Salvadori STEAM Program to Expand

July 3, 2017January 7, 2020 LaToya

Good news for young NYCHA residents interested in learning about what it takes to build their own model bridges or skate parks: a free afterschool Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture/Arts, and Math (STEAM) program may be coming to a community center near you in the fall.

The Salvadori Center, a non-profit organization that has taught STEAM in New York City for the past 40 years, provides the programming. Children work with Salvadori educators over 12 weeks to study objects found in their communities, such as buildings, bridges, and parks, and learn how they are part of their everyday lives. For instance, during the past school year, students at Todt Hill Houses built their own model bridge and designed and built their own skate park.

Last year, the Salvadori Center provided programs for 105 third to eighth graders on Staten Island at JCC Cornerstone (serving Richmond Terrace), UAU South Beach Cornerstone (serving South Beach residents), and JCC Cornerstone (serving Todt Hill), as well as a fourth Staten Island location at a non-NYCHA site. Thanks to a grant from the Pinkerton Foundation, the Salvadori Center will expand its afterschool program to six more NYCHA community centers, reaching as many as 500 children. The new sites will be selected based on a competitive citywide application process; interested NYCHA community centers must fill out and return the application by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 11, 2017.

“After a successful first year in Staten Island, we are thrilled to expand this program to other NYCHA centers across the city,” said Kenneth Jones, Executive Director of the Salvadori Center. “Helping economically disadvantaged students learn how math and science are relevant to their lives is at the heart of Salvadori’s mission!” If you want your kids to receive a year of free afterschool STEAM classes, tell your NYCHA center director to apply for the program here: http://bit.ly/2s0CKYj.