MISSION & HISTORY

The mission of Building Blocks 2 Success is to get ethnically and gender-diverse underrepresented youth from the Portland Metropolitan area excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through exposure and participation in STEM-related programs and activities.

Science

🧪

Technology

💡

Engineering

🚀

Math

📐

Science 🧪 Technology 💡 Engineering 🚀 Math 📐

Dr. Ernest Hartzog’s Scholarship

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The Journey So Far

Building Blocks 2 Success (BB2S) has been operating since 2008 on the principles of empowerment using STEM as the incentive for learning.

STEM is an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to learning. Through hands-on learning, BB2S’ curriculum develops critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills using a series of STEM challenges that are both fun and educational. Our programs teach youth a fundamental skill set through math and science, developing a life-long love and curiosity for learning.

Our organization started in 2008 under the fiscal sponsorship of Bethel A.M.E Church as a single LEGO Robotics program. We then moved from the church to Warner Pacific University and then to Concordia University (all in Portland, OR) where BB2S was incorporated in 2013. After many wonderful years at Concordia and then the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued to grow and expand our programs outside of just offering LEGO Robotics. These program offerings now include 3D Printing, ESports & Gaming, Drones, Virtual Reality, Semiconductors, and Healthcare pathways. We have also established a strong partnership with the University of Portland in which we conduct weekly STEM-focused classes for youth.

Careers in STEM fields are among the highest paying jobs and disproportionately under-filled by minority populations. While BB2S serves all youth identified as underserved from lower economic stations, it focuses on youth of color. BB2S is geared toward exposing these underserved, often overlooked youth to STEM-related programs and activities, getting them excited about STEM through creative, fun, team-building, and educational STEM related activities.

BB2S operates in the heart of North & Northeast Portland, partnering with area schools to utilize existing environments to expand learning opportunities. In addition, our partnership with colleges and universities creates a pathway to exposing youth to higher education. This inner-city connection allows students to learn on a College Campus surrounded by an educational setting in the heart of a thriving community.