Our Story
About Avanza STEM
We're a community-driven initiative bringing free, high-quality STEM education to Hispanic youth - one workshop, one project, and one curious student at a time.
Why We Started
Avanza STEM was founded with a simple belief: every child, regardless of their zip code or background, deserves the chance to discover the joy of science and technology. We saw firsthand how few STEM resources were designed with Hispanic families in mind - materials in their language, programs in their neighborhood, faces that looked like theirs.
So we started small. A folding table at a local library, some popsicle sticks, and a group of kids who had never built anything before. Three hours later, they had built bridges strong enough to hold textbooks, and more importantly, they believed they could do more.
What We Believe
Access for All
Every child deserves access to quality STEM education, regardless of their zip code, background, or income. We remove every barrier we can - cost, language, location.
Curiosity First
We don't lecture kids about STEM. We hand them popsicle sticks and see what happens. Curiosity is the engine - our job is to give it fuel.
Community Rooted
We show up where families already are - local libraries, community centers, schools. STEM education belongs in the community, not just elite institutions.
Who We Are
A small, passionate team committed to making STEM education a reality for every student.
Liam Salcedo
Founder & Lead Educator
Liam started Avanza STEM after seeing the gap in STEM resources for Hispanic students in his community. He designs the curriculum, runs the workshops, and is always working on what's next.
Want to help? We're always looking for volunteers and partners. liam@avanzastem.org
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Ready to get involved?
Attend a workshop, share our resources, or reach out to bring Avanza STEM to your school or library.