Harley-Davidson’s decision to sponsor a STEM 101 Connections project was a great step in our K-12 STEM outreach efforts. STEM 101 took this idea of highlighting in-demand electrical careers and turned it into a well-designed, engaging and comprehensive project for students – one that allows students to do something hands-on, exposing them to the very basics of electrical circuits, and one that makes a direct connection to our company, various career paths and opportunities, and at the same time, it also brings visibility to our brand.

STEM education and career pathways can best be achieved by connecting learners to relevant, real world experiences. Through the Connections Program, students will gain an in depth look into careers with STEM companies such as Johnson Controls. There also will be an opportunity for teachers, parents and mentors to order and build a JCI specific project to learn basic HVAC, Fire and Security solutions as well as data tracking and information processing.

How does JCI benefit? JCI benefits in several ways:
1) A national and international venue to market to and invest in students,
2) An avenue to highlight specific, diverse workforce development,
3) A connection point for JCI’s philanthropic programs.

Because of STEM 101’s digital learning and practical projects, there is a US, Canada and perhaps global reach. It is not geographically centered and does not require a lot of JCI effort to sustain. The model is very scalable and can be applied in many ways. STEM 101 reaches into neighborhoods where a career in a trade or with a STEM company may not be well known and it will provide a direct connection to our diversity initiatives.

Our partnership with STEM 101 is mission aligned and stakeholder centric comprised of industry, students, educators, and community. MPS believes children should be given every opportunity to learn which requires innovative approaches to close critical gaps concerning communities that have been disproportionately impacted due to socioeconomic factors. Children who grow up in and around poverty are confronted with greater educational challenges than are children who do not face similar circumstances. Therefore, it is our firm belief the Connections Program through STEM 101 provides complimentary supports for the school district’s COIN initiative which targets specific workforce preference goals for students and constituents interested in pursuing a skilled-trade career pathway.

Students get access to a plethora of opportunities through the STEM 101 Connections Program. STEM 101 organizes the companies they work with into different fields to give students access to career information in different spheres of engineering that aren’t conventionally thought of. Through the STEM 101 page, students are able to find companies that fit their interests easier than looking solely on their own. Finally, these projects are very accessible to anyone who wants to learn and isn’t limited to a classroom setting.

The STEM 101 Connections Program is a valuable set of resources in my District's coursework that are used in our effort to close the gap between traditional K-12 instruction and our industry's workforce needs. The content is relevant to today's and tomorrow's forecasted needs, and I really appreciate the tangible connection it has for my students to real life people.