For libraries, schools, and community centers
We bring the Maker Mindset Series to your space: three hands-on workshops on building, coding, and AI, taught by our student team, fully prepared, and free for you and your families.
Free. Ages 7 and up. Up to about 15 students per workshop. English and Spanish. Materials included, except laptops.
A coding session at the Roseland Free Public Library. Every student writes and runs their own Python program.
The program
Each workshop pairs a short talk with a guided activity, so students see how things are built, how technology works, and how problems get solved. Usually run about a week apart; a single workshop also works.
Workshop One
Bridge the Gap!
1.5 hours
Workshop Two
Code Your First Game
1 hour
Workshop Three
Can a Computer Think?
1 hour
No cost to you
You provide the room, the laptops, and the sign-ups. We bring everything else, ready to run.
We bring
You provide
Four steps
Reach out
Send us an email with your venue, available dates, and expected number of students.
We plan together
We'll coordinate on the workshop topic, format, age range, and materials needed.
We show up
Our team arrives early to set up. We run the entire session, and you just enjoy it with your students.
Stay connected
We love building ongoing relationships with partner venues. Many of our host libraries have had us back multiple times.
Past programs
Public libraries across northern New Jersey, community reading rooms in Minhang District, Shanghai, and a municipal library in Quito, Ecuador.
An engineering session: teams design, build, and load-test popsicle stick bridges.
The series at Wayne Public Library, hosted through the library's YA Creates program.
The reading room at Lanyu Books in Shanghai, before a session. Venues in China do not allow photos during programs.
New Jersey
China
Ecuador
Scheduled sessions
Partner venues with sessions scheduled. Dates and details are in the workshop finder.
New Jersey
October 2026
Caldwell Public Library
Caldwell, NJ
Peru
Dates pending
Colombia
Dates pending
Panama
Dates pending
Chile
Dates pending
In their own words
Partner libraries and community groups describe the Maker Mindset Series in their own posts, to their own communities.
The Maker Mindset Series, hosted by Liam Salcedo & Tommy Qi, high school students from Seton Hall Prep, brought students together at The Library of the Chathams for three fun, hands-on STEM workshops. … More than just learning about engineering, coding, and AI, the program gave students the ability to be curious, creative, & collaborative in a welcoming community space.
A big thank you to Liam Salcedo and Tommy Qi, two rising seniors at Seton Hall Prep, for bringing “The Maker Mindset” STEM series to the Roseland Library! During this three-part series, participants ages 8 and up learned how to build and test suspension bridges, Python coding basics, and how artificial intelligence works through fun and interactive approaches.
YA Creates: Maker Mindset Series where students explore engineering, coding and artificial intelligence through hands-on interactive activities with Liam, our volunteer.
For his Eagle Community Service Project, Liam, 17, planned and ran a series of Saturday STEM workshops for kids at the Clifton Public Library last December and January. Liam's goal was to give local children access to engaging STEM opportunities they might not otherwise have access to. … He used it as a springboard to launch Avanza STEM, a youth-led, free STEM resource offering workshops and more, focused on reaching Hispanic and underrepresented students.
Tell us about your space and your students. We reply to plan the topic, format, and a date together.
Include in your message
Prefer email? Reach us directly at liam@avanzastem.org