By Miles Flynn | Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD — Elementary students in Lawrence and Orange counties are getting an early connection to the job skills of tomorrow thanks to an investment from United Way of South Central Indiana. With contributions of $78,000 from the GM Foundation and another $10,000 from Duke Energy, the agency has been able to start dedicated STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classrooms at Lincoln Elementary and Parkview Elementary in Bedford and supplement STEM classrooms in Mitchell and Orleans.
The classrooms are providing hands-on learning activities with 3-D printers, Glow Forge, poster printers and other equipment. “STEM/STEAM activities are important because they promote problem solving and creative and analytical thinking by students. In addition, STEM/STEAM activities increase student engagement and provide real-world problems for students to solve,” said Orleans Community Schools Superintendent Jimmy Ellis. “Orleans Community Schools greatly appreciates the partnership with the United Way of South Central Indiana. The grant that they presented to our school system will help broaden student access to challenging and engaging STEM activities. We truly appreciate all of our community partners, and all they do to help Orleans Community Schools offer opportunities to our students.”
Michele Hardman, outreach coordinator with United Way of South Central Indiana, explained the grantmaking is a response to a critical need in the community. “We hear all the time employers talking about how they need more skilled workers,” she explained.
Hardman said it’s been extremely gratifying working with the schools and presenting the funds. “That’s been the fun part for us: giving all this money away and knowing it’s making an impact on so many levels,” she commented.
United Way of South Central Indiana officials see these first classrooms as just a beginning. The organization has already applied for other traditional grants and will try for another GM Foundation grant once the process opens in October. “My plans are that each elementary school in both Lawrence and Orange counties will have dedicated STEM classrooms,” said Kim Burgess, executive director of the agency. “We just submitted our final report for the GM Foundation grant. We are hoping to be able to apply for the second round to get four more schools funded.”
New mentoring program helping girls
The STEM classrooms initiative isn’t the only new thing happening at United Way of South Central Indiana. The agency is also unveiling a mentorship program. The idea grew out of concerns over the high rate of domestic violence in the area, and it’s also seen as a way to help young girls in both counties discover their full potential and equip them for life. “We’re trying to instill in them self-esteem, confidence, self-worth,” Hardman related.
The program will begin with high school students who may be at-risk, and they will be paired with community leaders who happen to be women. However, the eventual goal is to expand the program to all girls and downward to middle school. A program for boys could also be added. “But it all takes funding,” Burgess noted. “We want to be able to offer some scholarships for the girls, take them on a couple of tours of colleges… teach a little etiquette, workforce development skills — resume writing, shaking hands, how to dress for interviews, etc.”
How businesses and individuals can help
Anyone who’d like to help United Way of South Central Indiana financially, or by giving time to the new mentoring program, can visit www.unitedwaysci.org or call 812-278-8613. The agency has also launched a new Facebook page to help spread the word on its activities. The United Way of South Central Indiana team members are happy to give presentations on the organization’s mission for businesses, civic clubs, chambers of commerce, and other groups.
Hardman said one way some local businesses have chosen to help is by setting up an automatic deduction program for employees to give in small amounts every pay period, with some businesses then matching the contributions. “In a year’s time that adds up!” she said.
Hardman stressed that the organization’s four-person office is supported through grants the group applies for, leaving donations to help fund needs in the community. “That’s what we’re here for,” Hardman said. “We’re here for the community.”