News - United States of America
NASA Goddard and Legacy Bridges STEM Academy, Inc. Team Up to Develop Pre-College to College STEM Pipeline
The NASA Goddard GLOBE Partnership is working with Dr. Joi C. Spraggins (Dr. Joi®), CEO of Legacy Bridges STEM Academy, Inc., a 501 (3) non-profit NASA Legends and Trail Blazers STEM Institute and NASA GLOBE Partner to develop a Pennsylvania-based East Coast pre-college to college STEM pipeline and 21st century workforce to meet the demands of the 21st century economy.
The need for greater innovative diversity, equity and inclusive private/public sector business, small businesses and academic industry partnerships involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Scientific Citizens Research Literacy is growing.
Data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics show that STEM-related occupations have remained resilient during the economic COVID-19 pandemic crisis with a projected growth by 8% through 2029. The negative impact of the crisis on high-quality STEM education, particularly for traditionally underserved populations in urban and rural communities, has hindered our region’s ability to address STEM education and citizens scientific data science community-based research.
Legacy Bridges STEM Academy, Inc. and the NASA Goddard Team have been working with Dr. Steve G. Hughes, Cheyney University’s Professor of Biology and Director of Aquaculture Research and Education Laboratory (AREL), PA Mid-Atlantic Region HBCUs and MSI partners on the development of NASA GLOBE Citizen Science and Technology Student Research UN Sustainable Global Goals to address this issue.
This innovative NASA GLOBE Citizen Science and “Excellence in Research” private/public sector STEM Pilot Program is being guided by a Legacy Leadership vision and “Best Practice” core principles that support diversity, equity, inclusion and access to high-quality STEM careers and technical education. Educators, students, scientists, employers, veterans, and U.S. citizens work together to collect community-based scientific data that can help solve local and global issues that are impacting public health and public safety, our environment and ecology, and STEM career awareness with family sustainable wage job opportunities. The pilot is scheduled for launch this fall.
Through collaboration with the NASA Goddard Team, Legacy Bridges STEM Academy will build upon "Best Practices'' from its 2019-2020 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) PA Smart "Teachers In The Workplace" PA Mid-Atlantic Region and National Demonstration STEM Pilot Program. The Pilot Program includes participation in the 2021 Smithsonian Science Education Center’s public-private partnership with Shell Oil “Building a Coalition for Attracting and Retaining a Diverse STEM Teaching Workforce”.
Additional partners in the endeavor includes: Legacy Bridges STEM Academy, Inc.'s NASA Legends and Trail Blazers and Women Pioneers and Innovators, Legacy Bridges and the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation Philadelphia Navy Yard Saturday, May 15, 2021 Armed Forces Day "Selfless Service To Others" American Hero George E. Hardy, Lt. Col. USAF (Retired) Red Tail Fighter Pilot P-15, and Legacy Bridges’ July 14-16, 2021 George H. W. Bush Points of Lights Conference Exhibit.
News origin: United States of America