By Jason Crane
The Aurora City Council viewed a presentation by executive director of APS Training Academy, Nicole Astra, at the June 11 Aurora City Council meeting.
The presentation is a 2023 Annual Report recap from Aurora STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) Academy which listed a successful 2021 and 2022 STEAM program, with City of Aurora, TinkRworks, and APS Training Academy (APS) working together.
The organizations joined forces again in 2023 to provide hands-on STEAM programming for underserved K-8th grade children within the City. The program, known as the Aurora STEAM Academy, had an overall goal to spark an interest in children to explore STEAM opportunities in the future and instill within them the confidence to pursue STEAM-related opportunities they might not otherwise choose to do.
•Two STEAM projects in 2021 and nine STEAM projects in 2022 were chosen for delivery to participants. Twelve STEAM projects were offered in 2023. All of these projects immersed children in project-based learning (PBL) environments and provided them a holistic STEAM experience, weaving together elements of design, building, electronics integration, and computer programming.
•These projects were delivered using STEAM projects and curriculum from TinkRworks, facilitation and implementation from APS, and access to students, infrastructure, and funding from City of Aurora.
In total, 2,923 students participated in APS programming and 2,000 of those were Aurora STEAM Academy students.
•High levels of diversity were exhibited within the participant base: Of the total participants, 65% were either Hispanic/Latinx or Black/African American.
•50% of participants were male; 50% were female or non-binary; 28% of participants self-identified as females who were either Hispanic/Latinx or Black/African American—a historically critically-important segment that remains highly-underserved for STEAM exposure.
•79% of participant households fell within the 0 – 80 AMI segment.
Outcomes presented as part of this document include:
•Diverse population targets achieved: Overall targets for ethnic and gender diversity were achieved as well as AMI targets.
•Underserved/underrepresented targets achieved: Overall targets for giving access to marginalised groups were achieved.
•Participants overwhelmingly expressed an interest in taking additional STEAM Academy programming opportunities.
•The presentation can be viewed on the city government of Aurora’s YouTube page after the 5 minute mark by clicking here.
The City Council approved the following agenda items:
•Approved was a Resolution approving the appointment of Mayte Acosta, Lincoln Majersky, and Harshitha Chanda to the Aurora Youth Council.
The nomination brought forth represents one new candidate.
Mayte Acosta is a resident of the Fifth Ward and a junior at Aurora Central Catholic High School.
Lincoln Majersky is a resident of Fifth Ward and a student at West Aurora High School.
Harshitha Chanda is a resident of the Ninth Ward and a student at Oswego East High School.
•Approved was a Resolution approving appointment of Gerald Paulson to the Aurora Veteran’s Advisory Council (AVAC).
The nomination brought forth represents one new candidate.
Gerald Paulson is a resident of the Fourth Ward.
If approved, two vacancies remain open on the Council.
•Approved was a Resolution approving the appointment of Jean Hess, Emily Hinton, and Gabriela Gaytan to the city’s Advisory Commission for Disabilities.
The nomination brought forth represents three new candidates.
Jean Hess is a resident of the Third Ward.
Emily Hinton is a resident of the First Ward.
Gabriela Gaytan is a non-resident and the parent educator at Family Focus.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing appointment of Michael Handzic to the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Advisory Board as a student member representative.
In order to encourage civic responsibility and to provide for hands-on learning experiences, the city council may authorize the appointment of students to serve as members or representatives on advisory boards and commissions. Unless otherwise provided by ordinance, a student member or representative of an advisory board or commission must be a junior or senior in high school and a resident of the City, provided that the mayor and City Council may waive this requirement in the absence of otherwise qualified applicants. A student appointed as a member of an advisory board or commission shall have full voting rights, a student appointed as a representative to an advisory board or commission shall not vote nor be counted for the purposes of determining quorum.
As noted, the position as a student representative is non-voting and does not count towards quorum, but does otherwise allow full participation as a member. Mr. Handzic is a resident of the 10th Ward and attends Metea Valley High School. He is an avid cyclist and will work as a “Student Ambassador” for the Bike/Ped Transit Advisory Board.
This will be the first student representative appointed to a board, commission or council.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing appointment of Jazmine Garcia to the FoxWalk Overlay District Design Review Committee.
The nomination brought forth represents one new candidate.
Jazmine Garcia is a resident of the Fifth Ward.
•Approved was a Resolution appointing Iliana Rivera Nunez as Community Engagement Manager.
Start date is set to be around June 17, 2024 or as determined by the Human Resources Department.