Mosaic employees volunteered with students throughout STEM Fest and passed on their own passion for STEM.  

School is out for the summer, but learning hasn’t stopped for students in Louisiana. On June 27, students in kindergarten through 12^th grade were immersed in the world of science, technology, engineering and math as part of STEM Fest at Lutcher High School. Led by STEM Global Action, a nonprofit focused on introducing STEM to students in under-served communities, STEM Fest seeks to encourage students to find passion in STEM-related fields through opportunities they may not otherwise experience. The event was made possible in part by a $50,000 grant from Mosaic.

More than 250 participants observed animal dissections, practiced coding, built battery-powered cars and learned about renewable energy sources like wind and solar. 20 Mosaic employees volunteered at the event with many working in the STEM field. They enjoyed seeing the passion for curiosity and problem-solving ignited in the next generation.

“I love stepping out of the lab and getting to know the people in the community,” said Mosaic Chemist Jenny Salario, who works at the Faustina facility. “I have a background in education and truly enjoy bringing knowledge about my career as a female in science into the schools and showing the versatility of a STEM education background.”

STEM talent is in high demand. According to staffing agency Adecco, jobs in the STEM field are growing twice as fast as non-STEM jobs, with more than 11 million estimated jobs available by 2030.

The goal of STEM Fest is two-fold: to inspire future generations to pursue these careers, and to help diversify future talent by exposing those in under-served communities to STEM-related careers. Sixty percent of students within St. James Parish Schools, which partnered with Mosaic and STEM Global Action for STEM Fest, are Black.

Women and minorities continue to be underrepresented in STEM careers, with only one-third of STEM jobs held by women in 2021, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. Similarly, minorities including Black people, Hispanics and American Indians only comprised a combined 24 percent of the STEM workforce in 2021. While the numbers have improved over the last decade, events like STEM Fest hope to accelerate that growth.

“Partnering with STEM Global Action and St. James Parish Schools for this event allows us to meet and engage with the future workers of our community,” said Mosaic Public Affairs Manager Brandon Keller. “STEM Fest exposes students to what’s possible in the world and serves as a reminder that these opportunities are available in their own backyard with companies like ours. We have a long history in Louisiana of employing and supporting families, and our goal is to continue that work by investing in the next generation of talent today.”

In addition to the day’s STEM activities, more than 600 boxes of food were distributed to those in attendance and other members of the community by the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. The donation helps fill a summer gap, as more than 1 in 4 children in Louisiana face food insecurity.  

“This STEM Fest is a testament to the power of partnerships,” said Dr. Calvin Mackie, founder and CEO of STEM Global Action. “By working together, we are giving students access to unique, hands-on experiences and resources they might not normally have. These collaborative efforts are essential in equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to be competitive in the 21^st century, preparing our children to be the leaders of tomorrow.”

Hear more from our employees in STEM about why they wanted to volunteer for STEM Fest below.

“I love volunteering, especially when it comes to kids who are still trying to figure out their path forward. It’s important to let young adults know that we were all at that point at one time, and to follow their passion.”

– Kristin Gordon, Reliability Engineer

“Volunteering allows me to be engaged with St. James Parish community and kids by making a difference in their lives as an experienced mentor. It also helps me develop new skills, meet new people and learn more about STEM NOLA and causes that are important to me.”

– Earl Johnson, Mechanical Integrity Engineer

“For me, it’s about helping the next generation grow intellectually, understand science, technology and engineering in a way that keeps them interested. We never know what can spark an interest or help keep a child interested, and it excites me to be a part of it. As an electrical engineer, it’s even more advantageous to get kids interested not just in engineering, but in electrical principles.”

 – Dave Jones, Engineering Superintendent