STEM NOLA's November 2024 STEM Saturday empowered future innovators through Chemistry

282 Students from 147 Schools Engage in Hands-On Chemistry Experiments, 72% from Low-Income Backgrounds

On November 9, 2024, STEM NOLA hosted its "Power of Chemistry" STEM Saturday at the NORD's Gernon Brown Recreation Center in New Orleans. STEM Saturday brought together 282 K-12 students from 147 schools, engaging them in interactive activities like building and testing chemical battery clocks, experimenting with chemical reactions, and exploring the wonders of chemistry. STEM Saturday was designed to provide students with engaging and accessible STEM experiences that are not typically available in traditional classrooms. With 72% of participants coming from low-income backgrounds, STEM Saturday reinforced STEM NOLA’s commitment to ensuring that all students—especially those in under-resourced communities—have access to critical STEM education.

STEM NOLA’s Mission: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators

STEM NOLA and STEM Global Action are dedicated to exposing, engaging, and inspiring future innovators, creators, makers, and entrepreneurs through hands-on STEM-based activities. Founded by Dr. Calvin Mackie , a former engineering professor at Tulane University , and his wife Tracy Mackie , a registered pharmacist, STEM NOLA’s mission is to make STEM education a natural part of children’s lives from an early age. By bringing state-of-the-art, interactive STEM experiences to students, STEM NOLA helps build skills, foster creativity, and spark curiosity about future STEM careers.

Support from Partners and Sponsors

This successful STEM Saturday was powered by Chevron , with additional support from Boeing , Entergy , the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD), the City of New Orleans , and the New Orleans City Council . These partners, along with over 50 dedicated volunteers from local colleges and STEM professionals, ensured that students had the support and mentorship needed to fully engage in the activities. Volunteers guided students through each experiment, helping them make connections between theory and real-world applications of chemistry.

Volunteers Bring STEM to Life

Over 50 volunteers, including college students and STEM professionals, played a key role in making STEM Saturday memorable. Their support allowed students to experience STEM in a hands-on way that fostered deeper learning and curiosity. Volunteers mentored students as they explored complex concepts like chemical reactions, the properties of matter, and energy transfer. This collaborative effort allowed students not only to explore chemistry but also to develop essential skills in communication, creativity, and critical thinking—skills that are integral to success in STEM fields.

Engagement for All Ages

STEM NOLA went above and beyond to ensure that every family member could participate in the day’s activities. A special Toddler Corner, organized by TrainingGrounds Inc. , provided hands-on, age-appropriate STEM activities for children ages 0-4. This initiative reflected STEM NOLA’s commitment to making STEM education accessible for the entire family and to fostering an early love of science in the youngest learners.

Fostering Diversity and Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow

STEM NOLA’s programming is not just about inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders; it is also crucial for workforce and economic development. By providing students—particularly those from underrepresented and underserved communities—with the tools and experiences they need to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, STEM NOLA helps cultivate a skilled workforce that drives innovation and growth. The organization’s dedication to diversity and inclusion in STEM ensures that all students, regardless of their background, have an equal opportunity to succeed in these critical fields.

Looking Toward the Future

Thanks to the generous contributions of our sponsors and volunteers, STEM NOLA continues to create transformative STEM experiences that empower the next generation of innovators, creators, and makers. Over 160,000 students have participated in STEM Saturdays across multiple cities, and STEM Global Action plans to expand its reach in the coming months. Dr. Calvin Mackie’s vision for the future is one where a million kids engage in STEM activities every Saturday, making STEM an integral part of their lives and education.

STEM NOLA | STEM Global Action remains committed to creating scalable, sustainable programs that can be adapted to different communities, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to explore, engage, and succeed in the world of STEM. By addressing educational disparities and promoting diversity, STEM NOLA is not only inspiring future leaders in science and technology but also strengthening the economic foundation of our communities.