“Saving Our City” event will educate and empower youth with STEM skills to protect and rebuild their communities
NEW ORLEANS — Reflecting on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, STEM NOLA will execute a very special STEM Saturday on September 13 to engage, educate, and inspire the next generation of problem solvers who will shape the future of New Orleans and beyond. This STEM Saturday is made possible by the generous support of: The Boeing Company, Entergy, New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC), The City of New Orleans, and the New Orleans City Council.
Participants will engage in interactive, hands-on STEM stations that explore:
- How wetlands reduce flooding
- How levees protect our communities
- How youth can protect and preserve natural habitats through science
STEM Saturday: Saving Our City – Water, Levees & The Environment:
WHEN: Saturday, September 13, 2025
WHERE: Cut-Off Recreation Center, 6600 Belgrade St, New Orleans, LA 70131
TIME: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
COST: FREE for toddlers (ages 0–4) and K–12th grade students
REGISTRATION: registration.stemnola.com
This STEM Saturday is more than a lesson in environmental science—it’s a tribute to resilience and a call to action. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. At the heart of that reckoning was Dr. Calvin Mackie, a former Tulane University engineering professor, who turned tragedy into transformation by founding STEM NOLA. Born out of the storm’s aftermath, the organization was created to ensure that youth—especially in under-resourced communities—would have access to the tools and knowledge needed to build back stronger through STEM.
“We don’t just teach science—we prepare kids to solve the problems that affect their own neighborhoods,” said Dr. Calvin Mackie, co-founder and CEO of STEM NOLA | STEM Global Action. “Katrina took so much, but through STEM education, we’re helping the next generation reclaim their future.”
Backed by more than a decade of impact, STEM NOLA and its national affiliate STEM Global Action have engaged over 200,000 youth nationwide, including more than 41,000 in 2024 alone. Recognized with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM), the organization remains committed to diversity, equity, and opportunity through culturally relevant, hands-on STEM education.
STEM NOLA is calling on college students and STEM professionals to mentor and inspire young minds. Volunteers play a key role in making STEM accessible and exciting. Full-time undergraduate students receive a $50 digital stipend.
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER at: https://stemnola.galaxydigital.com/need
About STEM NOLA | STEM Global Action
Founded in 2013 by Dr. Calvin Mackie and Tracy Mackie, STEM NOLA was born out of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to expose, engage, and inspire children through hands-on STEM education. Its national arm, STEM Global Action, extends that mission across the U.S., especially in historically under-resourced communities. Together, these organizations are transforming how STEM is taught—and who gets to participate.
Learn more at www.stemnola.com and www.stemglobalaction.com.