Atlanta Program Profile

Regional Challenges and Opportunities

Metro Atlanta is evolving into a vibrant hub of diversity and innovation, ranking as the ninth-largest metro area in the country (Atlanta Regional Commission, 2021). Driven by strong employment opportunities (Joiner, 2023) and a notable tech talent concentration that ranks it 7th nationally at 5.6% (Remit Resources, 2023), the city also boasts six top-ranked universities, including Emory University, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Agnes Scott College, Spelman College, and Morehouse College (Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, 2024).

Despite these opportunities, there is a stark contrast in what faces Metro Atlanta natives, students, and educators. Atlanta stands as the leading city for income inequality in America, with those born into poverty having just a 4% chance of escaping poverty in their lifetime. (Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative, 2024) Specific to education, in Atlanta Public Schools, a district where 73% of students were considered economically disadvantaged, only half of high school students master state assessments, and math proficiency stands at just 34%. (Equity in Education, 2023) Furthermore, Georgia educators feel strained, with 57% reporting burnout as the top reason that they would leave the profession.(GPEE, 2023)

This contrast between regional growth, flourishing postsecondary institutions, and career opportunities, and the profound challenges faced by the community spotlights the need for targeted interventions. While the region thrives with the presence of numerous Fortune companies leading initiatives to bolster STE(A)M competency – with the long-term vision of fortifying Atlanta’s workforce and economy – the reality is that a myriad of gaps hamper many from understanding, accessing, and engaging in these opportunities. It is imperative to design interventions that empower residents of Metro Atlanta to participate in the region’s growing vibrancy. Bridging this divide requires enhanced community engagement in STEAM and maker education via community-driven maker spaces, enriching teacher professional development opportunities, and increased outreach and advocacy for these educational and career opportunities.

Program Goal

To meet the growing demand for STEAM and Maker focused programming for students and teachers in the Atlanta Metro region by: 1) enhancing collaborations with school districts, educators, policymakers, corporations, and other non-profits; 2) developing a permanent physical community makerspace, 3) designing a workforce development model and policy strategy that supports the sustainability of STEAM and maker education in the region; 4) increasing community awareness of STEAM and Maker education.

Innovation Site: STE(A)M Truck 

STE(A)M Truck is an Atlanta-based education nonprofit organization that immerses youth, educators, and community members in hands-on, high tech and low-tech STEAM experiences that unleash their creativity and enable them to design the lives and future communities of their dreams. STE(A)M Truck delivers an innovative approach to learning by providing students with access to STEAM-based experiences in communities where they don’t often exist. Through STE(A)M Truck’s mobile innovation labs, youth gain access to the expertise, materials, and equipment needed to implement hands-on building, tinkering, and experiential learning experiences. Through multi-year professional learning, collaborative planning, and one to one coaching, STE(A)M Truck exposes teachers and out-of-school providers to the joys and effectiveness of experiential, hands-on STEAM and Maker strategies to enrich lesson planning and implementation for youth across grades and subjects.

Program Efforts

1) Regional Landscape Analysis and Needs Assessment: Understand the current state of STEAM and maker education in the metro Atlanta region by interfacing with STE(A)M Truck and other community organizations, pinpointing key challenges, evaluating successful strategies, and offering actionable recommendations based on the findings.

2) Culturally Relevant Community Makerspace: Collaborate with local school, educators, and community members to design a new, inclusive, and culturally relevant space in the metro Atlanta area, aimed at supporting hands-on STEAM and maker learning for over 3,500 youth and 100+ educators.

3) Develop and Implement STEM Career Exposure Initiative for Middle Schoolers: Work alongside the STE(A)M Truck team and CTE teachers to create a workforce development initiative, developing curriculum and programming in partnership with industry leaders to expose middle school students to STEM careers and provide engaging real-world experiences. Implement the workforce development initiative through a pilot in the 2024-2025 school year at select schools/sites.