Explora will provide a health careers pathways program via its x studio teen workforce development center, in partnership with the university of new mexico health sciences center's office of…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a $488,756 Museums for America (CFDA 45.301) grant to the Explora Science Center & Children's Museum of Albuquerque. The project, running from Sep 1, 2024 to Aug 31, 2026, will provide a health careers pathways program for Hispanic and Indigenous teens in New Mexico. Key activities include developing and facilitating health-related out-of-school learning experiences such as hands-on workshops, teen science cafes, and a statewide health career fair. The program will connect teens with diverse healthcare professionals who will provide mentorship and share career pathway stories. An external evaluator will be hired to measure program performance, and results will be shared at professional conferences. The grant aims to increase awareness and participation in healthcare careers among the target student population.

Explora will provide a health careers pathways program via its x studio teen workforce development center, in partnership with the university of new mexico health sciences center's office of diversity, equity, and inclusion; future focused education; and health leadership high school. Informed by community listening sessions and focus groups and guided by an advisory group of local stem-h professionals, project staff will develop and facilitate health-related out-of-school time learning experiences including hands-on workshops, teen science cafes, and a statewide health career fair. Program partners will connect teens with diverse healthcare professionals, who will provide mentorship and share career pathway stories and will create a visual organizer of the health career ecosystem, with the goal of increasing awareness and participation in healthcare careers for hispanic and indigenous teens in new mexico. An external evaluator will be hired to measure program performance and results will be shared at professional conferences for the benefit of science museum professionals, educators, and students.