STEMpowered was founded in June 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic. When school suddenly went online in the spring semester, many students fell behind without the same support of their teachers and peers. Students with a challenging household environment or lack of resources were unable to receive the additional support they needed to succeed. Supplemental tutoring can boost students’ academic performances significantly but is often expensive and an unrealistic option for most families. At STEMpowered, students who wish to further their education can enroll in free peer-to-peer tutoring via Zoom on a flexible schedule that accommodates both the student and tutor. Our goal is to help others. We want to share our time and knowledge because we believe that equitable education is the foundation for an informed and empathetic society.

We need more people in STEM solving the new problems that arise from climate change and other pressing societal issues. STEM fields also lack the diversity required to present various viewpoints and tackle each obstacle from all sides. Accessible, equitable education is the key to making those changes. Once our organization receives enough funds to cover the costs of the website and the 501c3 nonprofit status, STEMpowered would love to connect with other organizations to donate STEM kits, tablets, WiFi hotspots, and other educational materials to kids in need and provide a free Zoom to help them run their experiments. Donate here to help us make that happen! Every dollar matters.