RIVERSIDE, Calif. - New educational nonprofit organization Project TechXploration has started up in Riverside, California with assistance from ExCITE Riverside, a business acceleration program supported by the city and county of Riverside and University of California, Riverside. The organization was established to promote careers and diversity in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics to underrepresented and underprivileged youth. Project TechXploration is currently developing a groundbreaking kids technology TV show for the Public Broadcasting Service called “TechXploration With Mista Pat” to inspire an interest in STEAM fields.
Dr. Angelov Farooq, ExCITE Riverside co-founding board member, stated: “Project TechXploration is an important asset to the ExCITE accelerator. The sustainability of our region’s STEM related industries are only possible with initiatives like this to empower the next generation of a diverse and skilled workforce.”
“We’re lucky to have the team of Project TechXploration in Riverside and at Riverside ExCITE. They are showing us new ways to reach the technical workers of the future and bringing a wide range of employer support to their programs,” Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Riverside Steve Massa said.
The county of Riverside’s Digital Equity Program donated thirty desktop computers to aid Project TechXploration. “Project TechXploration brings great value to our partnership and is essential in bridging the Digital Divide to improve quality of life in Riverside county,” Digital Equity Program Manager Nora Valenzuela said.
This year Project TechXploration placed second in the county of Riverside’s Fast Pitch Competition earning $3500 in startup funds. “The win was validation that other people share our belief that students must be exposed to STEAM related careers at an early age and Project TechXploration is on the right track,” Executive Director Patrick Person said.
ABOUT PROJECT TECHXPLORATION: Project TechXploration is a nonprofit dedicated to providing innovative and transformative programs that educate underrepresented and underprivileged students on the many exciting career pathways in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). Their goal is to increase diversity in technology by engaging elementary and middle school students in their early and formative years. Project TechXploration and Kids That Code, Inc. are developing a groundbreaking kids technology TV show for Public Broadcasting Service starring Mista Pat. The nonprofit was co-founded by Patrick Person, Alfonso Anaya, and Jose Navarette who are also co-founders of educational company Kids That Code, Inc.
ABOUT ExCITE RIVERSIDE: Riverside ExCITE is a unique incubation program created in collaboration between business leaders, local government with representatives from both the city and county of Riverside, and our local research university at University of California, Riverside. Riverside ExCITE is organized for the purpose of facilitating the successful incubation and acceleration of start-up companies engaged in entrepreneurial research and development of advanced technologies with the intent to create high technology jobs in the county of Riverside.
ABOUT KIDS THAT CODE: Kids That Code, Inc. teaches young children computer programming, video game development, electronics, robotics and other science, technology, engineering and mathematic related subjects. Their program consists of an afterschool and before school activity on school sites and college and university campuses during the weekend. Kids That Code, Inc. is participating in the ExCITE Riverside business incubator.