STEM jobs are growing three times as fast as jobs in other fields and pay approximately 25% more than non-STEM careers. Two million STEM jobs this year will go unfilled. Latinx, African Americans and women remain vastly underrepresented in these fields. Library NExT provides equitable, relevant and applicable learning opportunities for youth in underresourced areas of San Diego. It enables us to make a positive contribution to the changing landscape of the business ecosystem, the economy and the quality of an individuals’ lives.

UCSD, UCSD Extension and SDPL offer intensive, university-level courses to youth in communities facing financial barriers. Workforce development is vital, so instructors teach skills that employers value. Teens take the now virtual certificate courses and earn pre-college credit. Many students would not be able to afford this in a traditional setting. For those without access to technology to participate, we go one step further and give them laptops. This work impacts and changes the lives of youth and their futures.

UCSD Extension, UCSD’s Project-in-a-Box, Computers2Kids and SDPL employ one of the library and city’s strategic goals: addressing the education gap. This includes success in high opportunity areas, youth engaging in STEAM learning and exploring careers, earning college credit, mentorship and workforce skills. Qualitative and quantitative surveys, test scores and community responses are our metrics. The amount of student participants, interest survey replies and community partner feedback have all been extremely positive.