NewBoCo STEM programs head to Johnson County

The STEM summer programs that NewBoCo offers youngsters and adults in Cedar Rapids also will be offered in Johnson County this summer.

The science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs include CoderDojo and the DeltaV Introduction to Coding.

Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County and Wright House of Fashion are supporting the expansion effort.

RaQuishia Harrington, director of the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, emphasized the significance of the collaboration.

“The collaboration is important as it provides an opportunity for youth to engage in STEM activities that are fun and rewarding,” she said. “Every opportunity is appreciated, and the outcomes are limitless for all youth who participate. The freedom to create and explore new things is what makes programs such as these worthwhile.”

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Melissa Silver, NewBoCo’s DeltaV director of student services, shares her enthusiasm.

"We are thrilled to partner with Wright House of Fashion and Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County in Iowa City this summer,“ she said. ”Our passion is meeting young people and adults where they are through STEM activities and tech education. We are learning in Iowa and becoming world-changing innovators."

Andre Wright, founder of Wright House of Fashion, said the programming aligns with the Wright House mission “because we are an educational facility for creatives. We believe the future of education will involve new technology, and we are excited to be part of that revolution.”

Events

For information about NewBoCo summer classes in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, go to https://newbo.co/events-calendar/.

The STEM events being offered in Iowa City include:

CoderDojo Sessions: CoderDojo is a free STEM event for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Through self-guided learning, students explore STEM activities like LEGO Robotics, Microscopes, BeeBots and Scratch Programming. The sessions — open to students in the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County — will be 1 to 3 p.m. July 18, July 25, Aug. 1 and Aug. 8.

Introduction to Code Workshop: On Aug, 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., a free, one-day intensive workshop will be offered for beginner coders. The workshop, sponsored by Leepfrog, provides an immersive experience in front-end web development. Registration is required. Participants will learn the fundamentals of being a software developer; see how HTML and CSS create the modern web; build and deploy a website; and gain the confidence to share their creations with friends and family.

Fashion Meets Tech: The partnership with Wright House of Fashion, 910 S. Gilbert St. in Iowa City, will offer free classes blending creativity with technology. Registration is required at wrighthousefashion.com/.

The classes:

Empowering youth

A challenge in STEM education is access because many students face transportation issues or cannot afford extracurricular learning opportunities, Silver said.

By partnering with organizations that provide child care and transportation, the summer collaboration is able “to reach a diverse and captive audience, ensuring students who might miss out on STEM opportunities in school can explore these fields,” she said.

Wright House of Fashion, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring youth through fashion and design, is a fitting partner, Silver said. Its mission to empower underrepresented populations aligns with NewBoCo’s goal of making STEM education accessible to all.

The Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, which provides care and support for more than 120 children each summer, is “equipping the next generation with the tools and skills they need to succeed,” Silver said.

Jessica Abdoney is marketing and communications coordinator at NewBoCo. Comments: jessica.abdoney@newbo.co