Youth Initiatives

The ALMA (Aspire, Learn, Mentor and Achieve) program is based on best practices that better prepare students from Santa Ana for academic success and growing opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers and higher education.

From a 2014 report from the OC STEM Initiative via the OC Business Council: “Orange County, a leading region in terms of high-tech employment, will continue to depend upon the competitiveness of firms that employ increasing numbers of STEM workers to drive economic growth.

Labor market information clearly demonstrates that a growing number of open STEM positions go unfilled in Orange County. Aligning education and workforce training with STEM workplace needs is vital to improving Orange County’s competitiveness as a center for technological innovation.”

ALMA Programs

ALMA Science Academy*

Science Academy (SA) focuses on exposing 4-6th graders to STEM concepts

Meeting time:
Saturdays 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

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Middle School Program (MSP)*

MSP prepares 6-8th graders for high school level physics, chemistry, and exposes them to 3D printing skills.

Meeting time:
Saturdays 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

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High School Program

HSSP prepares high school students for college applications, standardized tests, and life after high school.

Meeting time: Saturdays
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

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ALMA SUMMER ACADEMY

Supplementing Santa Ana students’ STEM education

This 4-week summer program focuses on STEM application to the environment and community.

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PARENT WORKSHOPS

GREEN-MPNA hosts parent workshops with the goal of providing information, skills and resources to help them navigate the educational system

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*The ALMA program and MSP program run concurrently (11:00 AM-1:00 PM), therefore it is recommended mentors commit to one program*

If you would like to do both, you can do one program for Session 1 (Sept-Dec), and the other for Session 2 (Jan-May)

Ex: ALMA Session 1/MSP Session 2 (or vice versa)

Why are programs like ALMA Important?

GREEN-MPNA is on the forefront of preparing students for a future in STEM. ALMA mentors are selected from a pool of STEM undergraduates and graduate students from UC Irvine and UCLA, and UCI medical students from the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC). In addition, ALMA integrates youth fitness programs to help scholars academically. We have developed a science curriculum and mentorship pipeline model from elementary to college to ensure student success and help their parents understand the US higher education system, including financial aid.

What is unique about GREEN is their history and their story?... they are local community members... just how deep their roots are... the knowledge of [involved in] the transformation of both the place and their people.

Being a mentor has pushed me to be a better student. I want to practice what I preach and be the best college student I can be. I often think about being a better role model for our mentees.

I feel more connected to the community, especially the Latinx community given that many of the students come from a similar background as myself. This has reaffirmed my decision to pursue a STEM career and incorporate teaching and mentorship.

These kids light up every time you teach them something new.

We’re not only teaching our children how to communicate with a circuit, but they’re also teaching them how to communicate with each other much more effectively. They’re playing as a team, they’re thinking as a team and together and collectively, this cohort of students are going to make differences in our community.

For me, the experience in this program has been very beneficial and very valuable as well because my children have learned important things for them and for me, they are learning things that will help them grow in their future. I have seen many changes and much intelligence in [my children] that have opened their minds to a better future.