Brooklyn youth nonprofits get $7,500 to spread the word about science literacy
The Society for Science, a 100-year-old organization dedicated to the promotion of science education, has given a $2,500 grant and a $5,000 grant to two Brooklyn STEM organizations — part of an overall $165,000 in microgrants to 38 community-driven programs across the country.
The STEM Action Grant program, under which these awards were given, helps groups that have been historically left behind in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and careers — from hearing- and visually-impaired youngsters to low-income students to female students.
The $5,000 grant goes to Tech Kids Unlimited, headquartered on Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The money will go toward helping students on the autism spectrum to gain confidence and expand their skills in technology and computer science. In particular, the funds will support the TKU Digital Agency, which provides paid internships and work-based learning for young people on the spectrum, many of whom suffer from chronic unemployment.