Nonprofit will work with 16 universities to identify best practices and accelerate student outcomes
Irvine, Calif., December 6, 2017 – Base 11 has been selected by the Verizon Foundation to manage, administer and enhance a program under Verizon Innovative Learning, the education initiative of the Verizon Foundation, at 16 universities across the country. The program prepares minority, middle school male students for futures in a tech-driven economy by exposing them to STEM education and immersive hands-on learning experiences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions. In addition to managing the 16 universities currently in the program, Base 11 will also identify and manage an additional eight universities that will be onboarding in 2018.
Verizon chose Base 11 through a competitive proposal process and awarded a two-year grant to fund the project management and evaluation of the program.
“Our goal with this program is to not only increase young minority males’ interest in STEM fields, but to actually put them on a pathway to attend college and achieve fruitful careers in a digital economy,” said Phil Puthumana, Program Manager for the Verizon Foundation. “Base 11’s expertise in STEM workforce development makes them an ideal partner to ensure maximum impact of Verizon’s program.”
Students participating in the program learn the fundamentals of mobile app development, 3D modeling and printing, engineering, robotics and computer science. They are also provided mentors for personal growth and development.
“Base 11 appreciates the need to bring focus and hands-on experience in STEM disciplines to the earlier grades so that students have repeated exposure to multiple career opportunities as they consider their academic and workforce options,” said Ingrid Ellerbe, Base 11’s Senior Vice President for Programs & Partnerships. “We’re honored to partner with the Verizon Innovative Learning program to expand and enhance these opportunities for middle school students.”
Colleges and universities currently participating in the program include California State University Los Angeles, California State University San Bernardino, Central State, Clark Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Dillard University, Florida International University, Hampton University, Harris-Stowe University, Kentucky State University, Jackson State University, Morgan State, North Carolina A&T, Texas Southern University, and University of the District of Columbia.
About Verizon Innovative Learning
Verizon Innovative Learning, the education initiative of the Verizon Foundation, brings technology and hands-on learning opportunities to middle and high school students in underserved schools and communities. We not only fund the programs, but we also create and administer them in partnership with leading nonprofits. We diligently measure the impact of our work and refine our programs to ensure we’re making a difference. We’ve reached more than 300,000 students so far – and we’re just getting started. For more information about Verizon’s philanthropic work, visit www.verizon.com/about/responsibility; or for regular updates, visit LINK TBD FROM VERIZON.
About Base 11
Base 11 is a nonprofit workforce development accelerator focused on solving the STEM talent pipeline crisis being fueled by the underrepresentation of women and minorities. Base 11 facilitates partnerships with industry, academia and philanthropy which deliver to employers a pre-recruitment pipeline of well-trained, highly skilled STEM talent. By establishing Innovation Centers integrated with hands-on project based learning and STEM entrepreneurship training, Base 11 and its partners set students on direct pathways to four-year STEM degrees, well paid STEM jobs, and the opportunity to launch their own STEM related business. For more information, please visit www.Base11.com. Base 11 is a DBA of the Center for Innovations in Education, a nonprofit 501(c) 3 – IRS exemption EIN# 26-4365936.