Stemming Ideas
What do you do?
Our mission is to introduce diverse learners to technical fields promoting self-discovery, societal awareness, and lasting change within technological fields.
Our vision is to introduce technical fields and make it accessible for all people, regardless of their background. We aim to create a diverse group of students who learn how to work together with people from different backgrounds to solve problems together.
We achieve this by providing interesting STEM content, focused on Computer Science, to youth in middle school and high school. Our programs focus on teamwork, which will bring students from a broad range of backgrounds together to solve problems. Learners will see that there is a place for everyone in STEM, and that different backgrounds can bring diverse perspectives to help enhance problem solving.
Why is this necessary and important?
Currently, there is a lack of diversity in computing, as well as other STEM fields. Currently, women, Black and Hispanic people are underrepresented in STEM. According to the PEW research center:
Women Earn 58% of all college degrees, but in 2018 earned just 19% of computer science degrees
Women are just 25% of those working in computer occupation
“Hispanic workers are highly underrepresented in the STEM workforce – making up only 8% of STEM workers but 17% of total employment across all occupations.”
Black workers, who comprise 11% of total employment across all occupations ... Black workers account for just 5% of engineers and architects and 7% of workers in computer occupations.”
Furthermore, those from economically challenged backgrounds are also underrepresented and have less opportunities to learn computer science than their peers. According to Amazon Future Engineers Report in 2021:
“The gaps between student interest and participation in computer science classes are particularly large for students in lower-income households (among those in households earning less than $48,000 a year, 59% are interested but 37% have taken a class), as well as Black students (60% vs. 42%) and Hispanic students (61% vs. 44%)”
“Overall, 70% of students say computer science classes are available at their school. However, this figure is significantly lower among underserved groups, particularly rural students in low-income households (46%).”
This lack of representation is problematic- for both underrepresented individuals and workplaces.
First, there is better pay in STEM fields that can help lift the economically disadvantaged out of poverty. “In 2019, median earnings for full-time, year-round workers ages 25 and older in a STEM job were about $77,400. The comparable median for workers in other, non-STEM occupations was $46,900.”
Next, STEM jobs are growing and important to our society. As our population becomes more diverse and STEM jobs more in demand, if we do not create more interest in STEM fields, then jobs will go unfilled in the future. According to the NSF, the STEM workforce is 89% white and 72% male, while the overall workforce is 78% white and 53% male. Right now in the U.S., there are currently more non-white children than white children, and nearly half of all children born are female.”
Finally, having a more diverse workforce is good for businesses too! Diversity and inclusion initiatives increase innovation, productivity, and revenue across STEM fields. “Increasing a company’s workforce diversity generates higher revenues, up to $570 billion in profit across the technology industry alone.”
Who do you serve?
We welcome everyone regardless of their ethnic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, economic background, etc. We aim to create a diverse group of students who learn how to work together with people from different backgrounds to solve problems together.
Our programs are currently focused on high school and middle school aged students.
When do you offer programs?
Our goal is to offer programs both in-school as well as an after-school program. We are piloting our in-school program at Northview Public Schools, and hope to expand into more locations in the 2024-2025 school year. If you are interested in having our program at your school, or having your child attend one of our programs, please contact us at stemmingideas@gmail.com.
In the future we also hope to offer summer camps to teachers to learn how to teach Computer Science in Michigan schools.
Why Stemming Ideas?
What makes Stemming Ideas different is that we have a unique range of expertise that can be utilized to reach youth. Our board has 2 Computer Science professors with PhDs, one licensed High School teacher, and an experienced nonprofit administrator. We are all passionate about our values of diversity, inclusion, cooperation, critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. We welcome everyone regardless of their ethnic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, economic background, etc. We want to be the place where people learn how to work together and learn to appreciate our differences. We believe we can impact the future though making STEM content more accessible and interesting to diverse youth.
We are also unique in that our model wants to serve represented groups alongside the underrepresented populations. This way those who are traditionally represented in the field will grow up alongside diverse peers and see from the very beginning that there is room for everyone to belong in STEM fields. All too often we see programs that silo just boys, girls, etc. This is a place where everyone belongs!
Who we are:
Stemming Ideas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are a volunteer driven organization, with programs managed by our board members:
Dr. Byron DeVries, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Computer Science at GVSU
Dr. Christian Trefftz, Ph.D., Professor of Computer Science at GVSU
Danielle Heft, MS, M.Ed, STEAM Teacher and Chair at Northview Public Schools
Angela DeVries, MPA, Nonprofit Professional
How can we support you?
Monetary Donations
Your donation is important to us! As a small nonprofit organization your donation can help us expand our reach in providing STEM education to youth. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. You can make donations online here, or you can mail your donation to:
Stemming Ideas
PO Box 120094
Grand Rapids, MI 49528
In-Kind Donations
We can use a variety of tech related donations to help our students learn! Some items we use in our curriculum include:
Robots
Circuit Scribe Pens
Turing Tumble sets
We also can use donations of Chrome Books to help build a portable computer lab for our students. Please contact stemmingideas@gmail.com if you have anything you would like to donate to our cause!
Volunteers
Volunteers are essential to helping us achieve our mission! We’ve used volunteers for everything from graphic design to program delivery. We are looking for volunteers to serve on boards and committees, to assist with fundraising events, and to help us with our programs. If you have a special skill and would like to help us out (videography, Spanish translation, events, etc.) please let us know how you’d like to help us! Contact stemmingideas@gmail.com.