Mission statement

STEM Santa Fe advocates for, develops and provides STEM programming, mentoring and resources for all youth, especially under-represented groups in STEM, to realize their potential and expand their opportunities in a dynamic world.

Guiding principles

1. Inspiring students to remain engaged in school and interested in STEM fields through programs centered on hands-on activities, real-world applications, and culturally relevant projects.
2. Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM education by working to close the opportunity gap for under-represented groups in STEM – mainly girls, Hispanics, and Native Americans – and under-served groups in Northern NM.
3. Strengthening students’ growth mindset and increasing their confidence in STEM by engaging them with caring STEM professionals and college students who act as mentors and role models.
4. Instilling 21st century skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and resiliency to prepare the youth for the future job market demand through engaging them with project-based learning and nurturing their social-emotional learning and wellness.
5. Fostering friendships between like-minded peers who reinforce each others’ interest in STEM by bringing students together at large events.
6. Cultivating a community of practice of STEM professionals, volunteers, and educators to be a supportive network for students and each other.
7. Invigorating the New Mexico STEM education ecosystem by forming collaborations and coalitions with local groups, schools, and nonprofits that share our vision.

Inclusion Statement

As a STEM advocate strive to understand and creatively solve current and future problems in our world, it is crucial that the voices of all people are represented in all the fields STEM encompasses. Race, ethnicity, culture, nation of origin, language spoken, gender identity and expression, color, religion, disability, and sexual orientation are all vital aspects of peoples' voices. We strive to make STEM Santa Fe a safe and welcoming space for students from under-represented communities.
Our focus on equity-based practices throughout our programming helps us recruit, engage, and support any and all students who benefit from hands-on, relevant STEM education. By leveraging our community of practice to create a more diverse, equitable, all inclusive environment for STEM education, we hope to create a foundation for a world filed with analytical citizens exploring complex issues for the betterment of society.

Land Acknowledgement

STEM Santa Fe acknowledges that our work is conducted on the lands of Tewa people centered
around O’gah’poh geh Owingeh (translated as White Shell Water Place), now known by most as
the city of Santa Fe. The spaces we work in are interconnected with the peoples who still hold
lands known as Tesuque Pueblo (Tet-Sugeh), Pojoaque Pueblo (P'o Suwae-Geh), Nambé Pueblo
(Nambay O-Wing-Geh), San Ildefonso Pueblo (P'o-Woh-Geoweenge), Santa Clara Pueblo
(Kha'P'oo Owinge), and San Juan Pueblo (Ohkay-Owingeh). 
STEM Santa Fe recognizes that the deep relationships of Native Americans to the land around
us extend beyond the areas now delineated as these pueblos. We will strive to be good
stewards of the spaces we work in, to honor the people who lived on this land before us and to
make sure it can nurture those who come after us.