Honda Community Partners Spotlight: African-American Male Achievers Network
For more than 25 years, the African-American Male Achievers Network (A-MAN) has utilized science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as a motivational tool to advance the educational and professional development of minority students.
Located in Inglewood, Calif, the organization’s International Science Discovery & Learning Center exposes youth between the ages of 5 and 18 to an exciting, hands-on environment of robotics, science, computers, multimedia, reading, mathematics and research. In addition, A-MAN’s Sirius B International Space Station Simulator provides students with the unique opportunity to replicate experiments performed by astronauts, thus inspiring students to explore STEM careers.
Support from the American Honda Foundation has helped A-MAN as it strives to build thought leaders in science and technology through STEM education.
“STEM education is at the core of all of our programming,” said Dr. Bettye Davis Walker, president and co-founder of A-MAN. “Not only does STEM capture the interest of students and motivate them to get engaged in education, but it helps their overall critical thinking and analytical skills, which prepares them to be successful adults in this age of innovation.”
The American Honda Foundation supported A-MAN’s after-school academy, weekend workshops and summer science academy through an initial grant in 2011, and then additional funding in 2013.
“Not only is A-MAN providing the kind of hands-on, STEM-related projects and resources students need to succeed academically, but it focuses on providing much-needed opportunities for under-represented populations in STEM career fields,” explained Alexandra Warnier, executive director of the American Honda Foundation. “Assisting communities in deriving long-term benefits is one of the American Honda Foundation’s core goals, which aligns well with A-MAN’s mission and programs.”
About the American Honda Foundation
Celebrating 30 years of providing strategic grants to nonprofit organizations in the United States, the American Honda Foundation is dedicated to helping prepare America’s children for tomorrow’s challenges. As such, the Foundation focuses its efforts in the areas of youth and scientific education, with a specific focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and the environment. Since its inception, the American Honda Foundation has awarded more than $33 million to organizations serving approximately 115 million people in every state in the U.S. For more information please visit http://www.foundation.honda.com.
