November 8 is National STEM Day, and a nonprofit that started right here in Charlotte is celebrating in a big way. Project Scientist kicked off a campaign on International Day of the Girl (October 11) to raise enough funds to provide high-quality STEM education programs to 60 under-resourced girls. The nonprofit, which was founded in Charlotte in 2011, hopes to reach their goal by National STEM Day. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has kept millions of school-aged children at home, and it's made the digital divide and educational opportunity gaps even worse than they already were. Children from under-resourced communities are being hit hardest and are losing opportunities to experience hands-on teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Glenn Smith heard the same thing over and over in the life skills classes he led at the Mecklenburg County Jail: If I had learned this stuff when I was younger, I probably wouldn't be here. 

After hearing this refrain for six years, Glenn proposed a youth prevention program to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, the group that decides which organizations get money from the crime prevention funds the NC Department of Public Safety gives the county each year. Glenn ended up getting his program funded, and he set to work, inspired by those words from the inmates at the county jail: If I had learned this stuff when I was younger, I probably wouldn't be here. 

Going back to school looks different this year in Mecklenburg County, but the GOOD news is that there are many ways the community can help support our students and educators as we all navigate this new normal, together. Here are our local nonprofit partners who have Back-to-School needs who you can support in a variety of way, right now. 

Urgent Community Needs:

• 16K CMS students are in need of  hotspots in order to engage in  virtual learning. The CMS Foundation is fundraising to secure more devices for students The cost for the device as well as 12 months of service is $260. Donations can be made to the CMS Foundation, here.. 

 SHARE Your Voice

North Carolina Voter Resources

For a SHAREable PDF version of this resource list, go here!


Every vote matters, that's why we want to be sure our community knows how to SHARE their voice and get their vote in for this year's election. We have created this list of key dates, registration information, and things to keep in mind! Please share this information with your own audiences. 

Principles of Generosity Threaded Across Generations

Black philanthropists share their perspectives on giving for social change

Black philanthropy comprises a rich and varied tapestry -- as divergent as its people, the origins of its inspiration, and its manifestations in giving. Frequently rooted in bonds of family and community, expressions of giving encompass the full spectrum of time, talent, and treasures. However, one common, intergenerational thread is the practice of simultaneously looking back while paying forward, a perspective that inspires the philosophies of giving among many Black philanthropists.