EXPLORA SCIENCE CENTER & CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ALBUQUERQUE INC

EXPLORA IS AN INNOVATIVE MUSEUM AND LEARNING CENTER THAT PROVIDES HANDS-ON ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH (STEAM) FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. EXPLORA'S WORK IS ORGANIZED AROUND A CRADLE THROUGH CAREER STEAM LEARNING STRATEGIC FOCUS, WHICH WAS CO-DEVELOPED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE, EDUCATE, AND EMPLOY STUDENTS IN STEAM-IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND INCREASING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PROSPERITY ACROSS NEW MEXICO. WITHIN THIS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, EXPLORA PLAYS SEVERAL ROLES. AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, EXPLORA ENGAGED PRE-12TH STUDENTS THROUGH STEAM CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO EDUCATORS, EMPLOYED LOW-INCOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS INTERNS, AND FACILITATED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR OVER 321,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS. ADDITIONALLY, EXPLORA PLAYS THE ROLE OF BACKBONE ORGANIZATION FOR STEM-NM, A CROSS-SECTOR LEARNING ECOSYSTEM WORKING TO EXPAND EQUITY IN AND ACCESS TO STEM EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. EXPLORA IS THE HOME AND FISCAL SPONSOR OF THE INFORMAL LEARNING LEADERSHIP COLLABORATIVE. IN THE ROLE OF CONVENER AND COLLABORATOR, EXPLORA LED SEVERAL COLLECTIVE IMPACT PROJECTS, LIKE STEM CHARGING STATIONS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, WHICH BUILDS AWARENESS AROUND EARLY CHILDHOOD STEM LEARNING,AND MATH FACESS (FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES EMPOWERING STUDENT SUCCESS). EXPLORA WORKED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER INITIATIVES WITH PARTNERS, INCLUDING NEW MEXICO AUTISM SOCIETY, NM STATE LIBRARIES' TRIBAL LIBRARIES PROGRAM, PARTNERSHIP FOR COMMUNITY ACTION, AND MORE.