Mark Your Calendar: Harlem STEM Up’s 2025 STEM Day Returns to the Harlem YMCA!
We’re counting down to one of our favorite days of the year—and this year, it’s going to be bigger than ever.
Harlem STEM Up is thrilled to announce that our 2025 Annual STEM Event will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Harlem YMCA (180 West 135th Street, New York, NY 10030). It’s a celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math—and most importantly, a celebration of the brilliant, curious minds right here in our community.
This year’s event falls on National STEM Day, making it the perfect moment to lift up Black and Latinx students and families who are shaping the future of innovation, one question and discovery at a time.
Why This Event Matters
At Harlem STEM Up, we believe that STEM is for everyone, not just students in lab coats or coding bootcamps. It’s for the dreamers, the builders, the tinkerers, the planners. It’s for students in Harlem and beyond who are ready to explore what’s possible when they see themselves in science, engineering, math, and tech.
But we also know that access still isn’t equal.
In 2021, according to Census.gov, young workers between ages 16 and 24 made up 12.7% of the total workforce but only 6.8% of workers in STEM jobs. And while many STEM careers require a college degree, there’s rising demand for hands-on, technical, and apprentice-based opportunities that don’t require a traditional four-year path.
That’s why we’re creating space for students to explore both the academic routes and the trade routes. The goal is to open doors and help each young person find the right one for them.
What to Expect on November 8
We’re putting together a day full of energy, inspiration, and opportunity. Expect:
Interactive STEM Stations – Hands-on activities that show students how fun and creative science and technology can be.
Guest Speakers and Role Models – Engineers, doctors, coders, and innovators who look like our students share their stories.
Family Engagement – Tips and tools for parents and caregivers to support STEM learning at home.
College & Career Tables – Info about STEM pathways, summer programs, and more.
Community Power – Because when we learn together, we grow together.
This free event is open to middle and high school students, parents, educators, and community members. Whether you’re just beginning to explore STEM or you’re ready to dive deeper, there’s a place for you here.
A Powerful Partnership
The Harlem YMCA has been more than a venue, it’s been a partner in purpose. Their longstanding support of Harlem STEM Up and commitment to youth development make them an ideal home for this annual event. We’re grateful to return to a space so deeply connected to Harlem’s legacy of excellence, leadership, and community care.
Dr. Madeline Y. Sutton, founder of Harlem STEM Up, said it best:
“We are excited to bring together students, families, and the community for this special event that celebrates the power of STEM to transform lives. The Harlem YMCA has been a vital partner in our mission, and we are grateful to host this event in such an iconic and supportive space.”
STEM for the Real World
The future needs engineers, but it also needs data analysts, environmental technicians, cybersecurity specialists, clean energy builders, medical lab techs, app designers, and thinkers we haven’t yet imagined. Many of those roles are growing fast, and not all of them require a college degree.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM jobs are projected to grow at twice the rate of other occupations through 2031. That means more opportunities—but also more need for early access, representation, and support.
Our annual STEM Day is one of the ways we help level the playing field.
Want to Get Involved?
- Mark your calendar: Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Location: Harlem YMCA, 180 W 135th Street, NYC
- Time: Details coming soon—sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know!
We’ll be sharing updates, activity previews, and speaker spotlights in the weeks ahead. Whether you’re a parent, educator, STEM professional, or local organization, we invite you to be part of it.
Visit harlemstemup.com to join our mailing list or get in touch.
Final Word: STEM Belongs to All of Us
We know that big futures start with small moments—like seeing a robot for the first time, asking “what if,” or hearing someone say, “You’d be great at this.”
This November, let’s create more of those moments.
We hope to see you on STEM Day 2025.
Because our kids don’t just deserve a seat at the table. They should get to build the table.
