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Essential

Girls STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) Launchpad

Avatar:  Helen Helen
Idea Submission for The People's Money:
Free after-school and weekend STEAM and leadership clubs in Queens that give girls in grades 5–8 the opportunity to build robots, design green solutions, and create digital art. Launchpad hubs can be places of innovation, confidence, and community that allow girls to dream big and be leaders for the future of STEAM. Participation would be free, with multilingual outreach through local schools, Queens Public Library branches, shelters, and CBOs. Instruction is delivered in girls-only cohorts led by women mentors. Who can be the mentors and other volunteers • Support from Queens Public Library and CUNY colleges • Volunteer mentor can be from City Tech, Ada Developers Academy, and neighborhood tech firms • Corporate engagement through volunteer days and donated STEAM materials Modules can include: • Build & Code – robotics, coding fundamentals • Design Our Neighborhood – green infrastructure • Art + Tech – animation, 3D printing • Invent & Lead – teamwork, presentation skills
What is the problem your idea aims to address?
Parents in Queens know how hard it is to find safe, affordable after-school options that truly inspire their kids, especially programs for girls who love science, technology, and art. New statewide data confirm this is an unmet demand. More than half of New York's afterschool grant proposals were unfunded in 2025, even though 88% of parents support public afterschool funding. Meanwhile, only one in five NYC schools offers full-grade computer science access, and participation drops sharply by middle school—when girls' confidence and exposure often fade. Queens is home to about 67,000 girls ages 10–14, with many girls being priced out of fee-based enrichment. National assessments indicate that STEM gender gaps have reopened post-pandemic, widening by grade 8. Research tracking thousands of girls finds that interest peaks around age 11 and wanes by 15 which is when programs like Launchpad can re-ignite engagement.
Which groups does your idea focus on? Select all that apply
Youth (under 24)
Public Housing Residents
Limited English Speakers
Immigrants / Migrants

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