STEAMbassadors Showcase Summer Learning

On August 2, students from City Colleges of Chicago who have spent the summer working as out-of-school-time STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) mentors demonstrated a little of what they taught over the past few months. In partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago and Northwestern University, the STEAMbassadors program facilitated three free STEAM camps to youth across the city. The program has also been supported and championed by DFSS, One Summer Chicago, Chicago Public Libraries, and City Colleges of Chicago.

These students, who largely hail from Truman College, are micro-credentialed to implement a curated set of STEAM learning activities at a neighborhood organization that partners with DFSS-supported youth serving programs in parks, libraries, and schools. Projects and topics included robotics, digital animation, animation, music and sound production, podcasting, and engineering.

A tour and demonstrations were given to a group of leaders from the city, higher education, and community organizations, including City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado, Northwestern University President Michael Schill, Harry S Truman College President Shawn Jackson, DFSS Commissioner Brandie Knazze, Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown, 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin, and Alderman and Vice Mayor Walter Burnett.