Project Exploration

Project Exploration is pleased to announce Trinanein Kaya has joined our team as the new deputy director. Trinanein Kaya is a Chicago native with over 20 years of diverse professional experience encompassing nonprofit administration, workforce development, out-of-school-time (OST) programming, program assessment, and entrepreneurship. She has held pivotal roles at notable organizations, including Bridges from School to Work, After School Matters, and the Illinois Institute of Technology. Trinanein has a BA in Organizational Communication from Loyola University Chicago. Trinanein is a culturally competent leader and thought partner, recognized for her ability to build strategic public and private partnerships, lead high-performing teams and manage complex projects from inception to completion. Her entrepreneurial journey has deepened her understanding of employers' challenges in hiring and retaining talent, further enriching her workforce development expertise. Throughout her career, Trinanein has been a staunch advocate for youth development. Her achievements include managing a federally funded randomized control trial to identify effective workforce development practices for neurodivergent youth, coaching high school students and mentors to apply STEM/STEAM principles to social issues, and leading programmatic innovations for OST teen programming. At After School Matters, she implemented continuous improvement processes for over 900 programs annually, enhanced instructional practices, and directed efforts to prepare teens for college and careers. She combines her operational expertise with marketing and community engagement. Trinanein holds certifications in Trauma-Informed Care, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Youth Program Quality Assessment. Her leadership and commitment to creating equitable opportunities make her a youth programming and workforce development visionary. We are thrilled to have her join the team!

We’re excited to share the highlights from Project Exploration's 25th Anniversary celebration! Our recap video features key moments from the event, including glimpses of the presentations from our inspiring students whose showcase was the highlight of the night. Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $200,000 to continue our mission of transforming lives through #STEMeducation. 🎥 Watch the recap: https://lnkd.in/e2S__EHi Your continued support is crucial. Please consider donating to help us provide more opportunities for underrepresented youth in STEM. 🙏 Donate here: https://lnkd.in/eURikfdd #ProjectExploration #STEMeducation #Fundraiser #DonateNow #TransformingLives Video credit to Anthony Simmons (@jaredino)

We are proud to share the inspiring stories of Elena Schroeter, Michael A. Ramirez, and Uzziel Fernandez, three Project Exploration alumni whose lives have been transformed through our programs. 🌟 In our latest video, they share the impact that Project Exploration has had on their journeys in STEM and life in general. 🎥 Hear their stories: https://lnkd.in/ei3gmsb7 We were blown away by the generosity of our supporters who came to celebrate these alumni and 25 years of #changingthefaceofscience. We raised over $200,000 that night, a true testament of the level of belief in our students that this community possesses! We are still just shy of our goal - please consider donating to help the next generation of young people for whom Elena, Michael, and Uzzi paved the way. Together, we will continue providing life-changing opportunities for underrepresented youth in STEM. 🙏 Donate here: https://lnkd.in/eURikfdd #ProjectExploration #STEMeducation #TransformingLives #diversityinSTEM #ChicagoPhilanthropy

🎉 Whoo! Another awesome STEM Champion! 🎉 🌟 We are thrilled to highlight Matthew Blakely, one of our esteemed emeritus board members. Emeritus board members are vital to our organization, offering wisdom and experience that help guide our mission.🌟 "With nearly three decades of experience in private and corporate foundations, corporate social responsibility, diversity, and sustainability programs, Matt Blakely has made a significant impact on global companies in Chicago and St. Louis. He is passionate about advancing inclusion, STEM education, health equity, and environmental sustainability. Currently, Matt serves as Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability for the Reinsurance Group of America (RGA). In this role, he leads philanthropic efforts, employee volunteerism, sustainability initiatives, and ESG reporting for RGA, a Fortune 500 company. Matt also serves on the executive advisory committee of the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and the board of directors of Focus STL, a leadership development nonprofit in St. Louis. He is a proud emeritus board member for Project Exploration and the Chicago History Museum. Having spent most of his life in Chicago, Matt now lives in St. Louis with his husband." Join us in celebrating Matt and other extraordinary honorees at Project Exploration's 25th Anniversary Celebration! 🚀 Tickets are selling out fast—don't miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary event! Tickets and details at https://lnkd.in/ePw766gv ! #STEMChampion #ProjectExploration #PE25 #25years #STEMeducation #STEAMeducation #ChangeTheFuture

🎉 Presenting another one of our amazing STEM Champions! 🎉 🌟 Read below to meet one of our Scientist Honorees: Sean Carroll, PhD! 🌟 "Sean Carroll is the Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University and a Fractal Faculty member at the Santa Fe Institute. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1993. Sean's research delves into the foundations of physics, exploring quantum mechanics, spacetime, cosmology, and emergence. He is the acclaimed author of several books, with his latest being The Biggest Ideas in the Universe, Vol. 2: Quanta and Fields. Sean has received numerous accolades, including prizes and fellowships from the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Sloan Foundation, the Packard Foundation, the American Physical Society, the American Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of London, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Additionally, he hosts the popular weekly podcast, Mindscape." Join us in celebrating Sean Carroll and other incredible honorees at Project Exploration's 25th Anniversary Celebration on June 20th! 🚀 Tickets are selling out fast—don't miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary event! Tickets and details at https://lnkd.in/ePw766gv ! #STEMChampion #ProjectExploration #PE25 #25years #STEMeducation #STEAMeducation #ChangeTheFuture

🎉 Yet another incredible STEM Champion! 🎉 🌟 Meet Michael A. Ramirez, a student-turned-board member who has been helping us make an impact in science since he was 14!🌟 "Michael holds a BA in Communications from the University of Illinois at Chicago and brings a wealth of experience and passion to his role as Project Manager for Project Exploration's 25th anniversary celebration. Michael’s journey with Project Exploration began as a paleontology student, where he ignited public interest in prehistoric life through the "Dinosaur Giants" docent program. His dedication saw him take on various roles, including office intern, student blogger, and co-developer of "The Best Science Program Evah!" His commitment to making science accessible continues as he serves as an Auxiliary Board Member for Project Exploration. During college, Michael served as Education Manager at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, creating inclusive educational programs and facilitating enriching experiences for diverse audiences for over a decade. Later as Operations Manager at LimeRed, he streamlined processes, managed finances, and ensured project success. Outside of work, Michael is a horror movie enthusiast, gamer, and toy collector. He enjoys spending time with his husband Hector and their cat Minerva (Minnie), getting lost in a good book, and being a social media influencer in the Book Community." 🚀 Celebrate with us and learn more about our incredible STEM champions at our 25th anniversary celebration! Tickets are selling fast—don't miss out! Tickets and details at https://lnkd.in/ePw766gv ! #STEMChampion #ProjectExploration #PE25 #25years #STEMeducation #STEAMeducation #ChangeTheFuture

🎉 We are excited to spotlight our next set of amazing sponsors for Project Exploration's 25th Anniversary! 🎉 A heartfelt thank you to our Flapper Level Sponsors: 🌟TIES Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM 🌟United Airlines And a big shoutout to our Ritz Level Sponsors: 🌟American Medical Association 🌟The Chicago Community Trust 🌟J.P. Morgan 🌟The Siragusa Family Foundation 🌟Wintrust Financial Corporation Your incredible support is helping make this milestone celebration unforgettable! Join us as we celebrate 25 years of inspiring young minds and fostering a love for science. The event is shaping up to be truly special, and tickets are selling out fast! Don't miss your chance to be part of this remarkable evening! Get your tickets now and be part of the excitement!✨ https://lnkd.in/g9RrdJJd #ProjectExploration #PE25 #25years #STEMeducation #ChangeTheFuture #TIES #UnitedAirlines #AmericanMedicalAssociation #TheChicagoCommunityTrust #JPMorgan #SiragusaFamilyFoundation #Wintrust #CelebrateWithUs

🎉 Introducing our first set of sponsors! Your generous support is making this milestone celebration truly special! 🎉 A huge shoutout to our Charleston Level Sponsors: 🌟Amazon 🌟Boeing 🌟Verizon Fox Trot Level Sponsor: 🌟Northwestern University (Office of Community Education Partnerships) Join us as we celebrate 25 years of inspiring young minds and fostering a love for science. The event is shaping up to be unforgettable, and tickets are selling out fast! Don't miss your chance to be part of this incredible evening! Get your tickets now and be part of the excitement! ✨ https://lnkd.in/g9RrdJJd #ProjectExploration #PE25 #25years #STEMeducation #ChangeTheFuture #Amazon #Boeing #Verizon #NorthwesternUniversity #CelebrateWithUs

🎉 Excitement is in the air as we introduce another incredible STEM Champion!🎉 🌟 Meet Elena, a passionate advocate for STEM who has made a remarkable impact in our community! "A graduate of Curie Metropolitan High School (2002), Elena aspired to be a paleontologist since 5 years old. Introduced to Project Exploration by her freshman Biology teacher, her first experiences with geology and fieldwork were through PE’s Advanced Paleontologist Program (2000). Elena participated in various PE programs, including Dinosaur Giants and the Super Croc Delegation. She became the first in her family to attend college, earning a B.S. in Geophysics from the University of Chicago, where she also interned with PE’s youth development team. Elena served as PE’s Youth Development Coordinator, developing and delivering curricula for the programs she had benefited from. While enrolled at Drexel University, she performed fieldwork in South America and participated in the discovery of the titanosaur species, Dreadnoughtus. She continued working with PE as the STEM/Paleo Fellow for several field programs. With a PhD in Biology, Elena received postdoctoral training at Northwestern University and North Carolina State University (NC State). Currently an Assistant Teaching Professor and molecular paleontologist at NC State, teaching dinosaur science and evolution, and authoring the textbook “Dinosaurs: How We Know What We Know.” She has been invited to speak at numerous scientific symposiums, including the AAAS and the National Swedish Chemical Society. Elena advocates for equitable policies and supportive programs for STEM students from underrepresented backgrounds. Recently, she was an invited panelist for Yale University and the Yale Peabody Museum's workshop: “An Inclusive Future for Scientific Fieldwork." 🚀 Don’t miss our 25th Anniversary celebration! Tickets and details at https://lnkd.in/ePw766gv ! #STEMChampion #ProjectExploration #PE25 #25years #STEMeducation #STEAMeducation #ChangeTheFuture

🎉 Introducing our next STEM Champion for Project Exploration's 25th Anniversary celebration! 🎉 🌟 Meet Bernice "Bea" Billups, a dedicated partner of Project Exploration from Boeing Global Engagement. Boeing's unwavering support helps keep our mission alive. Our partners are the backbone of our success, providing essential resources and expertise to inspire and empower the next generation of scientists and innovators. "Bernice Billups is executive director of Global Engagement for the Boeing Company, the world’s leading aerospace company. She is focused on investing Boeing charitable funds in the northwest and central region and manages our relationships with elected officials and other stakeholders in Chicago. In her current role she is also responsible for leading the racial equity and social justice strategy for Global Engagement. Bernice joined the Boeing Company in 2001, having previously served as Manager/Chief of Staff to retired Chairman, President and CEO, Jim McNerney. In that position, Bernice served as primary point of contact for internal and external parties on all matters pertaining to the office of chairman. Bernice was born and raised in Chicago and volunteers as a STEM mentor at various student STEM learning activities in Chicago and Gary, Indiana. She received the 2022 Women of Color STEM Conference Corporate Responsibility Award, 2021 Black Engineer of the Year Modern Day Technology Leader Award and the 2019 Women of Color STEM Conference All-Star Award. She serves on the board of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and leadership committee of the Chicago STEM Pathways Cooperative and is passionate about mentoring youth and supporting under-served communities. Billups has a B.S. in Business Administration." Join us in celebrating Bernice and Boeing's incredible contributions at our 25th anniversary festivities! 🚀 Together, we continue to "Change the Face of Science." Tickets and details at https://lnkd.in/ePw766gv ! #STEMChampion #ProjectExploration #PE25 #25years #STEMeducation #STEAMeducation #ChangeTheFuture