STEM Center Upgraded at Estrada Courts Boys & Girls Club
The i.am Angel Foundation is excited to announce the upgrade of the STEM Center at the Boys & Girls Club of Estrada Courts in Boyle Heights. Equipped with Dash-and-Dot robotics and computers, students have access to engaging, hands-on STEM activities that spark student interest in science and engineering from a young age.
During the school year, 125 students ages 6-13 have access to hands-on STEM education through the Boys & Girls Club. This summer, up to 200 students will be involved in STEM activities at the site.
Located adjacent to the Estrada Courts housing project, the Boys & Girls Club serves many students who live in public housing. 85 percent of students served by the Estrada Courts Boys & Girls Club live in households earning less than $20,000 annually, per the club.
i.am Angel Foundation founder will.i.am grew up in the Estrada Courts housing project. There, he experienced what it’s like to live in an impoverished neighborhood while still being determined to succeed.
The Estrada Courts club offers a safe space for students to go after school, eat snack and supper, do homework, and join extracurriculars. But now, it’s not just sports and games that the Estrada Courts Boys & Girls Club offers. Students have created Motorized Gear Cars, Mini Fuel Cell Cars, and been introduced to robotics at the club’s STEM Center.
When students are inspired by science and engineering at a young age, they are on the path toward a rewarding, empowering career.
In a survey conducted by the Boys & Girls Club, 28.6% more students reported that entering a STEM career is “likely for me” after participating in the club’s STEM activities.
When opportunity is brought to underserved, at-risk youth, they are shown how to shape their futures in spite of enormous challenges faced. That’s why we invest in the students of Estrada Courts, and it’s why we do what we do!