Kimberly M. Harmon
Community Psychology
N. Bothne
Fall 2013
9/21/13
Interview Guide for Project SYNCERE
I. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION PARTNERSHIP
A. Project SYNCERE
B. Leadership
1. Jason Coleman, Co-Founder/Executive Director
2. Seun Phillips, Co-Founder/Director of Programs
C. Focus Communities
1. Minority, female, and underserved students
2. Chicago and Atlanta school districts
3. Illinois universities
II. COMMUNITY RELEVANCE AND INVESTMENT
A. Mission
1. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curriculum
2. Increase number of minority, female, underserved students pursuing
STEM careers
a. Make science and math fun and rewarding for community members
b. Served more than 4,000 students served nationally
B. STEM integration through project-based learning
1. Provide in-school, afterschool, Saturday, and summer programming
a.Emerging Engineers Program (PSEEP), year round,Saturday curriculum
1. In-depth, portfolio projects
2. Robotics, 3-D design, renewable energy, electrical circuit design, etc.
b. Workshops
1. Teacher professional training, Parent-child STEM, Parent technology
III. RELEVANT COMMUNITY QUESTIONS
A. In what ways do you encourage students to think in broadly about STEM
career/life goals that expand beyond corporate America and benefit or engage community?
B. How might you encourage students and adults to approach STEM from a holistic perspective (Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically)?
C. Have you engaged local Elders from the geographical community of North Kenwood?
D. Who are/were your role models and how did they impact your life’s path?
E. How do you engage with the community members beyond your official role at Project SYNCERE?
F. What are some intervention methods you have used to help encourage and engage community members to embrace STEM?
G. What are some of the local social issues that impact the effectiveness of your organization? Political issues? Funding issues? Violence issues?
H. How do you see STEM connecting with the Arts?
I. Who are some of the community leaders with whom your organization has worked?
J. What community connections have you made with the Center for Inner City Studies?
K. What has been the history of your surrounding community, and what is
your current experience within this community?
L. How do you encourage girls to fearlessly embrace STEM curriculum?
M. What local organizations offer services to the community, which complement services you provide?
N. How do you find empowerment through STEM and the work that you do
with Project SYNCERE? How do you encourage community members to
find empowerment through STEM and Project SYNCERE?
O. What are some outreach strategies you utilize to expand the Project SYNCERE community?
P. Why are you passionate about STEM? Who was the support base in your youth; who encouraged that passion?
Q. What research would you be interested in having my fellow students and I conduct on behalf of Project SYNCERE?
III. INTRODUCTION AND FOLLOW UP
A. Email introduction and email/phone follow up
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