Alive Center Thriving With STEM!

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - April 15, 2019 - PRLog -- The Alive Center has helped over 1750 kids get introduced to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the 1 year and 3 months their new Alive Innovation Lab has been open. With a special focus on girls and minorities, these kids have received free Girls Who Code classes, robotics clubs, STEM Camps for Girls, Media clubs, Computer Science and STEM Exploration Days. In conjunction with Alive's Teen-Led, Teen-Driven^TM (TLTD) philosophy, these programs have all been led by high schoolers. The younger kids are learning STEM skills and the older kids are becoming leaders while deepening their own STEM knowledge.

Special donors Advanced Data Technologies, M. Brown & Associates, Esser Hayes Insurance, BBM Incorporated as well as individuals Nancy and Bill Mitchell, Jim and Barbie Hayes, and Rick and Carroll McNeel all made the lab a reality.  Mark Brown of M. Brown & Associates says "The Alive Center is a bold and innovative creation. It is not only a safe place for the kids but a place where they have the freedom and courage to be themselves.  Kids are free to pursue their dreams, in a safe and open environment - that's what the STEM lab provides. M. Brown Financial Advisors is proud to be even a small part of such a great program."

Research shows that the United States continues to fall behind in STEM skill, with females and African Americans representation being particularly low. Alive teams with the Naperville SUCCESS group to put on their bi-annual STEM Exploration Days to focus on the African American population help show how STEM can be fun!

Isha Srinivasan, Naperville North High School senior, Alive STEM Committee Lead and Student Board President says "The new Innovation Lab at Alive has not only given me a space to host camps, clubs and events but also has been a space to be creative and to collaborate with others. The lab allows kids to explore the exciting world of STEM. STEM is fun and it is important that we help kids to see that at an early age to keep them interested. The Lego wall, air hockey and pool table also help to keep our TLTD STEM programs fun!"

Up next at Alive for STEM is their bi-annual free STEM Exploration Day for families on Saturday, April 13^th from 1 – 3:30pm, sponsored by Ecolab, Grokool, SAP Fieldglass, Nokia, Navistar, Exelon and Codeverse! The event is targeted towards K-8^th and their families. As well a free We Code Workshop for Boys and many inexpensive summer camps ($25 - $40 each) such as Engineering & Innovation camp, Girls Who Code Camp, Girls STEM Innovation Camps and Media Camps.  Visit https://alivecenter.recdesk.com/Community/Program to register. Coming soon is a new teen investment club sponsored by Calamos Investments!

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If you would like to learn more about Alive's lab or becoming a partner or sponsor, please contact Kandice Henning at Kandice@alivenaperville.com - 630.802.2547. Learn more about Alive at www.alivenaperville.com or http://facebook.com/alivenapervlle