October 2024

Breaking the glass floor

At Rise Up: Northeast Ohio, we stay focused on the core principles that structure our programming. These include equity, inclusion, community partnerships, and providing groundbreaking scientific experiences to students in Cleveland. As we ramp up for the 2024-2025 school year, it’s crucial to remember why our work is so necessary. We believe in public education and that every student, regardless of their zip code or family income, deserves an excellent education and a fair shot at a fulfilling career. Unfortunately, due to structural and systemic inequalities, this is often not possible. These issues affect everyone, and their impacts ripple throughout our society, especially in public schools. While we may not have all the answers or capacity to address every injustice, we can make a meaningful difference in an area close to our heart: science. Through targeted, science-based programming, we aim to give students the tools to envision a future in STEM, helping open doors that have been traditionally closed.

If you were to walk into a research lab and ask people about their backgrounds, one pattern would stand out: nearly all scientists come from upper middle class backgrounds. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “glass floor” in science careers. For students from lower-income backgrounds, breaking through this barrier can be daunting, if not impossible. Schools with limited funding often lack the resources to provide these essential, hands-on learning experiences. This barrier to entry has led to a lack of racial, economic, and cultural diversity in science careers—a gap that excludes vast reserves of untapped talent that could help solve some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. An issue this pervasive requires bold, creative, and transformative responses. That’s why we do this work: we hope programs like ours will help every student reach their full potential and find their place in the world of science. 

Thank you for supporting us, for being involved, and for joining us in making education and opportunity equitable and inspiring for every student!

Slime workshop with Jack and Jill

Pop-ups galore

We had some fun filled weekends in Cleveland this month! We were thrilled to be invited by Jack and Jill of America to conduct a workshop with their young leaders at the Huntington Convention Center. In multiple sessions, Rise Up scientists presented on the science behind slime, its mental health benefits, and enjoyed a hands-on experience getting messy together! This was a student-inspired workshop, allowing young members of the organization to shape each session’s activities. Our workshop, titled “Stress Relief through Slime: Exploring the Science Behind Slime,” combined science with stress relief techniques, giving students a fun and relaxing way to engage with STEM concepts. The young people we worked with were exceptional, showing curiosity, leadership, and all the signs of future community leaders.

Jack and Jill of America is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2–19, dedicated to nurturing future African-American leaders through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving, and civic duty. With over 230 chapters across 35 states and more than 10,000 mother members reaching 40,000 parents and children, Jack and Jill is a powerful network of engaged families. We were honored to work with such a first-class organization and share this meaningful experience with students who are passionate about learning and making a difference. 

Collaborations like these reinforce the importance of community partnerships in creating impactful learning experiences. Thank you to Jack and Jill of America for inviting us—we look forward to building on the great connections we made and inspiring even more young leaders!

Slime SZN

Neurodiverse Culture Festival

We were thrilled to attend the Neurodiverse Culture Festival in Chagrin Falls once again! This free event, designed by and for the neurodivergent community, is open to all ages. The festival’s mission is to nurture a sense of belonging for autistic and neurodivergent individuals, who often face accessibility barriers at traditional public events. By celebrating neurodiverse culture, the festival creates an inclusive environment through a variety of interactive activities, including musical performances, educational presentations, animal encounters, and community-building opportunities. This vibrant event encourages people with and without disabilities to come together, fostering mutual understanding and showing that we are all part of the same community.

Rise Up hosted the “Science Lab,” where festival attendees could dive into hands-on science with our team—exploring chemical bonds in engaging experiments or building their own solar cars! Thanks to a generous donation from Progressive Insurance, we had plenty of solar car kits available for participants to enjoy at the event or take home to build later, helping us spark interest in STEM activities for attendees of all ages. Despite some rain, dozens of curious visitors stopped by to interact with our stations, demonstrating enthusiasm and creativity. We also had extra copies of the Journal of Young Scientists on display, giving attendees insight into our Life as a Scientist program and how they can get involved.

This experience would not have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers, Juan Jeffrey, Laolu Ogunnaike, and Marissa Scavuzzo. Thank you all for helping make it a memorable day for everyone involved! Events like the Neurodiverse Culture Festival remind us of the power of inclusivity in learning and the importance of creating accessible spaces where everyone can explore and discover.

Juan and Laolu at our science cabin

Introduction to grant writing

Grant writing!

Students at Lincoln-West are hard at work on their grant submissions for the 2024-2025 school year! We always begin the Life as a Scientist program with a fun brainstorming session where students generate creative ideas to explore. We then help them structure these big ideas into grant proposals that include the specific elements needed for selection. They will be competing to have their ideas "funded" by Rise Up, meaning we will tailor a novel experimental protocol to their concept, provide all the necessary supplies and equipment, and have professional scientists assist them in carrying out their projects. In November, we will hold a study section with our Scientific Officers to determine which projects to move forward with in each classroom. Stay tuned for more information about this year's projects! 

Support Cleveland schools!

Choose HOPE for our future

Keep in mind that Issue 49 is on the ballot in Cleveland. This isn’t just a vote; it’s a commitment to Cleveland’s future. With Issue 49, we can ensure safe schools, strong CMSD programs, and success for every student. By investing in our schools, we’re investing in the well-being and potential of our children and community.

Cleveland schools are making significant strides in education, achieving 3 stars on the State Report Card, higher graduation rates, and improved college and career readiness. Voting YES on Issue 49 will provide the resources needed for enhanced educational programs, updated facilities, and increased support for teachers. Together, we can create a brighter future for our students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

We encourage all community members to participate in this critical decision. Make your voice heard—vote YES on Issue 49 and stand with us in support of our students and their future!