The Links, Incorporated and National Society of Black Engineers Extend Partnership Through 2021

The Links, Incorporated and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) agreed in September to extend their partnership for three years, through 2021. Together, the organizations promote and facilitate STEM education and career readiness for underrepresented minority students through the establishment of LINKS-NSBE Jr. chapters.

To bolster the partnership, The Links National STEM team set an ambitious goal to charter 75 LINKS-NSBE Jr. chapters by March 2020. As of December 2018, 70 LINKS-NSBE Jr. chapters are active across 24 states, including eight Central Area, 18 Western Area, 22 Eastern Area, and 22 Southern Area chapters. LINKS-NSBE Jr. chapters now account for a third of all NSBE Jr. chapters nationwide. And at least eight additional LINKS-NSBE Jr. chapters are in the process of being established.

Partnering with NSBE allows chapters to tap into the technical and career resources of the larger NSBE network and to create positive peer interactions for students via NSBE Jr. conferences. NSBE provides age-appropriate STEM programming for grades 3 through 12 for free or at nominal cost plus NSBE scholarships and resources tailored to help prepare high school students for STEM majors in college. Links chapters can more easily share best practices when they use the same STEM programming, lessening the load on individual chapters to figure it all out for themselves.

Additionally, the partnership creates special professional development opportunities for Links. For example, NSBE will be conducting its 2019 STEMulating Young Minds Institute Program for new and prospective NSBE Jr. chapter advisors in Detroit from Sunday, March 24 to Sunday, March 31. The training will focus on all aspects of successfully chartering and maintaining a NSBE Jr. chapter; present an in-depth overview of the STEM programs NSBE offers; and will give participants opportunities to observe NSBE Jr. chapters competing at the 2019 NSBE Annual Convention while shadowing a seasoned NSBE Jr. advisor.

The majority of the costs for selected participants—which will include travel, hotel, and most meals—will be covered. Half of the 50 available training slots are reserved for Links. Click here to apply. The other 25 slots are earmarked for members of other black professional or community organizations. Part of the goal of the SYMI Program is to showcase the LINKS-NSBE partnership as a model for other organizations to similarly establish NSBE Jr. chapters, thereby furthering our collective ability to prepare more African American youth for successful STEM careers.

If selected, you MUST affirm that you will attend the program in full, with no conflicting obligations. Please only apply only if you can affirm this grant condition.