
Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem
Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem
MISSION
By increasing collaboration, identifying gaps in resources and enhancing the quality of STEM education, the Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem promotes just and equitable access to STEM opportunities for all children and youth.
vision
All young people in Philadelphia have equal access to quality STEM education,
STEM employment, and STEM career opportunities.
The Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem encompasses the rich environment of STEM programming, education, and opportunities throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Our backbone organization, The Philadelphia Education Fund, facilitates communication and connections among Ecosystem members, and ensures the continuance of the local Ecosystem movement. Our goal is to promote just and equitable access to STEM opportunities for children and youth. Our work is made possible by the collaboration of our steering committee, workgroups and over 800 members who believe that everyone benefits when students succeed in STEM.
diverse members
Ecosystem Members are stakeholders actively engaged in local STEM education efforts. They are part of a diverse and dynamic spectrum of individuals and organizations who are engaged in the Ecosystem's goal of promoting just and equitable access to STEM opportunities for children and youth in the Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem is one of over 100 international STEM Ecosystems, supported by the STEM Funders Network and based on a collective impact model. It encompasses the rich environment of STEM programming, education, and opportunities throughout Philadelphia.
Initiatives
The Philadelphia sTEM Equity Collective
The Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective (PSEC) cultivates STEM equity, access, and inclusion in STEM career pathways for Philadelphia students who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM occupations. Using a collective impact model and harnessing the resources of the Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem, it includes engagement with an external evaluator and competitive programmatic grants for PSEC member organizations. Its goal is to increase the number of Black, Latinx and women Philadelphians going into STEM careers by 2030.
pennsylvania statewide
stem ecosystem
The Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem is also a participant in the Pennsylvania Statewide STEM Ecosystem (PSSE) - a collection of STEM Ecosystems and STEM networks across Pennsylvania, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, that through purposeful cooperation and collaboration, focuses primarily on creating professional networks and a stable community of practice.
regional industries and stem education (RISE)
In 2022 PEF, GSK, the Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem, and the Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective launched Regional Industries and STEM Education (RISE), an initiative through which Philadelphia-area industries can engage with STEM education programs.
RISE aims to help STEM industries navigate the Philadelphia STEM landscape, support meaningful STEM education, and cultivate the next generation of STEM professionals. It also aims to provide STEM programs, teachers and students with access to the resources and opportunities that local industries offer.
Impacts
ecosystem impact evaluation report
To read the 2019 Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem Impact Evaluation Report, go HERE.
Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem's
STEM education Policy mem0 to the Biden administration
philadelphia stem education directory
The Philadelphia STEM Education Directory is a free searchable map of a variety of opportunities in STEM in the Greater Philadelphia Area. For students and parents/guardians, the directory can help find out-of-school time STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs geared to students Pre-K through high school. For teachers and educators, the directory is a source of available K-12 STEM professional development opportunities.