost every industry, but especially we’ve seen disruption in operations for non-profit organizations that have had to cancel fundraising events and other in-person events that help them in their missions and operations. Many of these organizations have turned to grant funding to fund critical initiatives.

The mission of the Inner Banks STEM program is to create a sustainable and innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program that will reach at-risk and under-represented middle school/high school youth to help prepare for the STEM employment requirements of the 21st century.

Here’s why this is so important:

We feel that we have an ethical and moral obligation as a non-profit dealing with kids and their families to try to help mitigate this learning loss and this emotional imbalance that these kids are being victimized by and to put together creative after school programs or summer camp programs that are COVID compliant.”

Al Powell, IBX STEM Center president.

Here’s what the grant funds will be allocated towards:

This $25,000 grant will go towards the purchase of drones and laptops for students participating in the program, as well as to social justice initiatives aimed at mitigating the barriers caused and made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting actions. As with all of the Inner Banks STEM program, the goal is to ensure that underrepresented students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Featured STEM Grants

Grants to California individuals and for-profit commercial entities to support small-quantity production of new technology. Eligible project categories include artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced sensing, zero- and negative carbon emissions generation, energy efficiency, energy storage, and advanced power electronics/power conditioning. This solicitation is part of the California Energy Commission’s ongoing strategy to foster and support clean energy entrepreneurship across the state.