c3steamia@gmail.com

Increase Accessibility And Engagement Of Underserved And Underrepresented Students In STEAM

Our programs are broad in scope attempting to reach as many students as possible and also in-depth with hands on activities and experiences.

Get Involved Work with Us

STEAM Education helps kids get more opportunities

Access to STEAM Education can be a challenge

STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) is crucial for preparing children for the modern workforce, fostering creativity, problem-solving skills, and innovation.

It equips students with the knowledge needed for high-demand careers in technology, healthcare, and engineering.

STEM education often requires early exposure and consistent encouragement, especially for underrepresented groups. Low-income students may lack role models, mentorship opportunities, and access to extracurricular programs that emphasize STEM. As a result, they might not develop an interest in or awareness of these fields early on.

Without proper STEAM education, these students face limited career prospects, widening the opportunity gap and perpetuating cycles of poverty.

In 2023, individuals in STEM occupations nationally earned on average $101,650 in median annual salaries compared to all occupations overall earning $46,680 in median salaries. The number of STEM jobs are expected to grow over 10% in the next 10 years*

40% of Iowa’s GDP is driven by STEM – $85.7 billion annually. That’s 658,500 people employed in Iowa STEM jobs – 1/3 of the total workforce.**

*Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/stem-employment.htm

**Source: “People of Science – An Inclusive Analysis of the U.S. STEM Workforce and Its Economic Impact” (2023)

Few Hands-On Learning Opportunities – A lack of science labs, robotics kits, and engineering workshops prevents students from gaining real-world experience in STEM fields.

Exposure and Awareness Gaps – Many students in underserved districts have limited exposure to STEM careers and role models, making it harder for them to see themselves pursuing these fields in the future.

Digital Divide and Limited Access to Technology – Many students do not have personal computers, tablets, or reliable internet at home, making it difficult to engage in digital learning and coding opportunities.

Cultural and Socioeconomic Barriers – In some communities, there may be cultural or socioeconomic factors that discourage students from pursuing STEM careers, especially in environments where immediate needs (like employment or survival) take precedence over long-term educational aspirations. Additionally, there may be misconceptions about who "belongs" in STEM, especially among historically underrepresented groups in these fields.

Educational Inequality and Lack of Funding – Schools in underserved districts often receive less funding, leading to outdated textbooks, insufficient lab equipment, and a lack of STEM-focused extracurricular programs. The broader issue of educational inequality means that students in low-income areas often face multiple challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, limited access to advanced learning resources, and high teacher turnover.

Get involved

How we help

Create

Creating partnerships with schools and non-profit organization and helping them develop STEAM education programs.

Working with community leaders and corporation to bridge the gap in STEAM education in their communities.

Connect

Connecting organizations with grant opportunites and educational programs to promote STEAM education.

Providing Camps and Workshops to help students get excited about STEAM education.

Community

Creating a community of organizations across the world facilitating collaboration and resource sharing.

Providing resources to small organizations to create programs in STEAM education.

WE ARE ON A MISSION TO PROMOTE STEAM EDUCATION

Our goal is to expose and generate interest in STEAM related programs.

C3 STEAM seeks to empower youth with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven world, and to foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

Our programs are both broad in scope attempting to reach as many students as possible and also are in-depth with hands on activities and experiences. The vision for C3 STEAM is to Increase accessibility and engagement of underserved and underrepresented students in STEAM. In order to achieve that our mission is providing opportunities to students to learn about, experience, and participate in tech camps and clubs. We also aim to create strategic community and corporate partnerships for accessible and sustainable STEM programs.

We help create STEAM education programs

We develop and support STEAM education programs that provide engaging, hands-on learning experiences for students of all backgrounds. By collaborating with schools, organizations, and communities, we design interactive curricula, workshops, and activities that foster creativity, critical thinking, and innovation. Our programs aim to make science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics accessible and exciting, empowering students to develop problem-solving skills and explore future career opportunities in STEAM fields. Through sustainable initiatives, we strive to bridge educational gaps and inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders.

We run STEAM Camps

We organize and facilitate STEAM camps designed to immerse students in engaging, hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and innovation. Designed to make learning fun, our programs inspire students to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math in an exciting and supportive environment.

Our camps cover a wide range of topics, including robotics, coding, engineering design, digital arts, and scientific experimentation.

By making STEAM accessible and exciting, we aim to empower students of all backgrounds to discover their passions, build confidence, and gain valuable skills that prepare them for future academic and career pathways.

Working with Organizations across the world

We provide resources and run remote workshops with organizations in Philippines and India.

By fostering international collaboration, we strive to break down barriers to education, promote inclusivity, and equip students with the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.

Get Involved

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Are donations tax deductible?

Yes, C3 STEAM is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible. Our Federal EIN # 33-3835257

What area do you serve?

We primarily serve the Des Moines, Iowa metro with hands-on camps, workshops, and experiences for students and educators. We also have select global partnerships with organizations to enable digital literacy initiatives.

What age youth do you serve?

Our programs primarily serve youth in 2nd through 12th grade, providing age-appropriate STEM learning opportunities for a wide range of students.

Can anyone participate in the camps?

YES! While our strategic partnership focus is youth in underserved and underrepresented communities, our public programs are open to all interested youth.

What are the fees for your programs?

There are no fees for students to participate in our camps and workshops. With our corporate donations and partnerships, we aim to raise funds to cover operational costs for the programming.

Do you need prior experience to participate?

All of our camps and workshops cater to age-appropriate students with minimal or no prior experience. We strive to make STEM learning a fun and engaging experience for students.

Our mission is to Increase Accessibility And Engagement Of Underserved And Underrepresented Students In STEAM