Press Releases

November 23, 2015

New York City DDC, in partnership with DOE, DYCD and the SASF, Presented the Young Engineers Program Showcase on November 18th

Program gives middle school students real-world exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture/Arts and Mathematics

Contact:
Shavone Williams
Public Information Officer
718-391-1583

NEW YORK—The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) presented the Young Engineers program showcase in collaboration with the Department of Education (DOE), the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and the Sports and Arts in School Foundation (SASF) at MS 352 Ebbets Field on November 18th. Students that participated in the Young Engineers Program displayed their work from the curriculum and described their accomplishments to parents, school staff and city officials, including Commissioner Peña-Mora, NYC Department of Design & Construction (DDC), Commissioner Bill Chong, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Council Member Laurie Cumbo and NYC Schools Chancellor, Carmen Fariña, who all spoke at the event.

The Young Engineers program is a concerted effort to support Mayor de Blasio’s after school initiative for middle school students. DDC’s STEAM Initiatives implemented the Young Engineers program to expose and foster interest in underrepresented youth to fields and professions related to Science, Technology, Architecture/Art and Mathematics (STEAM). This Fall, in partnership with the DOE, DYCD and SASF’s afterschool program operating at MS 352 Ebbets Field, students were introduced to the “Engineering is Elementary: Engineering Insulated Homes ” curriculum, written by the Museum of Science in Boston. Students participated in an environmental engineering design challenge to explore real-world solutions. The curriculum introduced students to green energy and energy efficiency in home construction. STEAM Initiatives collaborated with MS 352 Ebbets Field and DYCD to implement the Young Engineers Program to the entire 6th grade class.

The pilot program was launched in March of 2014 through the LeAp afterschool program at MS 22 Jordan L. Mott, a renewal school where 100% of students qualify for free lunch, 21% are special education students and 21% are English language learners. The Department for Youth and Community Development identified schools with high needs for recruitment. DDC anticipates directly impacting 120 to 140 children through 2015.

“In support of Mayor de Blasio’s vision for a strong and just city, we are proud to collaborate with our sister agencies DOE and DYCD to provide educational opportunities to advance underrepresented youth in fields related to STEAM. The Young Engineers program is an example of our commitment to mentoring and preparing our young leaders for future career paths in math and science,” noted Dr. Feniosky Peña-Mora, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Design and Construction.

“DYCD is proud to be part of this inter-agency collaboration with DDC and our community partner SASF in bringing the exciting world of engineering to the classrooms of New York City,” said DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong. “I congratulate the young engineers at MS 352 in Brooklyn whose exposure to the jobs of the future builds on the growing momentum of Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture/Arts and Mathematics activities in afterschool.”

"I applaud the ingenuity of the students demonstrated today at M.S. 352 - Ebbets Field Middle School in Crown Heights who represent the untapped potential of underrepresented youth across the City of New York in need of the Young Engineers Program to explore their imagination and creativity. This Program is an incredible educational resource that will help cultivate the next generation of innovators in science, technology, engineering, architecture, the arts, and mathematics. As a Member of the Committee on Youth Services, I look forward to working with DDC, DOE, DYCD, and SASF to create new opportunities for the academic development of all youth," said Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo.

“This is a wonderful program that aligns with so many of our goals as educators: reaching children during the challenging middle-school years, exposing them to the high-demand STEAM subjects, giving them hands-on opportunities where they can find passions and hobbies, and providing enriching after-school options. I am so proud of the work these students have done, and even more excited to see how they use what they learned in the Young Engineers program going forward,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña.

"The energy of STEAM education is needed to ensure Brooklyn's students rise to the top, prepared for the jobs that are emerging from the innovation economy. I am pleased that the City is dedicating resources to inspire students at MS 352 Ebbets Field to aspire toward careers in engineering, and I hope to see efforts like these expanded and intensified in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens and across our borough," said Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams.

“Ebbets Field could not be more pleased to be involved in the Young Engineers Program. Our students were able to design and build insulated units from theory to fruition. This initiative can bridge the gap between rhetoric and real life. This partnership between DDC, YDCD and DOE will elevate our students performance and understanding of the design and construction. We need more of them. Kudos to NYC for bringing together interagency resources to teach our children well,” said School Principal Margaret Baker.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $10 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.