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The Youth Bureau's After School Connection STEM Initiative seeks to stimulate and support White Plains students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
The bureau will begin hosting after-school programs geared toward these subjects, and the students will be given the opportunity to explore their interests.
"This is something we've been thinking about doing for a long time. We're also building on things we've been doing," Rudow said, "At the summer camp, we did a robotics programs. The kids' response has been great."
Dr. Priti Tiwari is designing and directing the program, leading many of the after school sessions herself. Tiwari recently received her doctorate in chemistry and chemical biology from Rutgers University.
"My plan is to create a curriculum that is engaging," she said, "The lack of interest and skill in STEM fields is huge in the elementary going into middle school level. We want to use attractive, hands on activities as experiments - so we can monitor their progress."
Rudow explained one of the major reasons to push kids toward STEM fields is because of job security.
"These are the fields of the future in terms of employment. This is where the opportunity is going to be. We want all of our kids to have the tools to be successful," he said."
The bureau plans to partner with local companies like Microsoft and Regeneron for future programs.
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