Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link Inc

Representation Matters, that is why we are just as intentional about what volunteers we recruit for our programs as we are with planning our programming. "Unveiling potential through exposure" is also about exposing youth to positive adult role models in STEM. When children see adults that look like them in STEM, they believe that it is possible for them to do STEM.

As we countdown to Give 8/28 Day, a day on giving for Black-led and Black benefiting organizations hosted by . we ask that you donate to SEM Link. Your donation will support the work that we are doing to inspire the next generation of Black STEM Professionals by providing opportunities for them to engage in hands-on STEM activities and learn about STEM Careers while being exposed to positive adult role models in STEM. You can donate anytime between now and Wednesday, August 28th at 11:59 pm EST via the link below or the link in our bio

https://www.give828.org/organization/Semlink

In 2005, our Founder and Executive Director Ms. Tokiwa T. Smith started the work of SEM Link because she wanted to expose as many youth as she could to STEM and STEM Careers. As a chemical engineer, she wanted to make sure some of those kids that were exposed to STEM through the work of SEM Link looked like her, like in this photo of Ms. Smith conducting a chemistry experiment with young Black girls.

As we countdown to Give 8/28 Day, a day on giving for Black-led and Black benefiting organizations hosted by . we ask that you donate to SEM Link. Your donation will support the work that we are doing to inspire the next generation of Black STEM Professionals by providing opportunities for them to engage in hands-on STEM activities and learn about STEM Careers while being exposed to positive adult role models in STEM. You can donate anytime between now and Wednesday, August 28th at 11:59 pm EST via the link below or the link in our bio

https://www.give828.org/organization/Semlink

Next week teens can hear from Miss Plant Science! Our speaker Makayla Mitchell has a phenomenal story to share about how she got interested in STEM and the cool things she’s been able to accomplish pursuing a STEM career in agriculture!

Bring teens to this eye-opening and interactive Teen Science Cafe where they will explore plant pathogens, identifying plant diseases, and the importance of agriculture and plant health!

This is the first Teen Science Cafe of our 2024-2025 Program Year featuring Agricultural Scientist MaKayla Mitchell, M.S. from the Georgia Department of Agriculture!

🗓️ Tuesday, August 27 from 6:00-7:00pm at the Gladys S. Dennard Library at South Fulton

🔗 Register today at http://bit.ly/TSCaugust2024

Link also in our bio 🦠

We are counting down to Give 8/28 Day, the Blackest day of Giving, which is one week away on Wednesday, August 28th! Hosted is a day to promote financial giving to Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofits on August 28th!

The funds raised from this year’s campaign will support our two-core hybrid programs, Community STEM and Experimental Design Program, that provides K-12 students with digital and in-person (Metro Atlanta) learning opportunities The Community STEM Program focuses on providing STEM activities in community spaces and has digital and in-person learning opportunities that expose youth to STEM through career exploration, hands-on activities, and interactive demonstrations. Our Experimental Design Model teaches youth to read, write, do, and talk STEM, which are the foundational skills for engaging in STEM Research through digital learning and group mentoring.

You don’t have to wait until Wednesday to donate to our campaign; early giving starts today. You can donate to SEM Link’s Give 8/28 Day campaign anytime between today and Wednesday, August 28th at 11:59 pm. EST via the link below

https://www.give828.org/organization/Semlink

Empower youth through STEM with SEM Link! Join us this week at our virtual Volunteer Informational Open House to learn how you can get involved. ⚡️

Be a part of creating inspiring STEM experiences for Metro Atlanta youth. 💡

🗓️ Wednesday, August 21st
⏰ 6:30-7:30pm EDT
📍 Online

Register at bit.ly/VolOpenHouseAugust
Link is also in our bio

⭐️LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT ⭐️

Our community partner
is hosting its Annual Urban BioBLITZ at the Outdoor Activity Centernon September 18th. At this event, attendees will learn to identify the native flora, fauna and fungi in the old growth forest. 🔎🌳

Register via their website using the link in WAWA's bio.

Bring youth for fun STEM activities at the library!

Geared towards youth in grades 3rd-8th, these engaging, hands-on sessions encourage curiosity and exploration in a supportive environment. The upcoming session is:

🦠 STEM at the Library
🗓️ Saturday, August 31
⏰ 11:00AM-1:00PM
📍 Gladys S. Dennard Library at South Fulton

Register youth at bit.ly/LibrarySTEMAugust2024

Parents, empower your high schoolers with the skills that will help them get ahead.

The STEM Journal Club helps students develop high level STEM skills and connect with STEM experts. Members get to explore STEM career paths and receive a certificate of achievement for successful completion of the 8-month program. Fuel your kid’s bright future now!

⏰ Applications close August 30 at 11:59pm EDT

🔗 Teens apply at https://bit.ly/SEMLinkSJC before the deadline

The link is also in our bio

🎧 Dive into an episode of our SEM Explained podcast by the phenomenal student members of Cohort 3 of our STEM Journal Club!

This episode covers a topic that may be familiar to women or lovers of makeup. What could be the dangers in cosmetic glue? Our hosts get down to The Sticky Truth.

This episode is based on a scholarly journal article the students discussed and analyzed during the program. Check out their grasp of STEM topics, STEM research, and science communication skills learned through the program. ✌🏾

Are you a teen curious about what our STEM Journal Club can offer you? Listen in for an entertaining and informative peek into the hot topics you could be discussing! Available now on Spotify at ⬇️
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sem-explained

Link is also in our bio

Interested in joining our next cohort? Apply today and take your passion for STEM to the next level! Submit your application at bit.ly/SEMLinkSJC or link in bio.

Last chance to spark your child’s inner architect! Our Junior Design Jam is TOMORROW with .

For youth ages 10-18, there will be hands-on activities and career insights that will have youth and teens explore design thinking, blueprints and more!

This program is by registration only. Don’t let your kids miss out!

🗓️ Date: Saturday, August 17
⏰ Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
📍 Location: Murray Educational Center, 4841 HWY 5 Douglasville, GA

Register today at bit.ly/JuniorDesignJam or through the link in our bio 🚀✨

This is the 7th year that SEM Link is a participating non-profit organization in Give 8/28 Day hosted by , Give 8/28 Day, also known as the Blackest day of giving, is a day to promote financial giving for Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofits is two weeks away on August 28th at 8am ET! Early giving starts at 8am ET on Wednesday, August 21st This month starts our 19th year of “unveiling potential through exposure” for youth. It is also the 3rd year of our two core hybrid program model, Community STEM and Experimental Design Program, where we have digital and in-person (Metro Atlanta) STEM learning experiences for youth. We are looking forward to another year of connecting youth with the STEM community to expose them to STEM careers and engage them in hands-on STEM activities/interactive STEM demonstrations. Your contributions to our Give 8/28 Day campaign will support this work, so save the date on your calendar to give and share with your network's, encourage them to donate to SEM Link on Give 8/28 Day; donations can be made via our campaign website:

https://www.give828.org/organization/Semlink

🌱 Teens, discover the overlooked and underestimated world of agriculture! 🚜

A STEM career in agriculture can go down many different paths, including ones related to animal science, biotechnology, natural resources and more! In this upcoming Teen Science Cafe, students will hear about one such pathway related to plant science!

Plants get sick too? That’s right, plants are susceptible to disease just like humans and animals! We’ll get a deep dive into the what and how in this workshop. Students will have the opportunity to identify plant pathogens and learn about plant growth stages.

Featuring Agricultural Scientist MaKayla Mitchell, M.S. from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, bring teens:

🗓️ Tuesday, August 27 from 6:00-7:00pm at the Gladys S. Dennard Library at South Fulton

🔗 Register today at http://bit.ly/TSCaugust2024

Link also in our bio 🦠

Bring youth for fun STEM activities at the library!

Geared towards youth in grades 3rd-8th, these engaging, hands-on sessions encourage curiosity and exploration in a supportive environment. The upcoming session is:

🦠 STEM at the Library
🗓️ Saturday, August 31
⏰ 11:00AM-1:00PM
📍 Gladys S. Dennard Library at South Fulton

Register youth at bit.ly/LibrarySTEMAugust2024

Link is also in our bio

Metro Atlanta teens interested in STEM research and STEM careers, check out SEM Link’s STEM Journal Club!

The STEM Journal Club immerses high school students in the exploration of different STEM topics and the rigor of STEM research.

Students get to

⭐️ Learn how to read, analyze, and discuss STEM scholarly articles, a beneficial skill for higher education ⭐️ Engage with special guest researchers in the field
⭐️ Record a podcast episode for the student SEM Explained Podcast

The best part about this virtual club is that students from anywhere in Metro Atlanta can participate. However, there are select in-person experiences for the program.

⏰ Applications close August 30 at 11:59pm EDT

🔗 Youth apply at https://bit.ly/SEMLinkSJC before the deadline

The link is also in our bio

             

🎧 Dive into the latest episodes of our SEM Explained podcast brought to you by the talented student members of Cohort 4 of our STEM Journal Club!

In these episodes, they break down water eutrophication, based on a scholarly journal article they read and analyzed during the program. Check out their grasp of STEM topics, STEM research, and science communication skills learned through the program. 💪🏾

Are you a teen curious about what our STEM Journal Club can offer you? Listen in for an entertaining and informative peek into the kind of work you could be doing! Available now on Spotify at ⬇️
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sem-explained

Link is also in our bio

Interested in joining our next cohort? Apply today and take your passion for STEM to the next level!

Looking to make a difference in the lives of youth? SEM Link is hosting a Volunteer Informational Open House!

Come learn more about doing STEM outreach with our nonprofit organization!

The open house is happening

🗓️ Wednesday, August 21st
⏰ 6:30-7:30pm EDT
📍 on Zoom

Register at bit.ly/VolOpenHouseAugust
Link is also in our bio

⭐️LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT ⭐️

We’re looking for STEM professionals and graduate students to volunteer with our org! We aim to engage, inspire and unveil potential in Metro Atlanta youth through exposure to STEM and STEM careers!

Early experiences with STEM can increase the odds of success and confidence in youth! If you are a STEM professional with a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of youth, then check out the opportunity to volunteer with us! There are slots that need people open right now, so please sign up where you can provide your time and talents. Virtual opportunities available for those outside of Metro Atlanta. 🙂

Sign up through https://bit.ly/SEMLINKVOLUNTEER, the link in our bio or DM us if you’re interested!

⭐️LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT ⭐️

🌟 Our STEM outreach starts next week, and we’re excited to build on the impact we achieved during our 2023-2024 Program Year! 🌟

From August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, our Community STEM Program flourished with Teen Science Cafes, STEM at the Library, STEM at The Park, and the STEM Art Competition and Show. We explored 27 different career paths via these programs.

We partnered with , , , , and Parks and Recreation department for stellar STEM outreach.

Through our Experimental Design Program, we recruited STEM Fair Judges for Metro Atlanta schools, including incredible employees from and . We celebrated the graduation of two students from our fourth STEM Journal Club cohort. Additionally, our STEM Literacy Program facilitated the donation of 180 culturally relevant STEM books to inspire the next generation.

Members of the STEM community and corporate partners generously volunteered their time and expertise, with 50 individuals contributing to our efforts. Altogether, we had over 464 youth and their families impacted by our program activities!

We are grateful for every adult and child who has engaged with SEM Link’s STEM outreach. Looking forward to the impact we’ll make in the 2024-2025 Program Year and Fiscal Year! 🚀🔬📚

Teens, come explore the VITAL role of agriculture in our upcoming Teen Science Cafe! 🌾🍽️

Featuring Agricultural Scientist MaKayla Mitchell, M.S. from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Ms. Mitchell will introduce us to plant pathology.

Teens with an interest in biology or environmental science don’t want to miss this hands-on workshop!

🗓️ Tuesday, August 27 from 6:00-7:00pm at the Gladys S. Dennard Library at South Fulton

🔗 Register today at http://bit.ly/TSCaugust2024

Link also in our bio 🌱

We know teens are considering their extracurriculars right now. For Metro Atlanta teens interested in STEM research and STEM careers, WE GOT YOU!

The STEM Journal Club immerses high school students in the exploration of different STEM topics and the rigor of STEM research.

Students get to

⭐️ Learn how to read, analyze, and discuss STEM scholarly articles, a beneficial skill for higher education ⭐️ Engage with special guest researchers in the field
⭐️ Record a podcast episode for the student SEM Explained Podcast

The best part about this virtual club is that students from anywhere in Metro Atlanta can participate. However, there are select in-person experiences for the program.

⏰ Applications close August 30 at 11:59pm EDT

🔗 Youth apply at https://bit.ly/SEMLinkSJC before the deadline

The link is also in our bio

Is architecture in your child’s future? Bring them to the Junior Design Jam so they can check it out!

In partnership with , youth aged 10-18 will dive into the world of architecture with hands-on activities and career insights. Don’t miss this chance to inspire your child’s curiosity in building and design.

🗓️ Date: Saturday, August 17
⏰ Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
📍 Location: Murray Educational Center, 4841 HWY 5 Douglasville, GA

Register today at bit.ly/JuniorDesignJam or through the link in our bio 🚀✨

from The Olympics are in full swing, so this graphic looks at the medals each competitor can win and how they incorporate a piece of the Eiffel Tower 🥇

We are on the countdown to our Virtual 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, August 3. In one week, those individuals who want to support the work of our organization while engaging in physical activity in their neighborhood or local park/greenspace. Register today or anytime within the next few days via the link below to help us raise funds to "unveil potential through exposure" for youth.
Don't run or walk alone; invite your family and/or friends to register too and join you on your walk/run.

https://bit.ly/StepsForSTEM5K

It’s Back to STEM! Here is what youth, teens and their families can expect from SEM Link for the month of August!

Additionally, applications for our STEM Journal Club for Metro Atlanta high school students close on Friday, August 30 at midnight! Encourage teens to get their applications in before the deadline.

Junior Design Jam
Saturday, August 17 from 11:00AM-1:00PM EDT
Murray Educational Center
4841 HWY 5 Douglasville, GA 30135
Register bit.ly/JuniorDesignJam

STEM at the Library: Teen Science Cafe
Tuesday, August 27 from 6:00-7:00PM EDT
Gladys S. Dennard Library at South Fulton
4055 Flat Shoals Rd, South Fulton, GA 30291
Register bit.ly/TSCaugust2024

STEM at the Library for Youth
Saturday, August 31 from 11:00AM-1:00PM EST
Gladys S. Dennard Library at South Fulton
4055 Flat Shoals Rd, South Fulton, GA 30291
Register bit.ly/LibrarySTEMAugust2024

STEM Journal Club Application
Closes August 30 midnight
bit.ly/SEMLinkSJC

All programs can be registered for at bit.ly/SEMLinkEventbrite

The links are also in our bio ✨

Know any kids who want to get a head start on their fall semester? Metro Atlanta teens interested in STEM research and STEM careers can apply now for the STEM Journal Club starting in the fall!

The STEM Journal Club immerses high school students in the exploration of different STEM topics and the rigor of STEM research.

Students get to

⭐️ Learn how to read, analyze and discuss STEM scholarly articles, a beneficial skill for higher education ⭐️ Engage with special guest researchers in the field
⭐️ Record a podcast episode for the student SEM Explained Podcast

The best part about this virtual club is students from anywhere in Metro Atlanta can participate. However, there are select in-person experiences for the program.

⏰ Applications close August 30 at 11:59pm EDT

🔗 Youth apply at https://bit.ly/SEMLinkSJC

The link is also in our bio

SEM Link’s 2024-2024 Program Year starts August 1st! We can’t wait to host our upcoming programs for Metro Atlanta youth to expose them to STEM and STEM Careers!

We are 3 weeks away from our Virtual 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, August 3. This run/ walk for a purpose is for individuals who want to support the work of our organization while engaging in physical activity in their neighborhood or local park/greenspace. Register today or anytime within the next few weeks via the link below or the link in our bio to help us raise funds to "unveil potential through exposure" for youth.
Don't run or walk alone; invite your family and/or friends to register too and join you on your walk/run.

https://bit.ly/StepsForSTEM5K

SEM Link is a grantee of Science Sandbox, a program of Simons Foundation . Last month our Founder and Executive Director Tokiwa T Smith attended the Science Sandbox Awardee Summit.
At the summit, Ms. Smith was one of the awardees that discussed our work during the summit; in particular the STEM Journal Club, which is our program supported by the foundation.

You can learn more about the summit in the article written by the foundation via the link below:

https://www.simonsfoundation.org/2024/07/08/science-sandbox-grantees-come-together-for-third-annual-summit/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3eP99fiOEzikVKGQA2vhYZ7JK--YoUZefgMYCDjjmC6XLRmZhdVopsWgM_aem_AEm1N17sbmwiieyLvo_nIw

Happy Fourth of July. Today, we are celebrating the birthday of our founder and executive director birthday. Ms. Smith started this organization in 2005 to help inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.

In honor of her birthday, we ask that you give her the gift of making a tax-deductible contribution to SEM Link today. You can donate via the link in our bio or the link below:

https://semsuccess.org/support/donate/

The Fourth of July is in a few days! Who's ready to see some fireworks? It should be no surprise that science is the reason for fireworks! Chemistry makes cool things happen 😉

The tube of a firework contains elements that react to each other to let out a spark.

Traditional fireworks use charcoal, potassium nitrate and sulfur, which act as fuel and an oxidizer. They combine to produce intense heat.

These are chemical elements that are found in our everyday lives, including grilling, sensitive teeth toothpaste, volcanoes and fertilizer, respectively.

Comment below what you want to see and hear more of that’s STEM-related.

Let’s see where our can take us! 🔎