About Detail
Operation Impact is a special project group of the Buffalo Soldiers Association of West Point (BSAWP), a 501(c)3 non profit corporation; functioning as their Educational and Veteran Community Engagement Center; doing our best to serve at-risk students and communities with the same resolve, perseverance, resilience, and grit of the Buffalo Soldiers of West Point - WE CAN, WE WILL… READY FORWARD.
Operation Impact is not a 'brick and mortar' organization; rather a Community Centric Facilitator that brings Community and Opportunity together through engagement and collaboration with all community stakeholders as educational partners; thereby, leveraging resources and broaden responsibility among the entire community to facilitate Educational and Veteran Outreach Programs in communities we serve.
Mission / Vision
MISSION STATEMENT ➾Engage ➾Empower ➾Enrich
Facilitate and sustain youth engagement in STEAM learning through high-quality, after-school enrichment programs that:
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Inspires students to be creative thinkers, problem solvers, and team builders
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Builds partnerships between schools, students, and all community stakeholders
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Promotes public awareness and a broader understanding of STEAM
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Cultivates an educational space for to explore post-secondary education and careers in the
STEAM workforce
Mentorship is the 'keystone' of our program – instruction is led by College Students who themselves are young women and underrepresented minorities ➾FOR Students, BY Students
FURTHER…
Facilitate and sustain avenues of supports for our Veterans, to include:
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Equine Therapeutic Horsemanship – an invaluable resource to the Buffalo Soldiers during their most challenging times
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Business mentorship ➾FOR Veterans, BY Veterans
Vision Statement
We envision a nation in which all Students regardless of who they are, where they live, or where they go to school have equal access to:
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World-Class STEAM Learning that Opens the 'Doors' of Opportunities
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Empowers Students to pursue STEAM degrees and careers
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Enriching Students so they can Grow into Their Promise
FURTHER…
We envision a nation in-which all Veterans feel both welcomed and supported; knowing all community stakeholders are vested in their successful transition from Citizen Soldier to Civilian.
History
Operation Impact was Founded by Dr. Aundrea Matthews, President, the Buffalo Soldiers Association of West Point. Dr. Matthews and Francesco (our Executive Director; then the assistant principal overseeing the program) launched the inaugural After school STEAM Program. After 2 successful school years, the program came to an abrupt halt due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.
Reconnecting in September '21, Dr. Matthews and Francesco discussed the lasting impression the program had on both students and CADETS at the United States Military Academy; musing of collaborating one more time. Several months later the decision was made re-launch Operation Impact 2.0. We have spent the last several months engaging community stakeholders and establishing educational partnerships as we prepare for September '22; assembling an impressive team with considerable experience and expertise in the areas we must skillfully maneuver to ensure our programs are deliverable 'Day 1' and respectfully report that as of June 2022, we have met our objective of providing programs to 3 distinct community organizations that will serve as our 'prototypes' for the next 24 months.
Operation Impact Overview
Our goals are to:
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INSPIRE students to be creative thinkers, problem solvers, and team builders
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BUILD partnerships between schools, students, and the National Society of Black Engineers
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PROMOTE public awareness and a broader understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM)
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CULTIVATE an educational space that broadens students' understanding of STEAM and military educational opportunities and professions.
The Operation Impact After-School program will conduct 6 monthly hands-on activities designed to engage, motivate and inspire students to excel academically and consider the STEAM disciplines in their post-secondary plans and careers.
Target Audience:
20 - 30 5th through 8th-grade students interested in socializing with peers, learning more about STEAM, interacting with West Point Cadets, and conducting STEAM experiments after school.
Days and Times:
Once a month over a 6 month period from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm (90 mins).
Students will be served food from 3:15-4:00 pm.
At 4:00 pm - STEAM activities begin.
Planned Activities:
Students will have the chance to participate in STEM activities, as well as study and be inspired by ART. Review STEM curriculum (See below).
Outcomes:
Students will increase their knowledge of Rockets, Robotics, Bridge Design, Sustainability Stimulation, Renewable Energy, Data Science, and Art.
We envision a world where all students have access to quality STEAM learning activities; are equipped with the knowledge and skills to study STEAM fields, earn degrees, and succeed professionally.Operation Impact bolsters STEAM instruction and prepares students to think deeply and become leaders, and solve the most pressing challenges facing our nation and our world.
STEM CURRICULUM & SCHEDULE
Session 1
Rockets/Propulsion
Students build and launch model rockets in order to discover fundamental principles of nature for themselves: Helping them in their academic progress by sparking critical thinking skills and better research and observation techniques.
Session 2
Civil Engineering/Bridge Design
Students design and construct model Bridges in order to uncover the economic drivers for engineering projects and develop self-confidence in their ability to apply math and physics to real-world cases.
Session 3
Robotics
Students build and program Vex Robots in order to apply iterative problem-solving approaches to real and ongoing design challenges
Session 4
Sustainability Simulation
Students participate in a sustainability simulation exercise in order to demonstrate the impact of their individual actions on the world around them. Also highlights some significant economic factors in the Engineering Decision making process
Session 5
Renewable energy
Students construct portable wind turbines in order to visualize the importance of conservation as well as the opportunities and the challenges of large-scale renewable energy STEAMs
Session 6
Data Science
Students conduct a text analytics exercise utilizing multiple social media applications in order to
conceptualize the use of mathematics and statistics in understanding the world around you.
Application
REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY CLOSED
Flyer
REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY CLOSED
Buffalo Soldiers
Our primary focus is to educate future generations about the historical legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers that served at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, from 1907-1946. We will accomplish our mission by conducting educational awareness programs, recognizing veterans and individuals for their outstanding achievements and leadership, hosting annual memorial events at West Point, and providing science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) programs for youth, both regionally and nationally. Our STEAM programs will prepare youth to pursue career fields in the military and college with the standard of excellence and teach them the values and history of the Buffalo Soldiers of West Point.
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