Description
GapBuster, Inc. in partnership with LULAC Council 21006 offers a Youth Development Program geared to prevent dropout and utilizes NSBE Pre-College Initiative (PCI) curriculum to expose students to the Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematic (STEM) program targeting middle and high school low-income minority students (predominately African American and Latinos with a strong focus on female students) and families.
GapBuster, Inc. targets middle and high school students and their families focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education and a dropout prevention program for high school students. The comprehensive afterschool program offers high-quality academic support, remedial education and extensive family engagement to include GED, ESOL and workforce development programs. Founded in 1999 by Yvette Butler, MD to serve Maryland students and families, the enrichment program originally served students in grades K - 12 th concentrating on building solid math, reading and writing skills by strengthening concentration, improving mental calculation, building strong study habits, and increasing self-confidence in students. GapBuster, Inc. also ensures that the clients participate in positive service learning targeting homeless persons and community improvement.
Current programs
After-school and summer enrichment program for students in grades 6 th to 12 th focusing on STEM utilizing the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Pre-College Initiative Program;
Parent Advocacy and Guidance Workshops for Parents in conjunction with League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC);
Leaders In Training program to include HIV Peer Educator Program for high school students;
SAT Preparation course and weekly Math clubs;
GED and ESOL classes; and
Workforce Development and Job Training Skills.
These programs are all offered to low-income individuals and families to assist with the elimination of academic disparity and enable the participants the opportunity to become productive citizens thus resulting in the reduction of poverty, increase community empowerment, and building economically strong communities. The program’s overall goal is to assist in making Safe Streets and Neighborhoods and building Healthy and Sustainable Communities.
The future of our country's long-term economic prospects depends on the education of our residents. Education is said to be the one true path out of poverty-the great equalizer that overcomes differences in background, culture and privilege. It is clearly documented that minority children fall behind their peers in STEM. Students residing and attending school in PGCPS need to be able to compete globally in STEM-related fields. The current STEM workforce in the U. S. is 75% male and 82% of those who are white. According to the American Council on Education, 57% of all college students are women, but women only represent 45% of math majors, 20% of engineering majors, and 20% of computer science majors. Notably only 12.5% of engineering bachelor’s degrees go to underrepresented minorities, including African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Indians.
In 2011, GapBuster, Inc. joined National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) to offer STEM programming to the Leaders-In-Training program. The Mission of NSBE: To increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community. The objectives of GapBuster's Leaders-In-Training NSBE Jr. Chapters shall be to stimulate and develop interest in engineering among secondary school students; to strive to increase the number of secondary school students who choose to major in technical fields at the undergraduate and graduate school levels; and to strive to further, within its locality, the purpose and programs of the National Society of Black Engineers.
The STEM program needs volunteers to help it's participants with STEM projects. In October 2013, GapBuster's NSBE. Jr. Chapter the Sligo All-Stars middle school team won first plan in the MathCount competition at the Region II convention and the Hakuna Matata 9th and 10th grade team won first place in the Try-Math-A-Lon (TMAL) competition. Both teams will represent Region II at the National Convention in Nashville, TN which occurs in March 2014. We are excited for our teams, but need community and volunteer support.
The target areas for services are the East Riverdale/Bladensburg and Langley Park TNI areas. These areas are selected because Prince George's County Executive initiated infrastructure development in 6 high crime areas, as a part of an innovative initiative launched in 2012 called Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative (TNI). The goal of the TNI is to achieve the County Executive's vision of a thriving economy, great schools, safe neighborhoods, and high quality healthcare in these neighborhoods that data has shown account for a disproportionate amount of the violent crime occurring in the County. Additionally, these areas were identified based upon various factors, including, but not limited to: crime rates, 3rdand 5th grade student test scores, the lack of access to quality health care, Section 8 housing, citizens on public assistance, and infant mortality rates.
