The tech interactive, a hands-on science center, will create educational resources that empower youth from historically marginalized communities to envision themselves in stem careers

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a $547,371 Museums for America (CFDA 45.301) Project Grant to The TECH Museum of Innovation in San Jose, CA. The award will enable the museum to create educational resources that empower youth from historically marginalized communities to envision themselves in STEM careers. Key activities include:

• Developing STEM events, project-based mentoring models, and career exploration resources in collaboration with local schools, the Santa Clara County Office of Education, San Jose Public Library, and STEM education nonprofits.
• Training paid college interns with lived experiences similar to the target youth demographic to offer insights and authentically engage participants as near-peers.
• Conducting multiple focus groups to gather feedback and refine the programs under development, ensuring successful integration of career-connected resources into the museum's existing STEM programming.

The 3-year project period runs from September 2024 through August 2027, supporting the museum's efforts to expand access to transformative STEM learning experiences and create more inclusive pathways for diverse youth to pursue scientific and technological careers.

Informed by pre-project research and community listening sessions, the center's stem pathways committee will select two to three program ideas to test, including stem events, project-based mentoring models, and career exploration resources for educational programs. The committee includes educators from local schools, as well as the santa clara county office of education, SAN jose public library, envisioneers (a youth mentoring organization), and stem education nonprofits. To support CO-creation of resources, the center will train paid college interns with lived experience similar to the target demographic to offer insights and authentically engage youth as near peers. Multiple focus groups will provide feedback used to refine the programs under development and ensure successful integration of career-connected resources into existing programming.