Message from Dr. Reagan Flowers
Historically Black Colleges Step Up with New Programs
C-STEM Programs
Upcoming Deadlines
Take action!
Watch this section for great opportunities that close soon. Keep reading the stories below for more information on these opportunities.
Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship
Applications due April 1
Apply here
SuitMart: The Great Garment Giveaway
9543 S. Main St., Houston, TX 77025
April 8
12-5 p.m.
UHCL STEM Challenge 2021
April 10
Find information and register here
Designing for Impact: Community Engagement Workshop
April 10
10 a.m.
Register here
The Gems Summer E-Camps
Apply here
#CAP℠: College Admission Process Program Recruitment Fair
Sunday, May 23
2- 5 p.m.
Learn more here
This Month's Highlights
2020 Annual Report Celebrates Recent “Firsts”
2020 was a challenging year for all, but C-STEM remained committed to providing STEM resources for those who needed them most.
We could not have done it without your support. Our incredible community of volunteers, donors, sponsors, and supporters makes it all possible.
Please read our recently released 2020 Annual Report, which highlights all we were able to accomplish last year despite the circumstances.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to an even better 2021!
Meet Our Auction Winners
THANK YOU once again to all who supported C-STEM during the carryover virtual Holiday Social.
The event included the auction of a beautiful quilt created and donated by Gulf Coast Modern Quilt Guild. Congratulations to the winners of this one-of-a-kind piece, Jeffrey and Kethia Webber. “The beauty of the quilt resonates through the artistry, talent, and creativity of the quilters combined with the ambition and bravery reflected in the familiar quote by JFK featured in the design. CSTEM’s mission embodies all of these qualities that underscore our admiration for the founder, Dr. Flowers, and its mission,” Kethia shared.
Thank you also to our other auction winners:
- Tejuana Edmond won the Saks Gift Card generously donated by Education Consulting Services
- Rosalyn Francis won the painting generously donated by Ogun Art and Culture
- April Rasmus Lasalle won the pre-order Amanda Gorman book generously donated by Education Consulting Services
“I am a big champion for STEM, which makes it a no brainer that I am a champion for C-STEM in our community,” Rosalyn said. “It is great winning a beautiful piece of African Art for giving without the expectation of receiving anything but an opportunity to support C-STEM’s work in the community.”
“It never surprises me how much C-STEM gives back to me unexpectedly,” April said.
Despite the economic and logistics challenges of the last year, C-STEM is continuing its work to fill in the gaps left by closed/changed schools and virtual learning.
Your donations help ensure that C-STEM can put STEM learning within every child’s reach throughout the pandemic and beyond.
If you were unable to attend our Holiday Social, there are still a couple ways you can help:
- You can help us by shopping on Amazon Smile and making C-STEM your benefiting charity, or by using this link: smile.amazon.com
- Spread the word about our programs and opportunities to your network of family, friends, & colleagues who (like you) have a passion for supporting student achievement and success!
C-STEM Welcomes New Executive Board Member
The members of the C-STEM Executive Board play a key role in ensuring we continue our mission. This month, we’d like to highlight our newest executive board member, Ellana Turner.
Ellana is the owner and head designer of Cloth and Cord and sought-after speaker. She developed her passion for sewing as a high school student in New Orleans. Ellana initially pursued a different career in technology, ultimately becoming a lead software developer for a Fortune 500 company for more than ten years. Following her passion, she left her corporate career to found Cloth and Cord, formerly E. Turner Couture. Five years later, she hasn’t looked back. With Cloth and Cord, Ellana has been able to integrate her vast knowledge of technology into her supply chain processes to provide her customers with award-winning services and her globally sourced product line. Ellana is a welcomed addition to the governing board of C-STEM.
Tynera Piper Joins C-STEM as Program Manager
Please welcome Tynera Piper, the new C-STEM Program Manager. Tynera operates PreK-12 programming, teacher training, and the internship program for undergraduate and graduate students in her role. She will also help create STEM experiences and activities.
Tynera earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Southern University. She brings with her years of experience working in education and transportation.
“I am very eager to work for C-STEM because I still get to reach children through education, although I’m not in the classroom anymore,” Tynera said. “I love seeing the students grow their brains and assisting teachers in their curriculums.”
Tynera is married and a mother to a 9-month-old baby boy and a bonus daughter. “Spending time with my family making new memories is what I love to do in my spare time,” she said.
Meet Our Newest Intern
Wafeeq Ahmad recently joined C-STEM as a Procurement Automation Intern. He graduated this past fall from the University of Houston with a major in Organizational Leadership & Supervision. “I want to learn more about corporate etiquette and better develop my network,” he said. Ahmad’s future career goals center on higher education. “I want to work more in first-year student success programs to help transfer and incoming freshman be better prepared for the university they will be attending,” he said.
Mobile Grocery Service Helps Those Affected by Pandemic
C-STEM founder Dr. Reagan Flowers recently had the opportunity to connect with HarvesTrolley. This grocery service helps those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing better access to food and creating new jobs.
At a small business event in Houston’s 5th Ward, Flowers met Jeremiah Alonzo, a trolley driver working for the company, while earning his teaching certificate. After graduating college with a business degree in 2019, he started to host baseball hitting lessons. “I have aspirations to start my own baseball/softball hitting training facility while also coaching/teaching. I am currently getting my teacher’s certification to teach business and finance for grades 6-12. I discovered that I had a passion for teaching/coaching while I was in my last two years in college, and have strived to pursue that career since,” he said.
The HarvesTrolley is associated with a grocery store called Harvest Market. “The trolleys are packed with roughly 600 different grocery items (mainly the essentials) and people are able to contact us through the Harvest Trolley app, for us to come to their house for them to shop on or have us deliver items from the store to their front door,” Alonzo explained.
HarvesTrolley’s management team is working on offering more availability in food deserts like the 5th Ward. Food deserts are places where access to fresh, healthy food is limited.
“My experience as a trolley driver has been pretty great,” Alonzo said. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet lots of people to broaden my networking experience while also being able to meet people’s grocery needs.”
Blast from the Past
This Month's Experiment from Black Mommas Do Science
Black Mommas do Science is a YouTube channel dedicated to helping with at-home learning. The creator focuses on getting kids excited about STEM. Watch channel owner and content creator Tara Davis put a C-STEM experiment into action: a paper mache turtle with a lesson on sea life.
Blast from the Past
We get the biggest joy going back down memory lane. C-STEM has touched so many lives over the 20 years we have been serving communities near and far. It is our hope that this memory places a smile on your face and in your heart. This month, we’re featuring a video from our 2016 C-STEM Midwest Challenge Day in Detroit, MI.
C-STEM Upcoming Events
Be on the lookout for the date of our 13th Annual State of STEM Education Stakeholder Breakfast. Details coming soon!
Thank You To Our Sponsors And Partners
Executive Board
Advisory Board
Michael Aldridge
Shomari Williams
Joi Beasley
Zawadi Bryant
Bobby Bryant
Lucy Bremond
Antonio ‘Tony’ Canales
LaQuita Cyprian
Laolu Davies Yemitan
Gayle Fallon
Ruthie Esene
Michael Harris
Renee Logans
David Medina
Antoinette Jackson
Scott Minnix
Dr. Sandra Saldana Ortega
Susan Taylor
Dr. Frazier Wilson
Syalisa Winata
Ross Peters
Dr. Robert Satcher
Charles Samuel
Miloni Shah
Cherrilyn B. Nedd
Dr. Martina Ogbonna
Dr. Letitia Franklin Ozoude
We are C-STEM!
