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Project Labs

In February 2026, PSEC hosted a pilot cohort of presenters in the PSEC Project Labs. Project Labs were created to break down work silos and foster a supportive STEM ecosystem by bringing educators, community organizations, and industry partners together to share insights and explore collaborative opportunities that strengthen STEM experiences for young people. 

 

The lab sessions revealed significant opportunities for collaboration, learning, and alignment across the network. They also highlighted several key factors essential to a healthy STEM ecosystem, including the importance of social capital and mentorship in supporting youth persistence; the central role of handson learning in driving engagement; the growing demand for AI and digital literacy skills; the need for coordinated employer engagement and shared pathways; the value of cultural relevance shaped with youth input; and the necessity of sustained funding to support staffing, materials, and program expansion. 

 

For each of the projects presented, the team identified areas of opportunity for collaboration, which are listed below. If you are interested in learning more about these opportunities, please contact Diana Lievano.

Coding & Robotics Session 

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Philly Coder Dojo – Pathways Program Project Summary: 

​Philly Coder Dojo is a volunteer-powered, no‑cost coding and AI program for youth ages 7–17, designed to build confidence, identity, and representation in tech. Programming includes Scratch, Python, HTML/CSS/JS, Unity/C#, and a culturally relevant mentorship model. 

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Opportunities for Collaboration & Growth: 

  • Expand mentor network of developers, AI practitioners, and technologists. 

  • Partner with schools, OST programs, and community groups to host sessions. 

  • Provide devices, software access, and digital tools. 

  • Support sustainability (staff, data tracking, transitions for older youth). 

 

Robo Math Academy (Philadelphia Robotics Coalition × Black Girls Love Math) Project Summary: 

​A blended robotics–math identity program serving Black, Latine, and female-identifying students. Combines engineering pathways with culturally responsive math pedagogy for integrated, hands‑on STEM learning. 

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Opportunities for Collaboration & Growth: 

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  • Co-develop robotics + math curriculum and assessments. 

  • Partner with schools and CBOs in North & West Philadelphia. 

  • Offer robotics materials, transportation support, and hands‑on tools. 

  • Provide high‑tech facilities for engineering immersion. 

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Mentorship & Internship Session 

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STEM Success & Innovation Program (UPenn × Community College of Philadelphia) Project Summary: â€‹

A cross-institution near-peer mentorship and research initiative connecting CCP and Penn students for lab experience, STEM identity-building, and social capital development. 

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Opportunities for Collaboration & Growth: 

  • Provide lab placements and industry collaborations. 

  • Support funding for summer research stipends. 

  • Partner on grant strategy and long-term funding. 

  • Explore extension to other higher-ed partners. 

 

Philly Tech Internship Hub (Heights Philadelphia) Project Summary: â€‹

A citywide hub connecting underrepresented college students to paid tech internships through coordinated employer engagement and partner networks. 

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Opportunities for Collaboration & Growth: 

  • Engage employers to reserve internship slots for 2027+. 

  • Collaborate with nonprofits to expand the student pool. 

  • Provide infrastructure funding for coordination. 

  • Co-develop interview, readiness, and tech literacy programming. 

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STEM Community Experiences Session 

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SPARK Community Tech Workshops (Launchpad Philly) Project Summary: â€‹

Youth-led AI, hardware, and coding workshops serving families, adults, and youth across neighborhoods, expanding digital literacy and creative tech exposure. 

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Opportunities for Collaboration & Growth: 

  • Co-host with libraries, rec centers, and community spaces. 

  • Support outreach to multilingual families and adults. 

  • Provide funding or hardware kits for workshops. 

  • Co-design AI, digital skills, or intergenerational workshops. 

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STEM Momentum (eCLOSE Institute x Daisy’s Garden) Project Summary: 

Biomedical and food-science research experiences emphasizing student-led inquiry, with growing integration of mental health–aligned biology modules. 

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Opportunities for Collaboration & Growth: 

  • Co-develop mental health aligned STEM curriculum. 

  • Partner with schools and OST programs to host workshops. 

  • Support multilingual and culturally relevant curriculum expansion. 

  • Provide lab space, equipment, or research consumables. 

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 Interdisciplinary STEM & Hands‑On Learning Session 

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Sustainable Beauty Lab‑to‑Launch (DVINITY, Marquita Robinson Garcia) Project Summary: 

A cosmetic chemistry and entrepreneurship program teaching skin science, formulation, natural ingredients, branding, and wellness—supporting youth confidence and STEM identity. 

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Opportunities for Collaboration & Growth: 

  • Integrate program into schools, CTE, and youth-serving organizations. 

  • Connect with dermatologists, estheticians, and wellness professionals. 

  • Provide lab equipment, ingredients, and funding. 

  • Support train-the-trainer models for scale. 

Summer Programs Session

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Welding & Automation Summer Program (Philadelphia Youth Basketball) Project Summary: 

A summer camp introducing girls and underrepresented youth to welding, automation, and advanced manufacturing careers through hands-on tool use and industry exposure. 

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Opportunities for Collaboration & Growth: 

  • Partner with manufacturing employers for tours and demos. 

  • Support funding for a free 2026 camp. 

  • Provide welding/automation tools and curriculum. 

  • Collaborate with youth-serving groups for recruitment. 

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Migrant Education Summer Program (CCIU) Project Summary: 

A 20-day free summer STEM and multilingual enrichment program for newcomer and migratory agricultural-worker youth, serving ~200 students annually.

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Opportunities for Collaboration & Growth: 

  • Lead hands-on STEM workshops from 1-hour to multi-day formats. 

  • Support transportation, field trips, and STEM supply costs. 

  • Provide multilingual STEAM experiences for EL and SLIFE students. 

  • Partner with CBOs for year-round continuity. 

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