In partnership with the National Society of Black Engineers Jr. (NSBE Jr.), The Links, Incorporated has leveraged efforts to promote STEM education and career readiness for minority students served by chapters of The Links, Incorporated. The Fort Worth (TX) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated has developed programming to create the STEAM Early Festival and NSBE Jr. Chapter for students from Saintsville Academy & Preparatory School and nearby surrounding elementary schools. Early investment in a child is essential to a student’s academic success, including character skills.

The STEAM Early Festival was presented during the school year’s fall semester. Students are introduced to STEM-based concepts via hands-on activities that reinforce learning and provide a foundation for future learning. Concurrently, their parents attended workshops on topics intended to promote purpose as well as productive, sustained parental involvement in their children’s educational progression.

The STEAM Early Festival was designed for students, kindergarten through fifth grade. Students received hands-on exercises related to STEM. STEM topics included:

• Scientific Method: students learned the scientific method concept, steps, and importance of experimental control.
• Slime Time: students learned about polymers and their unusual properties while taking part in a series of slimly experiences
• Dry Ice Capades: students explored the three states of matter. Melt metal in a boiling water, built a giant bubbling portion and freeze water with just a breath of dry ice. Students used thermocolor cup to test the temperature of liquid matter.

Throughout the year, students participate in NSBE Jr. every third Thursday of the month to further expand these STEM-related concepts.