US2020 Announces National STEM Coalition Challenge
$1 Million Prize to Support STEM Education and Maker-Centered Learning, launched by US2020 with support from Arconic Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 10, 2017 – Today US2020 announced the launch of the STEM Coalition Challenge, a call to action for nonprofit organizations, school districts, universities, businesses, and public offices to increase the quantity and quality of STEM volunteerism and maker-centered learning across the country. The challenge will expand the US2020 Learning Network to a total of 16 locations, reaching more than 25,000 children within the first year of programming.
Winners will receive two years’ worth of financial, consulting, and staff support valued at $1 million. This includes:
A total of $150,000 for three Grand Prize winners
Two full-time staff placements in winning locations
Access to US2020’s dynamic volunteer matching platform
National visibility and communications opportunities with US2020 and its partners
Measurement and evaluation tools and support
Management consulting services from US2020 and external partners; and
Membership in the US2020 Learning Network and national Community of Practice
Initial applications will be accepted through November 17, 2017 and are available at www.us2020challenge.org. Coalitions can represent nonprofits, colleges and universities in collaboration with local school districts, corporations, and mayor’s offices. Applicants will be judged on their ability to develop innovative strategies to engage underrepresented and underserved youth in STEM education and maker-centered learning.
The STEM Coalition Challenge is supported by Arconic Foundation. “We recognize this as an opportunity to significantly expand the STEM mentoring movement and create more regional cohesion for this work, even in locations that are not ultimately selected as winning US2020 grant recipients,” said Foundation President Esra Ozer.
This Challenge builds on the success of US2020’s 2013 City Competition. The City Competition received applications from 52 cities and engaged nearly 600 corporations, civic organizations and public offices. The US2020 Learning Network currently includes ten regions: Baton Rouge, LA; Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Philadelphia, PA; Research Triangle Park, NC; Silicon Valley, CA; Tulsa, OK; Ventura County, CA; Wichita, KS.
“US2020 is igniting moments of discovery in students. We recognize that a new way of learning requires a new type of collaboration. This challenge will build on existing infrastructure and advance regional collaborations to help ensure that every child has access to hands-on STEM education,” said Nick Hutchinson, Executive Director of US2020.
In addition to Arconic Foundation, US2020’s work is supported by ongoing national investments from Amgen, Chevron, Discovery Communications, Genentech, Fidelity Investments, Tata Consultancy Services, and the Corporation for National and Community Service.
About US2020
US2020, a division of Citizen Schools, is working to dramatically scale the number of STEM professionals mentoring and teaching students through hands-on projects with a focus on serving underrepresented communities, especially girls, underrepresented minorities, and low-income children. Through partnerships at the national level and coalitions at the local level, US2020 has built a network of more than 350 organizations in 13 cities actively working to scale the STEM mentoring field, to align the field on common metrics, and to advance a focus on quality. Learn more at www.us2020.org.
About Citizen Schools
Citizen Schools is a national nonprofit organization that partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for children in low-income communities. Citizen Schools mobilizes a team of AmeriCorps educators and volunteer “Citizen Teachers” to teach real-world learning projects and provide academic support, in order to help all students discover and achieve their dreams. Learn more at www.citizenschools.org.