Seeing youth excited about learning is a passion for Jalonda Combs. She has held the position of Director of STEM Programming of Summit Academy’s Northside STEM Youth Department for over three years. In this role, Combs plans, develops and carries out STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) for our community in which she was born and raised. She’s also a Henry High class of 2000 alumnus. Up to 150 youngsters participate in the program at neighborhood facilities on the first Saturday of each month.
Northside STEM was instituted by Louis King who served as president and CEO of Summit OIC in Minneapolis until he was recently promoted to national president of Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America. King created Northside STEM, having the dream of developing a program that would provide what he felt children need for the 21st Century, wanting them to visualize becoming scientists and engineers. The STEM program led by Jalonda builds a pipeline of education by preparing STEM leaders for the future.
Jalonda made the decision to take on the role as STEM Director of OIC of America’s, leveraging the relationships she had developed to expand the STEM programs. The future goal is to replicate the STEM programs built at Summit Academy OIC in 20 cities.
Northside STEM provides free hands-on activities for children in grades K-8 to learn science, technology, engineering and math. Community partners throughout North Minneapolis host the program. There is a different theme created for each session. I brought four of my great-grandchildren to the August session on electricity. They were all enthusiastically engaged at their age level tables, bringing home a bag of devices they had made to generate electricity. In September the session topic was ecosystems which involved planting seeds, constructing a bee house and creating bird nests. Their table instructors were attentive, friendly, and helpful STEM-educated volunteer college students and professionals, mainly “people of color, like my great-grands.”
Questions I asked Combs and her responses
Your enthusiasm in leading the Northside STEM District Saturdays is so evident to us as parents and caregivers accompanying our children. What sparks you in this role?
“Seeing youth excited about learning. Seeing them light up when they learn a new concept. Seeing youth coming back to our events every month to explore new STEM concepts. I know that our students in North Minneapolis can and will be successful. I know that despite the hands of cards dealt to any one of them, they are amazing humans, and they can and will thrive as successful contributing citizens. I am just excited that I can support the success of youth in our community by providing early STEM exposure opportunities for learning.”
Has attending Henry High helped prepare you for this role? If so, in what ways?
“At Henry I was able to build many lifelong friendships. Many of those friends support my current community efforts. We often connect and circle back to our time at Henry and discuss how much we have grown and share all our current success stories. The preparation was the opportunity to build solid relationships with my peers, adults and educators. It was also the manifestation of the seeds planted by the Henry staff and educators. The educators at Henry believed in me and were never afraid to share it. Steve Duesterbeck always told me how special I was and encouraged me to always do my best. Shawn Crenshaw was my counselor; funny he still works at Henry High. He told me when I was younger that I was bright, and I needed to show up as such. He and I have connected again since becoming the Director of STEM Programming and he always reiterates what he told me when I was younger. The late Lenora Stewart always showed and shared love to those of us that lacked love and support at home.”
Has growing up in the North Community helped prepare you for your role?
“Yes, community spaces in North Minneapolis provided me with a safe place to learn, explore, and grow. I had adults in my life that saw greatness in me when I didn’t see it in myself. My first-grade teacher Ms. White exposed me to new experiences and opportunities. She and I are still friends. I love when I speak to her, she reminds me of the little girl she met many years ago and how she knew that I was special, and I would do great work. The biggest statement that she shares with me is ‘I am so proud of you.’”
How do you see the programs for youth & adults of Northside Summit OIC benefiting our community?
“Students in our community lack exposure to the millions of opportunities that are available to them. Sports always seem to be the go-to for youth in our community. This is all they know; this is what they are exposed to. Northside STEM exists to change the narrative. I aspire to plant STEM career seeds
every time I encounter or get a chance to share space with youth. If we plant the seeds, there is no
guarantee that the youth will become an engineer or a mathematician, but I do know that students do
not forget meaningful experiences. So, with that said, Northside STEM is intentional about providing
meaningful experiences for our youth with hopes that one day those seeds will manifest and each one
of our youth will become contributing citizens in our community.”
“They need safe learning spaces that expose them to opportunities for exploration, engagement and learning. They need opportunities to build meaningful relationships with professionals that look like them. And they need role models that remind them of their potential for greatness.”
You can research Google sites for information regarding Summit Academy OIC history and educational
opportunities for adults, Summit services for teens, corporate and community sponsors of Northside
STEM, and volunteer opportunities. Enrolling your children for the Saturday programs may be done on-
line by going to Northside STEM.