Four professors from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point worked with middle school students from Neighborhood Networks Centers at the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) and the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) to increase their interest in STEM subjects-science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The students huddled around tables working in teams to build “task bots”, small rover-like contraptions.

The 2-day program began with the idea of Lt. Col. Donald Outing to bring active learning experiences to children who would otherwise be overlooked.   Many of these children live in underserved communities that have Neighborhood Networks centers. Jerryl Bennett, the Director of Office of Public and Indian Housing for the Richmond, VA office, and a former West Point graduate, teamed with Lt. Col. Outing to bring his STEM program to children served by HUD Neighborhood Networks centers.

Teamed with other West Point professors, Outing takes the mobile STEM Workshop to children around the nation to provide a camp-like setting that immerses young students in a variety of hands-on activities. Anthony Johnson, a Richmond-area native who is a professor of mathematics at West Point, jumped at the opportunity to help focus kids on the math and science track. “This is the age where children decide if they might get into something like engineering,” he said. 

Johnson noted that studies show young Americans are falling behind in math and science compared to other countries. “What we need is home-grown production in math and science,” Johnson said.

For more information on the U.S. Military Academy STEM program or Public Housing Neighborhood Networks centers in Virginia contact:

Jerryl E. Bennett
Director
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Public and Indian Housing
600 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219-4920
(804) 822-4898                          

For more information on Multifamily Neighborhood Networks centers in Virginia contact:

Rashida L. Mitchell
Richmond Multifamily Program Center
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Public and Indian Housing
600 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219-4920
( 804) 822-4870