Brown Toy Box Foundation (BTBF) is working to disrupt generational poverty for Black children. Through early and recurring exposure to STEAM careers and STEAM thinking, Brown Toy Box is on a mission to create equitable access to STEAM through advocacy, culturally affirming experiences and explorative play. Ultimately our goal is to ensure
Black children see themselves positively represented in STEM/STEAM in order to expand the ideas of the possibilities for their lives to include STEAM careers, which are the jobs of the future and the gateway to positive economic mobility. We will create a
new narrative, build children’s confidence, and create sustainable change in the lives of the children we touch.
Brown Toy Box Foundation and Brown Toy Box has committed to support the Department of Education’s #YOUBelonginSTEM initiative. The program is designed to improve STEM participation from young people often overlooked. Brown Toy Box signed on as one of the initial organizations supporting #YouBelonginSTEM. STEM Initiatives rarely center representation, however, it is and has always been our work.
Our Approach
Our programs focus 3 individuals:
The parents, teachers, and most importantly, the young scholars. We know to enlist parents as STEAM advocates that we must first make sure they feel confident in teaching and talking to their children about it. We create materials and activities to help parents deepen their understanding of the benefit of STEAM learning and activities for their children. We are intentional about creating products and experiences bring STEAM to life for students PreK-8th grade with culturally curated STEAM kits, in-school field trips, and activities that help them to truly feel that there is a pathway and a place for them in STEAM.
Brown Toy Box Foundation’s priorities are to create opportunities for Black children and their families to confidently explore STEAM activities, thinking, and courses, at the earliest ages. We do this by:
1. Creating immersive play-based learning and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Brown Toy Box Foundation Priorities:
2. Equipping teachers to effectively incorporate culturally responsive and play-based learning activities through professional development training.
3. Advocating for STEAM equity for schools located in historically Black urban and rural communities.
Driving the Narrative, The STEAM World Needs You!
Through our work Brown Toy Box Foundation, the nonprofit of Brown Toy Box Inc., along with partnering communities of practice will plug the “leaky” STEM/STEAM pipeline, create the next generation of Black thinkers and leaders, and strengthen the economic fabric for our country.
The projected net worth for Blacks is $0 in 2053, Brown Toy Box Foundation is working to dismantle this projection and create a new reality. Starting with an immediate goal of reaching 100,000 scholars in their classrooms and afterschool programs.
Through immersive STEAM experiences, hands-on STEAM activities, teacher training, and family/community engagement STEAM equity can be achieved for our Black and Brown scholars. Throughout this process, it is imperative that we create spaces for children to play while they learn. This Play-Based approach, steeped in culturally affirming exposure and activities has to be both student-led and adult-supported. When children engage in real-life and imaginary activities, play can challenge and foster their critical thinking.
Let them play!
Why Play-Based Learning?
Play-based learning is a child-led and open-ended approach to STEAM education. Researchers and psychologists suggest that fun and interactive activities enhance the learning experience inside and outside of the classroom. Brown Toy Box has incorporated Play-based learning into the fabric of everything we do, whether it’s creating hands-on STEAM activities for kids, training teachers and staff during professional development, taking scholars on immersive field experiences, or engaging the community in STEAM activities.
Our 4-Tiered approach
STEAM Activities
By providing access to hands-on culturally-affirming STEAM Activities, Brown Toy Box works to facilitates fun and engaging STEAM activities in historically Black communities. Our work centers schools, youth-serving organizations, and multifamily community centers. STEAM experiences stimulate children’s thinking inside and outside of the classroom. Creating engaging and developmentally appropriate activities maximizes learning across one or multiple disciples of STEAM.
Immersive Experiences
Immersion evokes emotion and imagination. Where Jewish Birthright trips help Jewish children to learn about their past, Brown Toy Box Foundation immersive experiences will help Black children to explore, dream, and plan for their future in STEAM. From exploring forest and marine ecological systems, to exploring space technology, tech, and world-renown art institutions.
Teacher Training
Equipping teachers with effective tools for STEAM learning is a pivotal part of our process. Teachers are most impactful when they are having fun and showcasing their skillset. We will add to and enhance what teachers are already doing in the classroom for seamless integration.
Family & Community Engagement
Developing connections with families and the outside community vastly expands the STEAM footprint of any organization focused on STEAM learning. Our goal is not to only equip students and teachers with effective STEAM tools but also to ensure that the learning and fun continue outside of school. Parents are integral to any program designed to make STEAM more diverse and representative of the population. We help parents to understand STEAM, so the feel inspired and empowered to advocate for it.
What We Do
Brown Toy Box Foundation was created to cultivate immersive STEAM experiences for ALL children. Across all educational organizations and schools, there is a growing focus on activities and experiences that enhance the overall learning of children inside and outside of the classroom. Through immersive STEAM experiences, hands-on STEAM activities, teacher training, and family/community engagement STEAM equity can be achieved for all. Throughout this process, it is imperative that we create spaces for children to play while they learn. This Play-Based approach has to be both student-led and adult-supported. When children engage in real-life and imaginary activities, play can challenge and foster their critical thinking.
Let them play!
