January 2022

Northeast Ohio native brings a passion for equity and community to education-focused nonprofit

Ebony Hood, a northeast Ohio native, community builder, and thought leader has been selected as the permanent director of the NeoSTEM Ecosystem, a collaboration of dozens of organizations who partner to improve STEM educational opportunities and access for all students.

Hood, who previously served as a community relations specialist for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, is also the director of curriculum and strategic planning for Syatt, a non-profit she helped launch in 2009 to promote culturally-relevant learning opportunities for underserved Black and Brown students in Cleveland.

Hood replaces Alyssa Lenhoff-Briggs, who had been serving as interim director of the regional collaboration while also helping lead the global STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP).

“NeoSTEM needs a leader like Ebony Hood, someone who is dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable about STEM and the communities we serve,” Lenhoff-Briggs said. “I am so thrilled to be handing NeoSTEM over to her, and know the organization will continue to do great things in our community.”

NeoSTEM is one of 94 ecosystems operating as part of the SLECoP. It was one of the first 27 ecosystems accepted into the initiative, and has distinguished itself through its strong partnerships with organizations throughout Ohio, as well as signature programs such as WIR’ED, DreamSTEM, and “I am STEM.”

NeoSTEM holds regular virtual meetings on the first Tuesday of each month to discuss community education needs, develop solutions to meet those needs, and connect STEM stakeholders across northeast Ohio.