September 1, 2022
Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley: Request For Funding (RFF) Memo
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley is requesting financial support in the amount of $193,000 dollars to launch “The Pop Up Stem Lab” a special mobile science, technology, engineering and math program to be implemented by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley and servicing over. 5,000 children in Napa and American Canyon over 2024 & 2025.
Organization Overview
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley (BGCNV)’s mission is to inspire and enable all young people especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. Founded in 1946, the Club has served over 100,000 youth in its history. BGCNV serves 5,300 youth annually, ages 5-18, in the cities of Napa and American Canyon. We enjoy a strong 15-year partnership with Napa Valley Unified School District and the Napa County office of Education. BGCNV also serves teens attending five area high schools with 400+ teens served annually. 70% of youth are low-income meeting the Free/ Reduced Lunch Federal benchmark and are primarily Hispanic, African American, Asian/ Pacific Islander, White, and Mixed Race. The Club provides researched-based, measured, and reportable programs in Academics, Healthy Lifestyles, the Arts, Athletics and Character Development and, additionally, for Teens, Workforce Readiness, STEM Programs, Leadership Development and Mentoring. All programs are provided through the lens of family support to ensure there is a social-emotional connection in their lives, not just in their after-school time.
The academic and mental health needs of youth in our target areas, reflect the inequities of a socio-economic system defined by poverty and exacerbated both by the rising costs associated with Napa’s tourism and hospitality based industries and the recent pandemic. If one were to research median income levels and housing prices in Napa Valley for example, one might think this is a relatively well-off community. A deeper dive into Napa markets, however, reveals deep disparities and striking issues that if unaddressed will continue to restrict the long-term prosperity of Napa Valley.
Of the 27,000 youth living in Napa County over half (52.3%) qualify for free and reduced lunch, a standard measure used to establish household income. These economic disparities negatively impact academic performance at schools with 39.12% of Napa Valley Unified School District (NVSUD) students from low income households failing to meet basic English Language Arts Standards and 51.38% failing to meet Math standards in 2019. Challenges that face both communities include food scarcity, childhood poverty, low academic achievement, limited career opportunities, and housing deficits. The severity of these issues has only increased during the pandemic.
The pandemic’s forced isolation resulted in wide spread virtual academic learning necessities for youth. In the wake of these alternatives we’ve learned that while virtual learning worked for many more affluent families it was problematic for students from low income households, many of whom were already behind grade level benchmarks and dealing with social-emotional
issues prior to the pandemic. BGCNV in partnership with NVUSD expanded its services at existing locations and to currently unserved school locations over the next two years, increasing the number of youth served to 5,200 youth by the end of the 2022/2023 school year and potentially over 6,000 by 2025.
Our Work in Crisis
When faced with crisis BGCNV steps forward. In 2016, a 6.0 earth quake rattled the Napa valley causing major damage to downtown areas. The Club opened as a relief center and provided services for kids at external locations. In 2017, wildfires whipped through the valley. The Club again opened its doors to serve evacuated children by providing full day programs, meal service, and a safe space while parents figured out their next steps. This effort was repeated again in 2018 with the Mendocino Complex fire, and then again in 2020 with the LNU and Glass Fires. In March of 2020 everything stopped with widespread shelter in place orders. On June 15th, within 90 days of those shelter in place orders, BGCNV was the first youth serving agency in the county to reopen and did so by providing full day coverage to the children of first responders, medical professionals, and essential workers. When NVUSD schools remained closed that school year, the Club opened to provide full day service and even went so far as to open a temporary site to serve additional children. Because of support from government and local sources, BGCNV was able to offer access to these programs at little to no cost in every case sited above including the pandemic. Through earthquakes, fires, floods, and pandemics the Club has continued to be a safe haven to those who need us most but more than this BGCNV has thrived under these conditions with national recognition by Boys & Girls Clubs of America for, among others, its community engagement work.
Club Next Steps
The Club is at a watershed moment with the expansion of its elementary, middle school and teen programs, enhancing its skill-based training for teens and addressing mental health and academic deficits exacerbated by the pandemic. We are looking for partners to support initiatives that directly link our membership to positive outcomes and great futures and we hope that your foundation is intrigued by and interested in exploring the wide array of opportunities we are positioned to offer the youth of Napa Valley.
Notes
OPS Administrative costs of the program.
START Start Up Costs like equipment, trailer, etc.
TECH Computers and charging cart.
STAFF Dedicated Stem Staff
PRO Coding, Robotics, & general supplies
There is no debating the importance of STEM Programs. Through science programs we challenge our youth to view the world with curiosity. Through access to technology we familiarize them with the tools that make great futures deeper and more robust. Through engineering we teach them how to solve real world problems. Through Math we show them the hidden values of the world around us. This is the hidden magic of STEM Programs as they do more than prepare our kids, they unleash upon the world curious adults with tools and skill sets to make it a better place. That’s exactly why we want to create a full Mobile Stem Lab that can provide opportunities at every one of our 12 locations, both as a platform of stem and an entry point for workforce development.
Identify the best mechanism to teach STEM basics to disparate populations without reliance on access to school facilities in this case a fully outfitted STEM trailer or truck.
Find incredible partners who are willing to help fund, supply, and advise on the effort and more importantly ensure the sustainability of that effort.
Find an incredible STEM professional who can administer a high -quality mobile program and develop supportive relationships with local teachers and industry professionals.
Put it all together into a mobile STEM program that travels between afterschool programs and allows kids and teens to learn through this wonderful resource.
A flexible high quality asset capable of addressing key challenges associated with disparate and unequally resourced locations throughout Napa and American Canyon.
The outcomes associated with Children who participate in stem programs are undeniable. Stem programs harness and actualize the curiosity of children. Activities reinforce math, science, logic, and communication skills. What’s more is that because these activities are in high demand they encourage regular and extended attendance at the Boys & Gils Club.
The Pop Up Stem Lab as an asset would position the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley to address key needs in the Napa Community and allow us to expand the nature and scope of that support both in every day operations but also in times of crisis. This concept represents a Flexible approach to the development of an ecosystem of support for the Napa Valley Community.
With the number of campuses served by the Club this concept, if successful, will be applied toward a number of specialty programs including culinary, arts, and more. Additionally, the Pop Up Stem Lab could be used as a vehicle for entrepreneurial skill building by allowing teens to compete in maker fairs, robotics competitions, and more.
The Pop Up Stem Lab is a truly incredible resource as it would allow us to provide deep and meaningful services throughout Napa Valley. Additionally, it would be a focal point for other vendors and professionals to bring their industry insight and experience into our programs; translating into deeper partnerships with local businesses and suppliers.
Earthquakes, Wildfires, Floods, Covid… the wine country is sadly no stranger to crisis but in the wake of these the club has and continues to step forward. If funded the Pop Up Stem Lab could be used as a mobile engagement station by providing WIFI and secure charging to displaced populations. The concept could also be applied to entertaining kids from displaced communities.
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