Breaking Boundaries

How We Can Help The Significance of Donations

Donations can bring about opportunity for minorities to be exposed to STEM. Not only does donating give someone a sense of pleasure, but it also creates a hope for expansion in said stem programs. With the donations of money, supplies, or even the lending of a workspace; donations can cause a significant change to a greater cause. An example of a STEM program that works with donations is VAMOS (Volunteer and Mentor One Summer). The donations of supplies and money allow the program to give 15 minority students each summer the wonderful opportunity of exposure to the various fields of STEM. They are given free meals, get free transportation, and are given free supplies to work with. VAMOS is a prime example on how donations can make a huge difference. With your donations, programs like VAMOS can keep introducing minorities to the wonders of STEM.

How We Can Help Taking Initiative

Helping minority students be exposed to STEM does not just limit to helping existing organizations. If you believe you have more to offer and have the time of day open to more activities, taking initiative to start your own program is strongly encouraged. From beginning a program for minority students in your neighborhood to introducing fields in STEM to a local highschool with mostly minorities is a significant help to the greater cause. If you believe you don't have the time of day to start your program, that is perfectly fine. Another form of initiative would be spreading the word to others. Effecient ways of spreading the word are the following: publish a website regarding the cause, post the cause on your social media, create fliers to hang up or give, tell your friends and family through word of mouth. Any form of initiative that can make people aware of the issue and have them get involved will create a huge positive difference for minority students in our society.

How We Can Help Importance of Networking and Having Connections

If you want to start your own program, know that you cannot do everything on your own. It is important to work with people who can help you organize sessions, fundraisers, or just lend you any supplies or space in order for your program to run effeciently. It is important to have connections. Have friends who can teach sessions for you and organize a schedule for them. Network with people who are happy to offer any form of assistance. Tell them your plans of beginning a STEM program. Stay in contact with them and remember to show appreciation. An example of a person who decided to start a program through the power of connections and networking is Caitlin Lam. She is an undergraduate student who started an academic program for her elementary school when she was a junior in high school. Through the connections she made with classmates in her high school and networking with her district by presenting the idea, she mwas able to run an effecient STEM and Arts program with 40 volunteers. Caitlin is a prime example of how anyone can contribute to the cause of exposing minority students to STEM.

How We Can Help The Value of Volunteering

Volunteering is an important asset to various organizations, programs, and communities. In today's society, paying instructors to teach groups of driven children is one of the many expenses organizations need to be wary of. The expense creates a barrier that significantly slows down the idea of program expansion or stops it altogether. Volunteers are needed in order to expand stem programs for minorities. If there are qualified people out there who have time in their days to help, we politely ask you to consider helping these African-American, Latino, and Native American children. Sharing your knowledge with children who are motivated to learn and grow will bring about a successful future for all of us.