On Monday, Oct. 28, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee opened a 6-12th grade after-school and teen program located at the Milwaukee Academy of Science (MAS), their largest new site this school year, as part of a grant from the Harley-Davidson Foundation. One important element of the program is the use of the school’s newly renovated STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) Innovation Lab and College and Career Center, which includes a full science lab, technology workspaces, makerspace equipment and a two-story work platform in a unique glass atrium.

The renovation, funded by the Harley-Davidson Foundation, is part of a larger $1M grant over four years to implement programming for 6-12th graders. Two full-time Boys & Girls Clubs staff members work onsite at MAS and run a variety of after-school programs and career development and training opportunities that will positively impact hundreds of teens. The STEAM-focused programming will include Science of Food, FIRST LEGO League, IT Dual and auto rev up enrollment at MATC, and career exploration, including a partnership with Marquette’s School of Dentistry.

“The Harley-Davidson Foundation is committed to enabling student success through high quality learning opportunities,” said Julie Anding, Chief Human Resources Officer and President of the Harley-Davidson Foundation. “This project will engage students in STEAM experiences and help support them in pursuing STEAM-related careers in the future. We need young people to enter these fields and help drive the next generation of ingenuity and creativity.”