Federal Grants: Understanding the Opportunity Like most of the country, Northeast Ohio has struggled. Families across the region face economic insecurity. Students have been forced to adapt to changing classroom conditions. Businesses grapple with social distancing policies and the ever-present threat of future closures. And, as the Biden Administration has recognized, “Black and Latino Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and women have never been welcomed as full participants in the economy.” In an effort to help all Americans cope with these new realities, the Biden Administration launched Build Back Better, a $1 billion agenda, an “ambitious plan to create jobs, cut taxes, and lower costs for working families.” At our September 7, 2021, ecosystem-wide meeting, NeoSTEM partners, stakeholders, and participants learned how Northeast Ohio businesses and individuals can participate in Build Back Better’s recovery plan, and discussed how NeoSTEM can play a key role in this opportunity. Chris Spence, founder of the Cleveland-based New Growth Group, offered an overview of the many federal grant opportunities available through Build Back Better, and how to apply for them. Build Back Better is designed to grow new regional industry clusters or escale existing ones through planning, infrastructure development, innovation and entrepreneurship, workforce development, and […]

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR LEADERS: WHY IT MATTERS Teaching is an incredibly stressful job. A 2013 Gallup poll found that teaching is among the most stressful jobs in the nation, second only to nursing. And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered classrooms, sent students home, and forced teachers to adopt entirely new methods of engaging students in the virtual, distance-learning environment that followed. In fact, a recent survey found that a staggering 78% of all public school teachers experience significant work-related stress. That’s why the importance of SEL - social and emotional learning - cannot be overstated, not just for students, but for the teachers who strive every day to develop engaging lessons and provide emotional guidance and support in an uncertain world. On September 21, authors James Bailey and Randy Weiner, both seasoned and successful educators, joined us to discuss the importance of social and emotional learning for educators, and explain how big picture connections and support structures along emotional paths can lead to better learning and working environments for educators. James and Randy’s book, The Daily SEL Leader: A Guided Journal, a collection of brief, thought-provoking daily reflections meant to emphasize a leader’s social and emotional […]

It’s Gametime, and We’re Scoring with STEM! If you’ve seen our emails or followed our social media recently, you know we’ve had a big announcement coming. And the day is finally here. We’re thrilled to announce the Cleveland Cavaliers have chosen us to lead 2022 STEM Day March 19, 2022, at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.  Elementary and middle school students and their families from across northeast Ohio will be invited to attend a day of fun, STEM-focused learning events showcasing the intersections of science, technology, engineering, and math with sports. After the day’s events, they’ll stay for the evening game and root for the Cavs as they take on the Detroit Pistons. And they’re relying on the NeoSTEM community to make the day a great one. “We’re going to be inviting back some students, and hopefully introducing many new students and their families to come out to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on the day of a Cavs game, experience some incredible immersive learning around STEM, and attend the game that evening against the Detroit Pistons,” said Melanie Seiser, senior director of group sales and development for the Cavs. “We’re turning it over to the experts to put our programming together, where […]

Remembering Our Friend Like so many in Northeast Ohio and around the world, the NeoSTEM family recently lost a dear friend. On Oct. 21, 2021, Dr. Terrence S. Robinson passed away. He was 46-years old. Dr. Robinson  was a husband and a father. He was a role model and a teacher. He was our colleague, and a guiding voice in our work. He wasn’t simply a leader in our community; he was an ideal, an example of the very best we could hope for ourselves. The NeoSTEM family took a moment to remember Dr. Robinson  at this month’s meeting, and we send our best wishes to his family. * * * * * * * * * NeoSTEM is leading the charge in planning the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2022 STEM Day, “Score with STEM,” a fun-filled day of engaging activities showcasing the many intersections of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with sports. And we need your help!  NeoSTEM is seeking event sponsors and partners to participate in this fantastic event. For more information, follow the links below: Event sponsorship, click here. Participating as an event exhibitor, demonstrator or mainstage presenter, click here. The latest cohort of WIR’ED launches Nov. 15, and […]

Looking Back, Looking Ahead The year began with DreamSTEM. Two years ago, NeoSTEM’s thought leaders and partners gave us a mandate - to increase the visibility and accessibility of STEM professions in northeast Ohio’s underserved students, in particular, Black and Brown students. And through a series of planning sessions and countless informal discussions, we developed a plan in 2021 to address that mandate. We heard your call, and we’re answering. This year, under the DreamSTEM umbrella, we launched a teacher externship program to connect educators to the real-world applications of the STEM. We launched the “I am STEM” campaign to introduce students to the many faces of STEM professions. And, in partnership with MyCom Cleveland, we are developing a community-based program to bring after-school and weekend STEM education opportunities to students and families at the neighborhood level. As 2021 draws to a close, we held our final Ecosystem meeting, one more opportunity to discuss these accomplishments, and to begin thinking about the challenges to come. The DreamSTEM externship program connected four area educators with three STEM industry leaders - the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Synthomer, and InvaCare - to help them better understand the many career applications of the […]

Ebony Hood Assumes Leadership of NeoSTEM Ecosystem 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 […]

We had a great group with us at this month’s NeoSTEM Ecosystem meeting. We’re just 19 short days away from Score with STEM, and we still need volunteers! With nearly 50 exhibits and more than 1,500 students and families expected to attend, we need all the help we can get to make this a lasting experience for everyone involved. And every volunteer who spends the day with us will get a free ticket to the game! It’s a great opportunity for individuals, families, and organizations to participate in a great event and cheer on the Cavs!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT We Scored with STEM! This was our first year in partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers. And after months of planning and working with so many in our NeoSTEM family, to say the event was a success is an understatement.  As you all know by now, we brought more than 1,500 students, families, and organizations from all around northeast to the FieldHouse for Score with STEM. We had more than 40 interactive exhibits, from programmable robots to birds of prey to an examination of wearable technology used to help people with spinal cord injuries. The Cavs told us it was the biggest event to come to the FieldHouse this year. Stay tuned for more information on next year’s event, and please let us know if you’d like to participate in planning. In other news: On July 23, the All-American Soap Box Derby is holding its 2022 STEM Fair and hosting more than 400 youths from around the world! For more information, and to register for tickets, click here. On May 14, check out the 21st annual Rock Your World with STEAM Festival, presented by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and sponsored by All-City Arts and the […]

We began this month’s meeting by taking a moment to recognize the many educators who guided us and had positive impacts on our lives. NeoSTEM understands that from Cleveland, to Orange, to Warren, educators shape our lives and our communities. As we close out Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to thank the many educators we’re lucky enough to have in our lives and guide our work.

This month we went live! For the first time in more than 27 months, NeoSTEM partners from all over northeast Ohio - from our old friends at Parker Hannifin and Youth Opportunities Unlimited to our new friends at Hyland Software and the Cleveland Cavaliers - gathered to reflect on where we’ve been and what we’ve been through, and cast an eye toward where we’re headed and what we’ve planned. We talked about I am STEM, STEM in My Neighborhood, Score with STEM, and a whole lot more. And, with our thanks to our pals at the Cavs, we were lucky to do it at the always spectacular Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (with some great snacks).

After the long Fourth of July weekend, we gathered online for a great discussion about the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice’s convening in Michigan. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that the convening (featuring our very own Ebony Hood) gave STEM thought leaders from across the country the opportunity to show off their great regional work, and to brainstorm about the future of STEM education in the U.S. We also chatted about our upcoming WIR’ED cohort and the many opportunities programs like it provide for students and business owners alike. Check it out!