Philadelphia STEM Equity Week 2026
October 24th to 31st, 2026
Get ready to join us for an exciting week dedicated to advancing inclusivity and opportunity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics!
From October 24th to the 31st, 2026 we invite you to join us in a
week of engaging activities dedicated to advancing inclusivity and opportunities in STEM. There will be something for everyone, from
teachers and families, to STEM professionals and job seekers.
We are looking for event hosts, that would like to highlight their STEM offerings in our Philly area. If you are interested, register HERE. There are
a limited number of $350 awards to help defray the cost of the activity.
As part of STEM Equity, we invite you to Join us for PSEC's signature event, the
"STEMposium: Powerful Partnerships and Creative Collaborations".
Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 29, 2026, and join us at Convene at Two Commerce Center from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM for an inspiring day of learning and collaboration.
More information coming soon.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to engage with leaders and innovators in the STEM field!
Please come back on September 15, 2026 for a detailed event listing.
Let's celebrate together and highlight the dynamic STEM programs that Philadelphia has to offer!
Events are being added weekly.
Please come back often to explore more activities!
Saturday, October 24
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2026 Adopt-A-Tree Tree Planting - 10:30am to 12:00pm - Join us for a fun-filled morning with your family to adopt and plant trees at Riverbend Environmental Education Center.
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Future Builders: STEM Innovation Day - 11:00am to 2:00pm - Joins us at Inner Version for free hands-on STEM activities inspiring youth to explore, create, learn, and discover future careers as well as to explore how STEM connects to everyday life and future careers while developing critical thinking, creativity, communication, teamwork, and confidence.
Sunday, October 25
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2026 Fall Bird Walk - 9:00am to 10:30am for Adult Bird Walk and 10:30am to 11:30am for Family Bird Walk - In collaboration with Bird Town, PA, Riverbend Environmental Education Center invites you to our Fall Bird Walk on our preserve.
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Sustainable Beauty Make n Take - 3:00pm to 5:00pm - Create and customize natural skin care blends in lab! This exclusive workshop from DIVINITI invites you to explore beauty formulation, combining innovation with creativity in the heart of Philadelphia.
Thursday, October 29
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STEMposium: Powerful Partnerships & Creative Collaborations - 8:30am to 3:30pm - As a cornerstone of PSEC's STEM Equity Week, this event is truly centered in partnerships and collaborations.
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Family Math Night - 4:00 to 6:00pm - Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy students, families, educators, and community members will convene for an early evening of games, puzzles, creativity, and collaboration—inspired by mathematics.
Friday, October 30
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Opportunity Mapping with GIS - Senior Capstone Work In Progress - 9:30am to 10:30am - U School students will showcase their Senior Capstone progress while using GIS tools to map STEM careers, community resources, and their visions for the future.
DESCRIPTION
Fall is a wonderful time to plant trees just before it turns colder in the winter months. Planting trees at the preserve helps to provide habitat to local wildlife, combat climate change and helps to maintain our local water supply as the trees we plant keep runoff from heading to the Schuylkill River watershed.
Join us for a fun-filled morning with your family to adopt and plant trees at Riverbend. This event is open to ALL ages! Registration is required as spaces are limited. Please bring your own water and work gloves to the event.
DESCRIPTION
Inner Version Future Builders: STEM Innovation Day is a free, interactive STEM experience designed to introduce youth and families to the exciting possibilities within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The event will provide a welcoming environment where young people can learn through hands-on experiments, engineering challenges, technology activities, problem-solving exercises, and creative team projects.
Participants will be encouraged to explore how STEM connects to everyday life and future careers while developing critical thinking, creativity, communication, teamwork, and confidence. Activities will be designed to make STEM approachable and exciting for youth who may have limited access to STEM enrichment opportunities.
2026 Fall
Bird Walk
October 25
9:00am to 10:30am for Adult Bird Walk and 10:30am to 11:30am for Family Bird Walk
DESCRIPTION
Join us with our Fall Bird Walk with birder and conservationist, Phil Witmer. Mr. Whitmer will lead participants on a leisurely walk around Riverbend's preserve to check out the many species of birds that call it their home.
The Adult Bird Walk is for participants ages 12 and over with a limit of 20 adults. This is a free event but we do ask that you register. Please reserve one ticket for every member of your group.
Comfortable shoes or boots, layered clothing, and binoculars are encouraged.
EVENT DESIGNED FOR:
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Youth and Families
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Parents and Caregivers
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Teachers and Educators
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college and High School Students
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STEM Employers
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Aspiring and Established STEM Professionals
PRIMARY THEME(S):
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Outdoor Learning
EVENT ADDRESS:
Riverbend Environmental
Education Center
1950 Spring Mill Road
Gladwyne, PA 19035
DESCRIPTION
This is a unique opportunity to create your signature skin care in a dynamic, hands-on environment led by the expert cosmetic chemist Marquita Robinson Garcia ! This exclusive workshop invites you to explore beauty formulation, combining innovation with creativity in the heart of Philadelphia.
What You’ll Experience:
• Personalized Beauty Creations: Hands-on creation of bespoke beauty products.
• Sensory Textures & Ingredient Exploration: Dive into natural pigments, emollients, and revolutionary skincare innovations to craft products that are uniquely yours.
• Expert Guidance: Learn the art of blending skincare and makeup with expert techniques in a professional lab setting.
STEMposium: Powerful Partnerships
& Creative Collaborations
October 29
8:30am-3:30pm
DESCRIPTION
Join us for our STEMposium, where we will highlight the collaborative projects of PSEC and our partners. We'll delve into the School District of Philadelphia's new "Partnerships Dashboard," how it identifies collaboration opportunities and addresses programming gaps. Following this, there will be a panel presentation from the Partner Community of Practice at Cramp Elementary, a PSEC initiative that has been ongoing for the past three years.
The afternoon will focus on grants, featuring insights from our Micro-grant recipients about their program experiences. Additionally, we will host a special professional development session centered on grant development.
More information coming soon!
DESCRIPTION
Math is amazing! And what could be more fun than exploring math with friends and family? Students, families, educators, and community members will convene for an early evening of games, puzzles, creativity, and collaboration—inspired by mathematics. Teachers, volunteers, and students in our junior chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) leadership council will facilitate math-themed activities.
DESCRIPTION
This interactive showcase highlights students’ progress on their Senior Capstone projects as they explore STEM careers, identify resources, and develop a vision for life beyond high school. Using GIS and opportunity-mapping tools, students will examine how geography, community assets, education, career pathways, and other resources connect to their individual goals.
Students will share works in progress, maps, research, and reflections that demonstrate both where they are in their Capstone journey and where they hope to go next. Rather than simply presenting finished products, the showcase creates an opportunity for students to receive feedback, make new connections, and discover resources that can strengthen their plans.
Are you a community-based or
STEM-focused organization interested in hosting an event during Philadelphia STEM Equity Week?
Register your event HERE no later than October 15, 2026.
SPONSOR an Activity
Are you a local business, foundation or philanthropist interested in supporting Philadelphia STEM Equity Week? For inquiries and partnership opportunities, please contact
Diana Lievano, PSEC’s Executive Director.
STEMposium - Oct. 29
Join us as we celebrate recent accomplishments, connect with peers, and strategize about a future in which we work together to expand access to STEM careers and build sustainable pathways for economic mobility in Philadelphia.
Register HERE.
CONTACT Us
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact
Betsy Payne, Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem Manager, PEF.
SOCIAL Media
Follow us on Instagram @PhillySTEMCo and on LinkedIn @philadelphia-stem-equity-collective or search hashtags #STEMEquityWeek #STEMposium #STEMEquity #DiversityInSTEM #YeahthatsSTEM! #PSEC.
VIEW STEM Equity Week 2025
Explore the activities and captivating pictures showcasing the events that promoted equity in STEM fields from STEM Equity Week 2025 HERE.