St. Louis has emerged as the “bio-belt” of the country. We have a large and continually growing number of businesses and institutions geared towards plant/ medical sciences and biotechnology. However, the demand for talent in this burgeoning economic sector outpaces the supply of local scientists.
How do we support our education systems so that we can propel local talent into the STEM workforce? How do we take advantage of local assets and maximize resources to develop effective and lasting educational and economic solutions for St. Louis?
The Green House (GHV) has advanced a rare collaborative model, partnering elementary schools, universities, local institutions, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and others, to drive innovative STEM education programs that promote scientific discovery. The GHV’s pluralistic approach efficiently exposes racially and economically diverse students to career opportunities in the sciences while building a talent pipeline to meet emerging demands.
GHV began as a start-up with limited resources. Driven by volunteers, the GHV achieved a credible record of program success through its Urban Education Alliance. The GHV completed construction of the Embankment Greenway / Terrace Garden. This resource offers an accessible, experiential outdoor growing environment, creatively located on an underutilized highway embankment, while providing a vibrant ecosystem of indigenous plantings and pollinator gardens.
The campaign will help to complete the campus vision with the construction of the new education center. This technology-rich science learning facility will advance innovative, hands-on curriculum among Urban Education Alliance members, stakeholders, and the larger community. This centerpiece of the campus will feature both indoor and outdoor growing spaces, fish cultivation with aquaponic tanks, and videography capabilities to telecast experiments and lessons.