About us

The Afterschool STEM Hub is led by the Afterschool Alliance in collaboration with national afterschool and summer leaders and stakeholders who seek to ensure these programs are considered a key component in the STEM learning ecosystem. Initially funded by the Noyce Foundation and with continuing support from the STEM Next Opportunity Fund, we produce coordinated messaging and advocacy tools built on the FrameWorks Institute’s rigorous communications research.

Our Vision

The Afterschool STEM Hub envisions a STEM learning community where afterschool programs are respected and well-resourced partners in creating joyful STEM experiences that are available and accessible for all youth, cultivate a sense of belonging in STEM, and center youth-driven engagement and learning.

Our Mission

The Afterschool STEM Hub mission is to advocate for policies that are informed by practice and research to advance investment in accessible, high-quality afterschool STEM learning for every young person. We achieve this by leveraging collaborative partnerships, empowering advocates, and providing evidence-based policy recommendations to create sustainable support for afterschool STEM programs.

Our Commitment to Equity

The Afterschool STEM Hub is committed to ensuring that afterschool and other out-of-school-time STEM engagement is accessible to all youth and provides high-quality learning environments. Advocating for policies informed by practice and research, we are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse group of members and engage in partnerships that include a variety of voices to inform our priorities in enhancing and sustainably supporting the afterschool and larger out-of-school-time STEM ecosystem.

We strive to ensure our community of practice enables an environment that is welcoming, equitable, and inclusive. Diverse perspectives, particularly those historically underrepresented in STEM discussions, enrich our work by exposing us to a spectrum of understanding that helps us better identify challenges and more inclusively discover, design, and advocate for evidence-based policy solutions.

Afterschool STEM Hub members commit to demonstrating these values are reflected in our work to advance STEM engagement and learning opportunities for all young people.

What Do We Do?

The Afterschool STEM Hub is a Community of Practice for organizations working at the intersection of policy, practice, and research in support of afterschool, summer, and other out-of-school-time STEM learning and engagement. The Hub is a unique gathering in which a transdisciplinary and diverse group of individuals and organizations come together to support the advocacy needs of afterschool STEM. We leverage research and evidence to advocate for well-resourced and respected afterschool STEM learning ecosystems for all youth. We facilitate the development of collaborative partnerships, share resources, and learn from others in this space as we seek to create sustainable support for afterschool STEM programs.

Why Organizations Join the Hub

To convene, collaborate with, and learn from others working in the afterschool STEM Community
To stay informed of relevant federal policy impacting their work
To be empowered and have access to advocacy tools and communication messages to make the case for high-quality afterschool STEM
To be part of a Community of Practice for increasing access to high-quality afterschool STEM programming
To share research and best practices in service of advocacy goals to enhance the field and their own work

What Members Say

“The visit to the Office of Science and Technology Policy] illustrated that the Hub can give voice to our collective work at the highest levels of government. It supports our greater purposes to empower organizations that provide STEM in out-of-school-time and helps to free federal dollars for this purpose.”

"We don’t have our own policy person in DC, so this is how we get policy info... The way that information is provided is accessible and helpful... I get that information because of the Hub. I wouldn’t get it any other way.”

Want More Information?

Check out our Advocacy Toolkit for resources and tools to help you and your team advocate for investments and collaborative efforts supporting afterschool STEM!

Email us at stemhub@afterschoolalliance.org