BROCKTON, MA – As part of its commitment to advancing an equitable energy future, National Grid today launched the second year of its Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) program for after-school educators in Brockton.

Piloted during the 2023-24 school year in Lynn, the program is designed to spark interest in STEAM education for students in pre-kindergarten and elementary settings by offering training to leaders at after-school programs in Gateway Cities across Massachusetts. 

This year’s selected after-school facilities are:

• Brockton Day Nursery
• Old Colony YMCA Youth Branch
• Community Schools of Brockton

The program’s move to Brockton this year will support forty-six after-school educators in the City of Champions as they create hands-on STEAM learning opportunities for more than 300 students. The program is enabled by Boston Children’s Museum’s STEAM and education expertise along with a financial commitment from National Grid for stipends, classroom materials, and training costs.

"I am so grateful for this generous opportunity that is being given to our Brockton students. The ability to provide awareness and interaction with STEAM education is vital to the future success of each student,” said City of Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan. "Thank you so much for supporting the next generation of Champions from our ‘City of Champions’!”

All after-school sites involved in the program will receive the tools necessary to implement Boston Children's Museum’s Tinker curriculum in their classrooms. Developed with funding from National Grid nearly ten years ago, Tinker is a research-informed, hands-on set of resources designed to support children in developing and practicing tinkering skills, including problem-solving, fine motor skills, and collaboration through playful, STEAM-focused activities. 

“Exposure to a STEAM education is critical to supporting the energy workforce of the future. At National Grid, we are committed to ensuring equitable access to the clean energy jobs of tomorrow by investing in our communities today,” said Alisha Collins, Director of Community Impact & Engagement at National Grid. “We thank Boston Children’s Museum for this ongoing partnership and commitment to providing STEAM access for students across the Commonwealth.”

Upon completion of the program, Boston Children's Museum provides ongoing support to educators to bolster their planning and implementation through regular, virtual Community of Practice sessions.

“The sustainability of these training efforts is critical to maintaining children’s interest in STEAM learning. The launch of our program in Lynn was a success for its participants and their students, with many educators expressing interest in continuing the use of our curriculum and resources,” said Carole Charnow, President & CEO, Boston Children’s Museum. “We are looking forward to bringing the excitement of the program to the Brockton community in year two of our work with National Grid and are very grateful for their vision and generosity.”

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.