Mr. October Foundation has teamed up with The STEM Academy, Inc. or STEM 101 who provides best of class K-12 STEM curriculum to connect students to 21st century STEM careers. STEM 101 and the MOF have provided summer, in-school and after-school programs for Campaign 44.



CAMPAIGN 44 RATIONALE

There is a shortage of STEM professionals that is expected to escalate as a result of the retiring of baby-boomers. According to the Health Education Research Institute, only 31% of all students who entered college in 2009 reported plans to major in a STEM discipline and 35% of high school seniors reported aspiring to study STEM disciplines in a post-secondary setting. In a 2009 study from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 43% of Hispanics, 44% of American Indians and 50% of African- Americans scores “below” basic in math in the eighth grade. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2008 more than 40% of children in the U.S. under the age of 5 were Hispanic, African-American or Native American.

Our countries failure to prepare underrepresented youth for STEM-related careers will greatly impact America’s capacity for global economic leadership. If we fail to develop a robust pipeline of STEM professionals containing women and those from underrepresented communities, there will be a shortage of technical innovation, lower economic growth and higher unemployment for all Americans.

CAMPAIGN 44 MISSION

Increase the disproportionately low numbers of women and underrepresented minorities in the STEM workforce and in post secondary programs.