MOST STEM EXTRA
STEM in Out of School Time News from the Maryland Out of School Time Network
  Introducing MOST sySTEM 
SYSTEM
The Maryland Out of School Time Network has just been awarded an Afterschool and STEM Systems Building grant from the Noyce and C.S. Mott foundations to continue its work around STEM and OST for 2013 and 2014! This funding will significantly contribute to MOST's STEM work, including everything this newsletter's about.

The first step in proceeding with the plan we proposed to Noyce & Mott is launching our branding around the work MOST does with STEM in OST: MOST sySTEM. Developed with help from our STEM in OST Focus Group in early October, MOST sySTEM's name, logo, mission, and vision represent MOST's approach to STEM in OST:

Vision: All schoolage, Maryland youth have access to high quality STEM learning opportunities in the out of school hours that develop critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration skills that will lead to success in career, work and life in the 21st century.

Mission: Provide STEM OST program providers and partners a set of tools and resources to support the growth of STEM OST programs throughout the state.

  
Win Funds and Influence People (for STEM)
 
Could you use some guidance for your OST STEM fundraising and advocacy? Fortunately, The Afterschool Alliance has got your back with it's newly released Guide to STEM Funding for Afterschool and Toolkit for Afterschool STEM Advocacy.

According to the Afterschool Alliance, the Funding Guide, developed with the Finance Project, is intended as "a resource to help afterschool programs identify, sort through and take advantage of the many funding opportunities available for afterschool STEM;" and the Advocacy toolkit "walks you through the steps you'll need to take to develop a strong case you can effectively present to any audience. It helps you tailor your message, identify data and talking points that support your case, learn about existing policy recommendations that help craft your ask, and see who you can enlist as an ally in your advocacy efforts."

And the best part, both are free and accessible online at the links above.

Brooklyn Castle Celebrates Chess and Afterschool
On November 7th, over 50 supporters of chess and afterschool gathered at the Creative Alliance to play chess with Baltimore Youth Chess players, watch the award-winning documentary Brooklyn Castle, and support afterschool programs in their communities. The Maryland Out of School Time Network and the Baltimore Kids Chess League would like to thank everyone who came out and the other organizations that made this event possible: Elev8 Baltimore, Baltimore Curriculum Project,the Family League of Baltimore, and Advocates for Children and Youth.
STEM Grant Watch

In this section, you'll find a different grant opportunity to potentially help your organization each month. This month it's: The National Girls Collaborative Project, which is offering $1000 "Mini-grants" to STEM organizations in select regions, including the Mid-Atlantic. Applications are due November 15. Although it's a bit last minute, being mini-grants, the application is less involved than most funding sources. Programs that are not already registered with the NCGP must do so in order to apply.

From NCGP:
"Mini-grants are awarded to girl-serving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused programs to support collaboration, address gaps and overlaps in service, and share exemplary practices. Mini-grants are a small amount of seed funding and are not intended to fully fund entire projects. The maximum mini-grant award is $1000."
NOVEMBER 2012
In This Issue
MOST Receives Major Grant for sySTEM
Afterschool Alliance Releases STEM Advocacy & Funding Guides
Brooklyn Castle At the Creative Alliance
STEM Grant Watch - NGCP
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Quick Links

Don't forget to Vote!
For the Creative Alliance's Giant Afterschool Lightbulb in the Afterschool Alliance's National Lights on Afterschool Photo Contest. To vote, go to
Log in to Facebook, and cast your vote. Voting ends at midnight on November 14th, so don't delay!

The Giant Afterschool Lightbulb previously won MOST's Maryland Municipal STEM Lights on Afterschool Challenge.
Help MOST
Map STEM
Have you taken MOST's Maryland STEM in OST Landscaping Survey? We're gathering information on all the programs operating in the state to create a public map of STEM in OST. With this information on map, we can help people find programs in their area and see where STEM OST programs are needed the most.

 

Upcoming OST STEM 
Events  

Want to be featured in the next issue?
If your organization has an event, opportunity, or piece of news to share that you'd like to see in our next issue, please contact MOST STEM Project Assistant VISTA Andrew Axel
at aaxel@mdoutofschooltime.org

And don't forget to rejoin our mailing list and change your preferences to include STEM if you'd like to receive future issues of MOST STEM Extra.

Thanks for reading!