When we first started thinking about STEMWorks Youth, it began with something a lot smaller than a mission statement, it started with a simple conversation about opportunity.

 

We both go to Bronx Science, and the longer we were there, the more we noticed something. Between the clubs, the research programs, the alumni network stretching back decades, and teachers pointing us toward competitions and internships, we had access to more than we ever realized. It was a massive head start handed to us just by walking through the doors of a specialized high school.

 

That got us thinking about how many capable students never get handed those same keys, and how early that gap actually starts. We realized we wanted to reach two specific groups:

 

Middle schoolers: Technology is moving way too fast for kids to wait until high school to figure out if they like science or engineering. We want to build and donate hands-on STEM kits to middle school programs across NYC, getting real tools into their hands early so they can navigate an ever-changing, tech-driven world.

High schoolers: For students who missed their chance to get into Bronx Science, missing out on one test at thirteen should never lock you out of a top-tier STEM path. We want to give them access to research guidance, mentorship, and the exact same high level resources they would have had at a specialized high school.

 

So we asked ourselves, what if we built that support system ourselves?

 

We are raising funds, doing weekly STEM workshops, and connect with mentors to pass along what was given to us. Because access to real opportunity should never depend on what high school you walk into every morning or what your family can afford.

 

Wilson & Jonah

Co-Founders,

STEMWorks Youth