STEM Nola
About Us
STEM NOLA (SN) is an organization founded by New Orleans native, and former tenured Tulane University Engineering professor, Dr. Calvin Mackie. The purpose of its existence is to expose, inspire and engage members in the surrounding communities about the opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
STEM NOLA will design and deliver activities, programs & events that bring inspiration, motivation and training to all STEM stakeholders, specifically focusing on underserved communities, across the city. Participants will receive the opportunity to obtain 21st Century skills of Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking.
STEM NOLA realizes that any effective community-based STEM program must be broad enough to include everyone, yet focused enough to reach the people where they are, on their level, and, taking them to where they need to be to compete, and succeed in life.
Our Mission
The mission of STEM NOLA is to grow future Innovators, Creators, and Entrepreneurs through inspiration, engagement, and exposure. Members of the community will learn about opportunities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
Our Strength
The greatest strength of the STEM NOLA program is that is developed to be culturally, and environmentally-relevant by using project-based activities, and hands-on designed learning to Expose, Inspire, and Engage students in grades K-12. By using college students, who are specializing in STEM-Based studies, as well as corporate volunteers as instructors and mentors, K-12 students are afforded the opportunity to see themselves as STEM-Based career participants.
Teacher Professional Development
STEM teacher workshops are designed to provide a context for instruction for math, science, ELA, literacy and technology content standards. These workshops follow the engineering design process, so participants can expect to start each workshop with a problem and work collaboratively to design or engineer the best solution. This one-day workshop will equip teachers to model this teaching in their own classrooms.
STEM Saturdays in the Community
“STEM Saturdays with Dr. Mackie” will provide city-wide family, and community-based academic events each month where students and parents can attend, and learn together. STEM NOLA will partner with the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) to host events at NORDC facilities across the city, at the following sites: Joe Brown Park, The Treme Center, The Lyons Center and Behrman Park.
The goal of the STEM NOLA program is to engage the entire community around Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM). By holding widely publicized events on the 2nd Saturday of each month, all participants – parents, teachers, community volunteers and/or corporate volunteers, will be given an opportunity to engage students in fun, and educational STEM-Based activities. The community will be exposed to STEM activities that they can choose to participate in as a family, at any time. People in underserved communities do not take advantage of such activities because they have not been exposed. “STEM Saturdays with Dr. Mackie” will provide youth, especially urban youth, with exposure to activities and create curiosity about life, education and careers in STEM.
An Innovative Leader
Dr. Calvin Mackie
Founder & CEO
Dr. Calvin Mackie is an award-winning mentor, an inventor, an author, a former engineering professor, an internationally renowned speaker, and a successful entrepreneur. His message as a mentor, author, speaker, and entrepreneur continues to transcend race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and time. A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Dr. Mackie graduated from high school with low test scores requiring him to undertake special remedial classes at Morehouse College. He completed his degree in Mathematics at Morehouse in 1990, graduating Magna Cum Laude and a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. He was simultaneously awarded a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, where he subsequently earned his Master’s and Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering in 1996.
Want to Know More?
Let’s connect!
If you’re interested in learning more about this organization and its membership benefits, complete the section below, and a representative will connect with you.
