ABOUT US
What is iSTEAM?iSTEAM is a modern, holistic youth development model intentionally designed to advance the purpose of the iSTEAM Leadership Project: expanding access to innovative learning, increasing awareness of STEM and arts pathways, and empowering underserved youth to become community-minded leaders.Unlike traditional STEAM programs, iSTEAM goes further. Its reimagined acronym reflects the skills, values, and experiences young people need to thrive in a rapidly changing world while making meaningful contributions to their communities.
I – Innovation:
Cultivates creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking—core competencies that prepare students to envision new possibilities and lead change.
S – Social Impact: Encourages youth to use their skills to address community challenges, strengthening civic responsibility and reinforcing the program’s purpose of building leaders who uplift others.
T – Technology: Provides critical exposure to digital literacy, coding, AI, robotics, and modern tech fluency—bridging access gaps and opening doors to high-growth STEM careers.
E – Entrepreneurship:
Builds leadership, financial literacy, and business acumen, equipping participants with tools to create opportunities rather than wait for them.
A – Arts: Nurtures creativity, cultural expression, and storytelling, creating a lifelong appreciation for the arts and expanding pathways for students whose talents extend beyond traditional STEM.
M – Mentorship:
Supports emotional wellness, resilience, media literacy, and positive identity development—ensuring youth are guided, supported, and confident in pursuing their goals.
Who We Are
Who We Are
The iSTEAM model is not simply an academic enrichment program—it is a strategic, purpose-driven investment in future leaders. By integrating innovation, social responsibility, technology, business skills, creative expression, and mentorship, iSTEAM addresses the inequities that often limit access to STEM and arts fields for underserved youth.
This approach ensures that students do more than learn; they are equipped, inspired, and empowered. iSTEAM builds both competence and confidence, creating a pipeline of diverse thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers who will shape the future of their communities and the world.
Strategies & Plans
To fulfill the purpose of the iSTEAM Leadership Project—expanding access to innovative learning, increasing awareness of STEM career pathways, and cultivating a lifelong appreciation for the arts—our strategies and plans center on an integrated, experience-driven model of youth development.
The program will deliver a comprehensive blend of STEAM and Arts education that immerses students in real-world challenges through project-based and experiential learning. By engaging youth in authentic problem-solving, hands-on exploration, and creative expression, iSTEAM strengthens higher-order thinking, metacognitive awareness, and the confidence needed to become future leaders.
Our approach aligns with the iSTEAM argument that underserved youth require more than exposure—they need access, mentorship, and opportunities that elevate their curiosity, creativity, and sense of purpose. Therefore, the program will:
Integrate STEAM disciplines with social impact learning, helping students apply innovation and technical skills to issues affecting their communities.
Provide hands-on field experiences that deepen understanding of technology, engineering, science, and environmental systems while expanding awareness of STEM careers.
Infuse the Arts—visual, digital, and performing, including theater—to promote cultural expression, storytelling, and creative problem-solving.
Offer mentorship and leadership development, reinforcing resilience, emotional wellness, and a growth mindset.
Create entrepreneurial learning opportunities that encourage financial literacy, strategic thinking, and real-world project ownership.
Through this integrated strategy, iSTEAM ensures that students develop the intellectual skills, creative capacity, and social awareness necessary to thrive academically, succeed professionally, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
MISSION STATEMENT
iSTEAM Leadership Project (iSTEAM)
The iSTEAM Leadership Project is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of underserved students through collaborative learning and innovative approaches. Our mission is to empower students by educating them in the areas of Innovation, Social Impact, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts, and Mentorship(iSTEAM), while raising awareness of career opportunities in STEM fields. We strive to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the arts and inspire students to become scholars of change—equipped to make a positive impact on themselves, their communities, and the environment.
OBJECTIVE
The program objective is to incorporate a strong entrepreneurial component, mentoring, and exposure to role models from academia and industry that will facilitate the development of students into future STEAM business leaders who will not only participate in the STEAM workforce, but also contribute to the expansion of a STEAM based economy.
GOALS
Our goals are to increase student awareness and knowledge of educational opportunities and careers in STEAM disciplines.
Increase student knowledge, skills, and practices represented in STEAM and/or STEAM workforce.
Increase participation of underrepresented populations in STEAM programs and careers.
Empower students to become “scholars of change' with an emphasis on positive character development and community engagement.
