Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem Celebrates STEM Day with Local Events

Bridgeport Prospers/United Way Initiative Holds STEM Saturday and Launches E-Sports

On Saturday morning, your seventh grader was at the computer.  Again.  But today, she’d joined a free virtual workshop, learned about the heart and circulatory system, taken her pulse, and listened to your heartbeat with her home-made stethoscope.  By midday, she’d built a working model of a mechanical heart. 

In a virtual meeting a few days later, a parent and a gleeful high-schooler learned that playing video games can be a good thing.  So beneficial in fact, that schools and community partners are launching an E-Sports initiative, where students will form clubs and compete in online video gaming tournaments.

What’s going on here?

These two events--sponsored by United Way’s Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem (GBSLE)—celebrated National STEM Day, which honors education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

“Our goal with these events is to spark a passion for STEM learning through hands-on projects that engage students and their families,” noted Gwendolyn Brantley, lead of the STEM Ecosystem.  “Building interest and skills at an early age can put kids on the path to a bright future.”

WHY INCREASE STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Creating a brighter future is exactly the long-term goal of United Way’s Bridgeport Prospers—the home of the GBSLE initiative.  “We intend to improve outcomes for all children, from cradle to career,” commented Allison Logan, Executive Director of Bridgeport Prospers.  “STEM education can help improve achievement in Math and Science—which are proven benchmarks for both academic and career success.”

STEM education can pave the way to a promising career, especially since STEM careers are growing at three times the rate of careers in other fields.  In fact, US Department of Labor data show that, of the top ten fasting-growing occupations, nearly all are in STEM career fields.  And wages differ too, with the median annual STEM wage totaling over $84,000, vs. $37,000 for all non-STEM job wages. 

Importantly, according to Ms. Brantley, “STEM education can help close the current wage gap that exists by race, ethnicity, and gender.  To do so, we must ensure that quality STEM learning activities are available to all students, particularly to those whose families can’t often afford enrichment activities.”

Jeff Kimball, CEO of the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, the funder of the GBSLE, added: “Certainly, STEM education is critical to an individual’s future earning-potential.  But it also plays a role in workforce readiness and global competitiveness.  The U.S. economy was built on innovation, yet our students now lag behind other developed nations in Science and Math.  Our STEM initiative aims to prepare students to compete in the AI economy, starting with events like these. ”

THE EVENTS:  STEM SATURDAY AND E-SPORTS LAUNCH

Keen student interest was on display at both events this week. 

STEM Saturday

Over 100 students in kindergarten through seventh grade took part in the STEM Saturday event, The Heart and Circulatory System. Students registered in advance and received their own personal kit of materials to use.  The workshop was conducted through Zoom.  Students worked in small break-out groups by age, where trained tutors guided them through the activities.  The event was offered to families for free, thanks to several additional sponsors:  ACCESS Educational Services, Avangrid, Bridgeport Public Schools, and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company.

By all accounts, the day was a success.  Isaiah, a Bridgeport sixth-grader commented “Thank you for the program.  I loved it so much.”  Third-grader Akhilesh gave it his strong recommendation:  2 thumbs up.  Austin, a sixth grader from Easton, was intrigued by the stethoscope he crafted from a paper towel tube and a funnel.  “The stethoscope was cool.   It actually worked!  I heard a heartbeat--unexpectedly.” 

Parents were equally pleased with the workshop.  “This was a wonderful introduction to the heart, using kid-friendly materials,” commented Anna from Bridgeport, mom of a sixth-grade participant.  Stratford mom Sandra—whose sixth and seventh-graders enjoyed the workshop—agreed:  “It was a great learning activity. I truly appreciate that my boys were able to participate.”  And  Lisa, whose fourth and  fifth-grade grandchildren participated in the program, added,  “My kids loved it.  We look forward to your next event.” 

Another STEM Saturday event is being planned for February. Both workshops are programs developed by STEM NOLA, a nonprofit devoted to developing future STEM creators, innovators,  and entrepreneurs.

E-Sports Launch

In an online information session, the GBSLE announced the launch of an E-Sports initiative in the community. Currently, several youth-serving organizations are forming individual clubs of students to compete in online video games. 

“E-Sports combines fun and play with academic achievement and social connectedness,” noted Logan of Bridgeport Prospers.

That’s news for most parents.  But research shows that video gaming does have positive benefits.  It can improve attention, increase problem-solving skills, foster digital literacy, and improve higher math skills.  Like participation in all sports, it fosters personal growth, increases school satisfaction, and is associated with higher grade point averages in high school.  Further, E-sports can also connect students to colleges, with Central Connecticut State University entering the E-sports realm in academics and competitions last fall.  Locally, Housatonic Community College (HCC)—a leader in STEM—is exploring adding an E-Sports component to its a Dual Enrollment program (where high school students can earn college credit).  “E-Sports is a new and exciting endeavor,” noted Robin Avant, HCC Dean of Academic Affairs and co-lead of the GBSLE.

What’s the good news for kids—besides parent approval to play video games?  Like all clubs, it offers students the chance to build and belong to a community.  And during the isolation that’s come with remote learning under the COVID-19 pandemic, this is no small benefit. 

With adult guidance, students will recruit members, establish a mission, and name, and select which video games to play.  As members of the North America Foundation for Scholastic E-Sports (NASEF), the clubs must also set a club Code of Conduct that prioritizes teamwork and inclusivity. NASEF covers costs of curriculum, club activation,  gaming licenses, and virtual support/coaching, thanks to charitable organizations headed by the Samueli Foundation.

Student membership is not limited to video gamers.  Clubs will also need organizers for the events, strategists to provide coaching and analysis, content creators to develop a club mascot, logo and website, and “Shoutcasters” to provide the color commentary for the gaming competitions.  This offers an opportunity to bring together students with varying skills and personalities.

Parents were amazed.  “I never thought it was okay to play video games,” commented a parent of a ninth-grader,  “but I can see where this club approach has real value.”  An eleventh-grade student  noted, “Sometimes, video gaming can be isolating.  I would like having a local team to play on.”  But twelfth-grader Eugene summed up the chief reaction of all students in attendance:  “When can we start?”

Students in middle school and high-school can join a club by signing up directly with one of the six youth organizations participating:  Access Educational Services, Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders, Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse, Dunbar Family Resource Center, Cardinal Shehan Center, and The Village Initiative Program, Inc. 

CLOSING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP

Overall, the week’s activities were a cause for celebration.  I’m so proud of the impactful, innovative work being done by the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem,” commented United Way’s Kimball. “Our investment in the GBSLE can help close the opportunity gap that prevents kids from reaching their full potential.” 

Since Fairfield County has one of the largest opportunity gaps in the country, there’s a lot of work to be done.  But, Kimball added, “I’m hopeful and confident that we can empower our kids toward brighter horizons.”

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Bridgeport Prospers

Bridgeport Prospers’ mission is to work collectively as a community of stakeholders to have a positive, measurable, and sustainable impact on outcomes for all children and families, from cradle to career.  We focus on a set of seven common outcomes, from healthy and ready at three and kindergarten readiness, to high school graduation and career readiness.   The initiative receives backbone support from the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County.

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United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s mission is:  “Together, we mobilize our communities to improve people’s lives.”  Our vision is that all children in Coastal Fairfield County are successful in school and prepared for success in life.  UWCFC serves the towns of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

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North America Scholastic Esports Federation

NASEF is on a mission to provide opportunities for ALL students to use esports as a platform to acquire critical communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in work and in life.

The Federation’s core values are intertwined through all aspects of education and play: learning, opportunity, community, diversity, and respect.  See matches streamed live on our Twitch channel, and join online conversations on Twitter @NASEFedu, or on Facebook and Instagram.

Bridgeport, CT Receives Pritzker Children’s Initiative Grant

Bridgeport Joins Nationwide Network of States and Communities to Collaborate on Improving Outcomes for Children Prenatal-to-Three

October 28 , 2020 – Bridgeport, CT has been selected to receive a three-year $250,000 grant from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, one of 10 awarded following a national, year-long competition to identify innovative community-based efforts to improve outcomes for infants and toddlers. 

United Way’s Bridgeport Prospers will manage the grant funds on behalf of a coalition of 41 public and private partners that have crafted a strategy for a strong and sustainable infrastructure to improve access to programs and services that offer a foundation for a strong start for the community’s youngest children. The coalition and its members will join other national, state, local organizations as part of the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers. 

“We are honored to receive this Community Innovation grant to provide Bridgeport families with supports they need to foster their young children’s healthy development,” commented Allison Logan, Executive Director of Bridgeport Prospers. “We believe in the promise and potential of every child, and in Bridgeport, which faces the largest Opportunity Gap in the country, there is so much unrealized potential. Our vision is that all children are happy, healthy, and ready for preschool at the age of three.” 

Currently, up to 75% of the city’s three-year olds don’t meet all age-expected developmental milestones. Through the grant, the multi-sector coalition will provide families with a coordinated network of services and supports designed to improve maternal health, infant health, healthy child development, and school readiness. Called The Baby Bundle, the supports are science-based and evidence-informed. They include: 

• Wellness screenings (post-partum) for moms, newborns, and families at the city’s largest birthing hospital, Bridgeport Hospital 

• Pilot of a universal and triaged home visiting approach, which includes wellness navigators, doulas, and connections to needed services in the city 

• Launch of the MOMS Partnership maternal mental health wellness program with the Yale New Haven Health System

• Ongoing child developmental screening and monitoring through a new mobile application, Sparkler, through 2 federally qualified health centers, Southwest Community Health Center and Optimus Health Care 

• Early literacy support at mom’s prenatal visits, after hospital delivery at both local hospitals, and at pediatric well-visits, through partners Read to Grow and Reach Out and Read 

• Bridgeport Basics parenting resource that fosters early language, literacy, math, and social-emotional development, available online and through 24 partners throughout the city (in libraries, school resource centers, childcare programs, and health centers) 

• Increase of licensed quality family childcare, in partnership with All Our Kin 

Additionally, the initiative will explore using a data sharing system to track progress and monitor outcomes, using tools like UNITE US, a referral program that links the health and social services sectors. 

Bridgeport Prospers’ Allison Logan will serve as the Pritzker Fellow, leading the coalition’s initiatives. She commented, “To truly improve outcomes for children, we need to focus on the early years, since 80% of a child’s brain growth happens by age three. And we need to work upstream, to reduce barriers and improve family supports that allow children to achieve their full potential. The Baby Bundle approach does just that.” 

Within three years, The Baby Bundle will expand to reach a target cohort of 25% of Bridgeport infants, toddlers, & their families (estimated at 1,050 ) who live below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. In the process, the coalition aims to improve systems that serve the families. 

“I’m so very proud of this innovative, comprehensive, and community-wide approach to improving outcomes for our city’s children,” commented Jeff Kimball, CEO of United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, home of Bridgeport Prospers. “Bringing together all the sectors of family-serving organizations is a fine example of collective impact at work.” 

Gerry Cobb, Director of the Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI) commented, “Supporting strong prenatal-to-three efforts in communities across the nation is key to expanding the numbers of young children in the United States with access to high-quality programs and services. We believe that setting infants and toddlers on the path to success in school and in life is work on which we can all agree. PCI is pleased to support the priorities of United Way’s Bridgeport Prospers through this grant and want to build on the innovative work being done by the outstanding public and private partners that have come together on behalf of the Bridgeport’s youngest children.” 

Javier Colon performs a cover of “Over the Rainbow” in honor of the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s announcement of its partnership with the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, published on 10/28/20.

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Bridgeport Prospers 

Bridgeport Prospers’ mission is to work collectively as a community of stakeholders to have a positive, measurable, and sustainable impact on outcomes for all children and families, from cradle to career. We focus on a set of seven common outcomes, from healthy and ready at three and kindergarten readiness, to high school graduation and career readiness. The initiative receives backbone support from the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County.

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United Way of Coastal Fairfield County 

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s mission is: “Together, we mobilize our communities to improve people’s lives.” Our vision is that all children in Coastal Fairfield County are successful in school and prepared for success in life. UWCFC serves the towns of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. 

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Pritzker Children’s Initiative 

Through its Pritzker Children’s Initiative, the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation has been a champion of quality early learning for almost two decades. The Pritzker Children’s Initiative supports organizations and coalitions in states and communities to expand equitable access to and participation in high-quality services for infants, toddlers, and their families across the United States. Through the Pritzker Fellows program, the initiative supports emerging leaders in communities leading prenatal-to-three projects, connecting them with a nationwide network of peers and providing ongoing coaching and professional development. 

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National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers 

The National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT) brings together early childhood leaders, policymakers, and practitioners committed to advancing policies and programs that ensure every child from prenatal to age three has the support he or she needs for a strong start in life. 

Our Community Responds as Fire Displaces Residents in Bridgeport, Connecticut

When 19 families lost everything and were displaced by the recent fire at PT Barnum Apartments, the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County and our partners were there to help.

A group of resident leaders and advocates, known as PT Partners, sprung into action and worked closely with our team to ensure food, clothing, shelter, emergency financial assistance, health care and other vital assistance was provided.

Thank you to our partners throughout the community who provided aid and support such as LifeBridge Community Services, Alliance for Community Empowerment, American Red Cross, Southwest Community Health Center, Optimus Health Care, Sikorsky Aircraft - a Lockheed Martin Company, The Salvation Army, the City of Bridgeport, CT and other area orgs. These combined efforts remind us of the value of community, resilience, and growth. United, we rise during the most challenging of times.

Special thanks to Congressman Himes for making the time to listen and learn about the needs of the PT community during our recent visit, his personal donation of food, and continued support in the weeks ahead when we’ll reconvene.

Join us in helping our neighbors rebuild their lives, and take action so they’ll know they aren’t alone.

Innovative Partnership Uses Robotics to Combat Summer Slide

United Way’s STEM Learning Ecosystem Launches Camp:ASPIRE to keep kids learning during COVID-19

This is not your normal summer.  Camps and enrichment programs have been curtailed or cancelled outright.  Children are out of school, but parents are still working—at home or elsewhere.

But imagine that students at home could learn to build robots that mimic animals or solve a community problem.  Now they can, thanks to an innovative virtual summer camp program in robotics offered by the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem (GBSLE).

The GBSLE is launching Camp:ASPIRE--an acronym for At-home Summer Programs in Robotics and Engineering--designed to immerse local children in hands-on STEM learning activities and creative fun with robots. An initiative of the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County and Bridgeport Prospers, the STEM Ecosystem is offering the program to keep kids safely engaged, and to help combat “summer slide,“ a tendency to lose learning gains made during the school year.

“We’re excited to offer this innovative STEM education program to keep kids learning, problem-solving and growing skills for the future,” commented Gwendolyn Brantley, Lead of the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem.

Camp:ASPIRE offers a combination of online and hands-on learning with robotics tool kits.  Daily camp classes are taught over Zoom by trained instructors in two-hour sessions.  Based on learnings from the virtual classes, students then complete two hours of activities on their own, using individual robotic UKITs.  The kits contain hundreds of pieces of lights, motors, wheels, and other gear such as sensors. 

“It’s vital to keep kids learning during the summer, when they can lose from one to three months of academic skills,” added Allison Logan, Executive Director of Bridgeport Prospers, home of the STEM Learning Ecosystem.

Students in low income households are particularly vulnerable to loss, since they have fewer resources for learning outside school.  Overall, math skills are at higher risk of loss than reading skills.  Some  experts warn that summer learning may be even more critical this year, as early school closures could mean a “COVID-19 Slide,” where students could fall nearly a full year behind in math.

“Our goal with the camp is to prevent summer learning loss and maintain academic skills needed for the new school year,” said Brantley.  “Our STEM Learning Ecosystem partners mobilized very quickly to make Camp:ASPIRE available to local students.”

STEM Ecosystem partners offering the virtual robotics camp program include ACCESS Educational Services, Bridgeport Public Schools, Cardinal Sheehan Center, New Vision International Ministries, PT Partners, and Stratford’s South End Community Center.  Camp offerings launch this week, with class options for beginning and intermediate learners throughout the summer. 

Learning will continue in the fall as well.  The Stem Ecosystem secured a grant to provide UBTECH advanced learning kits to students at Central Magnet High School.

“I’m so proud of our STEM Learning Ecosystem and their innovative initiatives to provide quality STEM learning experiences that will truly put kids on the path to a promising future,”  commented Jeff Kimball, CEO of United Way of Coastal Fairfield County. 

Camp:ASPIRE was developed through the partnership of UBTECH, a global leader in robots and artificial intelligence, and the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice, a global initiative dedicated to preparing children to thrive through high quality STEM education.  The program is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.  A portion of the camp proceeds are returned to the local STEM ecosystems for camp scholarships.

To learn more about Camp:ASPIRE,  contact Gwendolyn Brantley at  gbrantley@unitedwaycfc.org. 

To donate to the program, visit www.unitedwaycfc.org.

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About the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem (GBSLE)

The Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem mission is to prepare students to become career-ready leaders by providing access to quality STEM learning environments.  It is a collaboration of 35 innovators:  educators, business and civic representatives, non-profits, and youth-serving organizations.  GBSLE  is one initiative of Bridgeport Prospers, a cradle-to-career collective impact initiative. It is a member of the global STEM Learning Ecosystem Community of Practice (SLECoP), a group of 89 cross-sector collaborations seeking to nurture and scale effective STEM learning opportunities for young people. 

About Bridgeport Prospers
Bridgeport Prospers mission is to work collectively as a community of stakeholders to have a positive, measurable, and sustainable impact on outcomes for all children and families, from cradle to career.  We focus on a set of seven common outcomes, from healthy and ready at three and kindergarten readiness, to high school graduation and career readiness. The initiative is funded by United Way of Coastal Fairfield County.  Find out more at: https://www.unitedwaycfc.org/bridgeportprospers.

About United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s mission is “Together, we mobilize our communities to improve people’s lives.” Our vision is that all children in coastal Fairfield County are successful in school and prepared for success in life. UWCFC serves the towns of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. Find out more at: https://www.unitedwaycfc.org.

Our Promise to Fairfield County in the Wake of George Floyd's Murder

George Floyd’s murder, and this moment in history, have once again shaken us to our core. We are sad, exasperated and angry. We work with families like the Floyds every day, and our hearts break for them as they grieve their loss. The continued bloodshed and systemic injustice black men and women suffer must stop, now. 

Those who haven’t experienced racism can’t imagine what it’s like. As such, we are committed to taking time to learn, understand, and open ourselves up to new perspectives. We are not afraid to engage in conversations about systemic racism or the need for equity and accountability - at all levels.

Our United Way has spent years working closely with communities of color, working hand-in-hand to better people’s lives.  In fact, one of the core missions of our work is to keep children safe from violence, and remedy the systemic inequality that grips far too many. Through our work, we seek to empower people who are being disenfranchised by a lack of access to health care, education, employment and housing.

While statements are necessary, we strongly believe that this is a time for action. So, what will we do?

• We will seek accountability and transparency in all institutions of government, including the police, and on a local, state and federal level.

• We will continue to advocate for justice, support organizations advancing equity, and promote completion of the census and nonpartisan voter registration. Change will come more swiftly when citizens’ voices are heard and they are empowered to exercise their right to vote.

• We will continue our work to create healthy support systems around children so that they can thrive. This begins by working together to build safe and secure communities with access to quality health care that looks at the whole of a child, including mental health; early childhood development and literacy; and equal access to quality curriculum, particularly STEM.

• We will engage in further training to understand our own conscious and unconscious biases as we work hard, every day, to support those who are experiencing it.

• We will practice the change we seek to realize, which is found in the integrity of the work we do every day in our Fairfield County, Connecticut community – in the way we interact with and treat each other and seek to continually learn and open ourselves up to different perspectives.

• We will embrace the rich variety of voices that represent the communities we serve by continuing to diversify our staff, board and committees. We will continue to make a concerted effort to provide equal employment opportunities.

While we will work hard to be a constructive part of the larger societal conversations, we recognize that we have a responsibility to play our part here at home, at the local level, especially when the spotlight isn’t on us. That’s where you will find us – working to bring as much light, love and hope to those living in the shadows of our systems. The struggle continues, and our work must as well -- every moment of every day.

Masks, Math & Making a Difference

Watch this entertaining and insightful conversation about how the United Way is working like a social venture innovator and empowering children and families during the Covid crisis.

Stem Learning Ecosystem Mobilizes Partners to Meet Student Need During COVID Crisis

UNITED WAY/BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS INITIATIVE PROVIDES TUTORS FOR REMOTE LEARNERS

A crisis like the coronavirus pandemic calls for an “all hands on deck” response. United Way’s Collective Impact team—specifically, the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem—took up the challenge, and mobilized partners to help students plunged into the era of remote learning.

The STEM Ecosystem set out to support students with one-one-one virtual tutoring,  aligning allies to help meet the need:

• Trusted partners ACCESS Educational Services and Bridgeport Public Education Fund recruited  and vetted tutors from six local colleges  (University of Bridgeport, Housatonic Community College; Southern CT State University, Fairfield University, and The University of St. Joseph’s College of Pharmacy).

• Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem members trained and now supervises the tutors.

• PT Partners and the PT Barnum Apartments resident council (whose own resident survey had surfaced the urgent need), recruited the initial families worried about their children keeping pace.  Local administrators, social workers, and guidance counselors referred additional students.

• Bank of America provided a local funding grant to seed the program.

“The coronavirus pandemic disrupted learning and routines almost overnight.  Our partnership wanted to support continued learning, especially for vulnerable students, ” commented Gwendolyn Brantley, Lead of the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem (GBSLE). 

What began in a public housing complex with five tutors and five families has now grown eight-fold, expanded across the city, and spread into Fairfield.

“This collaboration demonstrates the power of collective impact,” commented Allison Logan, Executive Director of Bridgeport Prospers, the home of the initiative.   “When diverse stakeholders unify around a common goal, they can achieve collectively what no single organization can do alone.” 

 “I’m so grateful to our many GBSLE partners who made this possible, ”added program lead  Gwendolyn Brantley.

Program Feedback

Early feedback on the program is positive.

A parent of one Bassick student commented:  “I love it because--for my son--constancy is key.  The one-on-one is what he’s used to and what he thrives on.”   

Students also voiced approval for the program.  A Central High School junior remarked:  "I got information on topics I didn’t know about.”  A  sophomore from Fairfield Warde High School noted:  “My tutor really takes the time to help me. We always work through the problems and she makes sure I understand.”

Tutors are pleased with the student progress they’re seeing.  “Understanding and self-esteem have increased by setting small goals and helping students reach them, ” commented a tutor getting her Masters degree in teaching/secondary biology education from Sacred Heart University.  Further, “Student engagement and confidence have been boosted by making math enjoyable with games, short videos, and the Zoom interactive white board,” added a sophomore tutor from Housatonic Community College.

The program benefits the tutors as well.  They receive hourly stipends for their sessions, which really helps given the lack of summer jobs in the wake of COVID-19.   And they improve their own self-confidence and communication skills.  Longer term, younger tutors enjoy the encouragement, mentoring,  and role-modeling of the senior tutors from the St. Joseph’s school of Pharmacy, who are volunteering their time to the program.

“Overall, this is a community-wide win.  United Way is proud to foster this effort through our collective impact work at Bridgeport Prospers,” said Jeff Kimball, CEO of United Way of Coastal Fairfield County.

Program Offering

The tutoring program offers:

• Two free one-hour sessions weekly, by Zoom meetings or by phone for those without computers or Wi-Fi connections

• Tutoring for school assignments in math, science, and reading, along with social-emotional support, as requested by parents

• Support for a range of students:  those who are anxious, struggling, or just wish to advance

This support benefits families as well, who may lack time, energy, or knowledge to support their child’s learning alone.

Next Steps

With additional funding, the program will continue throughout the summer.  The plan is to partner with UBTECH, a leading global Artificial Intelligence and Humanoid Robotics company to engage children in Camp Aspire Virtual Summer Camp.  The goal is to help prevent summer learning loss and maintain academic skills needed for entry into the new school year.

Program capacity is 150 students. Anyone who would like to request a tutor can contact Gwendolyn Brantley at  gbrantley@unitedwaycfc.org. 

To donate to the program, visit www.unitedwaycfc.org.

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 About the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem (GBSLE)

The Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem mission is to prepare students to become career-ready leaders by providing access to quality STEM learning environments.  It is a collaboration of 35 innovators:  educators, business and civic representatives, non-profits and youth-serving organizations.  GBSLE  is one initiative of Bridgeport Prospers, a cradle-to-career collective impact initiative. It is a member of the global STEM Learning Ecosystem Community of Practice (SLECoP), a group of 89 cross-sector collaborations seeking to nurture and scale effective STEM learning opportunities for young people.

About Bridgeport Prospers

Bridgeport Prospers mission is to work collectively as a community of stakeholders to have a positive, measurable, and sustainable impact on outcomes for all children and families, from cradle to career.  We focus on a set of seven common outcomes, from healthy and ready at three and kindergarten readiness, to high school graduation and career readiness. The initiative is funded by United Way of Coastal Fairfield County.  Find out more at: http://www.unitedwaycfc.org/bridgeportprospers

About United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s mission is “Together, we mobilize our communities to improve people’s lives.” Our vision is that all children in coastal Fairfield County are successful in school and prepared for success in life. UWCFC serves the towns of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. Find out more at: http://www.unitedwaycfc.org .

About Bank of America

At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).

 Bank of America has delivered more than $2 billion in philanthropic investments since 2009, with approximately $250 million in 2019 alone. In April 2019, the company announced a $5 billion Bank of America Community Homeownership Commitment™ to benefit low- and moderate-income homebuyers and communities across the U.S. over the next five years. Also in 2019, Bank of America Community Development Banking provided a record $4.88 billion in loans, tax credit equity investments and other real estate development solutions. Between 2005 and 2019, Bank of America financed 202,800 affordable housing units. To meet the unique needs of its 12 million small business owners, the company provides advice, solutions and dedicated support. Bank of America maintained its position as the nation’s top small business lender at the end of 2019, with $38.9 billion in total outstanding small business loan balances (defined as business loans in original amounts of $1 million and under), up 7% year over year.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

www.bankofamerica.com

CONNECTICUT LOW-INCOME PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS TURN CRISIS INTO LEARNING LABRATORY, MODEL FOR STATE

The PT Barnum Apartments, a 360-unit low-income public housing complex with over 1,100 residents in Bridgeport, Conn., is feeling the brunt of the Covid crisis. Already facing one of the largest Opportunity Gaps in the country, they’re now in the eye of Connecticut’s coronavirus hot spot.  Just last month, nearly 40% of residents lost their jobs.

Mobilizing for Action

Showing their resilience, they mobilized for action. Residents conducted a survey to assess the community’s  needs, finding that emergency funds to cover rent, utility bills and food ranked highest, and thanks to a partnership between the United Way and Bank of America, relief is being provided.  But it was another emerging need that empowered residents to literally turn the crisis into a learning opportunity, speaking to the innovative partnership with Bank of America.

Meeting an Unfulfilled Need

Initially, at the onset of the crisis, before the transition was made to full-time virtual learning, tutoring was highlighted as a need among residents as students worried about keeping pace.  The United Way and its STEM Ecosystem partners immediately cobbled together trusted allies and recruited college students from the city (former STEM participants), to engage with PT’s children for intensive tutoring. What began as a targeted effort with 5 tutors and 5 families in PT is now scaling to serve 75 children. At present, there are 42 students participating, which represents a growth of 8x over just one month. In addition, the program is expanding beyond its roots in PT, with students from Fairfield Warde now in the pipeline.

How the Tutoring Works

The program managers design the program, recruit and then train the tutors, working in conjunction with curriculum specialists. Tutors are former STEM program participants or STEM students, primarily in college. Many of these students are struggling in their own lives with food and housing, so earning a small stipend helps address a little of their own issues as well. As STEM students, these tutors are already comfortable in a virtual environment and know how to bring AI to the industrial age, as the kids they’re working with lack access to technology.

We have tutors from the University of Bridgeport, Housatonic Community College, Southern CT State University, Sacred Heart, Fairfield University and next week, graduate students will be joining the program from the College of Pharmacy at St. Josephs to focus on math.

Tutors spend 2-4 hours with each child, often connecting by phone. We work with leading STEM curriculum specialists and select special kits, based on the children’s needs, sending them to the families for ongoing work. Our plan is to work with children THROUGH the summer, to prevent a summer slide and keep children at-level as they enter the new school year.

Program Cost

Thanks to the Bank of America, we were able to seed this program and get it off the ground. It simply wouldn’t have happened without their support, and belief in the residents of PT to empower themselves. This innovative effort costs $1,188 cost per student. Over the course of 4 months, that’s just $297 per month, per student. A greater issue, what’s the cost of inaction?

Barriers We’re Facing

• Securing additional funds. We need $150,000 to scale this program to meet the needs of those who already have expressed interest in Fairfield and Bridgeport, never mind the rest of Fairfield County, where we plan to go next.

• Access to the internet continues to be a major challenge for many families. Turns out “free” programs aren’t free (just initially) and dead zones and no connectivity translates directly to a lack of opportunity. That’s why we’re building our program initially around using a phone and sending kits to children.

Empowerment leads to opportunity

PT Barnum’s residents remind us again of the promise and possibility found when we empower people, harness innovation and work together. Thanks to a partnership with the Bank of America, all of this became possible.

Want more information, contact Jeff Kimball, CEO or Gwen Brantley, program manager.

Thanks for joining us at Live United, 2019!

What a great night to share in our success and express our gratitude to you for making such a profound and direct impact on the lives of so many at-risk children in our community. Some pictures from the night’s festivities follow — thank you again for sharing it with us!

Pritzker Children's Initiative Highlights Bridgeport Prospers

BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS/UNITED WAY HIGHLIGHTED BY PRITZKER CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE

The Bridgeport Prospers strategy for improving outcomes of the youngest children, known as The Baby Bundle, is featured on the recently-launched website of National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT). The website, known as the NCIT Online Solution Center, is funded by the Pritzker Children’s Initiative and is designed to focus on solutions, providing resources and guidance for those working to be champions for infants, toddlers, and their families. The Bridgeport Prospers work was one of three cases studies chosen for the website launch.

“The NCIT and Bridgeport Prospers/United Way are allied in our focus on the first three years of a child’s life.  During this period, rapid brain development lays the foundation for all future learning, behavior and health,” commented Allison Logan, Executive Director of Bridgeport Prospers.  “We are honored to have our work recognized by the NCIT.”

The NCIT Online Solution Center is a resource for policymakers, influencers, and early childhood leaders to find the latest information and tools for developing impactful, data-informed policies and programs for infants and toddlers.  Along with featuring case studies, the site includes state and community data on infants, toddlers and their families; guidance on building pre-natal to three plans; and information on measuring impact, research-based messaging to garner investment support, and work happening around the country so that decision makers and advocates can connect with each other.

The Bridgeport Prospers Baby Bundle was chosen for its systematic, data-driven approach, involvement of all stakeholders, and grounding in the neuroscience of early brain development.  The Baby Bundle isn’t a single innovation, but rather a group of supports for pregnant women, children birth to three, families, and other caregivers.  These include:

• Caregiver supports, specifically, home visiting programs, a parenting mobile application called Sparkler, the Bridgeport Basics parenting practices, and early literacy programs from Read to Grow and Reach Out and Read.

• Early identification of and supports for at-need children and families, through integrating data systems from key sectors (e.g., health and education)

• Expansion of trauma-informed awareness and practices by community providers.

“The Baby Bundle seeks to ensure that all Bridgeport babies are born healthy and reach age-appropriate milestones by age three,” noted Logan.   

The Baby Bundle is one strategy of Bridgeport Prospers, a local collective impact movement devoted to changing outcomes for all children, from cradle to career.   It is a member of StriveTogether, a national nonprofit working to bring communities together around data to make decisions and improve results for kids.  Bridgeport Prospers is an initiative of the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, a leading catalyst for social change.

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Bridgeport Prospers
Bridgeport Prospers mission is to work collectively as a community of stakeholders to have a positive, measurable, and sustainable impact on outcomes for all children and families, from cradle to career.  We focus on a set of seven common outcomes, from healthy and ready at three and kindergarten readiness, to high school graduation and career readiness. The initiative receives backbone support from the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County.  Find out more at http://www.unitedwaycfc.org/bridgeportprospers

Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI)
The Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI), a project of the J.B. and M. K. Pritzker Family Foundation, is committed to building a promising future for our country by investing in and supporting solutions in early childhood development for children prenatal to age three, with the goal of every child reaching kindergarten ready to learn.

The National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT)
Funded through the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, NCIT brings together national partners, early childhood leaders, philanthropy, policymakers and practitioners inside and outside state and local government to create and strengthen promising policies and programs, and share what works, so that more states and communities can support the healthy development of our youngest children.

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County
United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s works to help at-risk children overcome obstacles and realize their potential.  Its vision is that all children in Coastal Fairfield County are successful in school and prepared for success in life. UWCFC serves the towns of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. 

StriveTogether
StriveTogether is a national movement with a clear purpose: help every child succeed in school and in life from cradle to career, regardless of race, zip code or circumstance. In partnership with nearly 70 communities across the country, StriveTogether provides resources, best practices and processes to give every child every chance for success. The StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network reaches 10.5 million students, involves 10,800 organizations and has partners in 30 states and Washington D.C.