Our Impact
Empowering Future Educators at Thornton Fractional South
At STEM_n_Stone, we are proud to collaborate with Thornton Fractional South in Lansing, IL, to nurture the next generation of educators. Through our innovative STEAM & Stories program and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program, we are shaping young minds aged 15-18 to become the best educators of the future. By blending creativity, science, and emotional intelligence, we equip these aspiring teachers with the skills and mindset needed to inspire and empower future generations.
Fostering Environmental Innovation: A Citywide Collaboration
From 2017 to 2020, STEM_n_Stone spearheaded an inspiring initiative in partnership with the city of Evanston, Northwestern University, The Evanston Public Library, the McGaw Y.M.C.A. Meta Media Lab, and school district 65. Together, we organized an annual citywide Invention Convention, engaging over 900 eleven and twelve-year-olds in showcasing their environmental solutions.
In 2020, amidst the challenges of the pandemic, we pivoted to a virtual platform, leveraging Minecraft as a creative tool for students to exhibit their inventions and solutions for Climate Change. Guided by the Stanford Design Method and inspired by the former mayor's Climate Action Resilience Plan (C.A.R.P), students tackled Evanston's toughest environmental issues:
Reducing Waste: Implementing solutions for household and school waste reduction.
Energy Conservation: Exploring strategies to minimize energy consumption and increase renewable energy sources.
Preserving Urban Canopy: Innovating ways to preserve and restore urban green spaces.
Stormwater Management: Developing solutions to reduce stormwater runoff and increase absorption.
Making an Impact, Together: Through collaborative efforts and creative problem-solving, we made a tangible impact on Evanston's environmental challenges. Now, we stand ready to extend our expertise and support to help you change the world for the better. Whether you're an educational institution, community organization, or individual with a vision for positive change, STEM_n_Stone is here to empower you to make a difference.
Join us in shaping a brighter, more sustainable future – together, we can turn ideas into action and create lasting impact.
2
Countries in counting
Within the next five years, STEM & STONE will expand our mission by doubling the number of countries that we work with to develop the minds of their youngest designers so that they are S.T.E.M Career Ready for High School and beyond! We love helping kids change the world for the better one environmental issue at a time.
25
Years Serving schools & communities
Carla Stone is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher, a 2011 Golden Apple Award Winner who has served district 65, the Evanston Community and Chicago Neighborhood Communities with passion for Design Thinking, the Arts, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Career Readiness with S.T.E.M to develop the minds of young designers who learn how to be “The Boss of Their Own Thinking” while solving design challenges and environmental issues.
2000
and more children Impacted
No matter what age, kids can learn how to design solutions to most problems large or small. When we give kids time to sit with their thinking, spend time figuring out science, exploring phenomenon, expressing their natural talents and supporting all of this with resources…the possibilities are always endless!