Keynote speaker U.S. Deputy Secretary of
Education Cindy Marten addressed
100+ attendees about the importance of investing in youth and
advancing educational equity and workforce readiness
NEWARK,
N.J., July 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders
from the Panasonic Foundation and Panasonic Corporation of
North America were joined
yesterday by over 100 community stakeholders and state and local
officials to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The
Panasonic Foundation. As the philanthropic arm of Panasonic North
America, the Panasonic Foundation aims to bridge the divide between
the educational inequities that exist today and the opportunities
of tomorrow.
![Panasonic Logo (PRNewsfoto/Panasonic Corporation of North America) Panasonic Logo (PRNewsfoto/Panasonic Corporation of North America)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/367536/Panasonic_Logo.jpg)
Held at Panasonic North America's headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, the event reflected on
four decades of advancing equitable access to STEM education among
historically underserved students. While STEM jobs are expected to
increase by nearly twice the rate of other jobs in the next 10
years,1 women and racial minorities remain largely
unrepresented across the sector.2 Inspired by
Panasonic's founding vision that business is ultimately for the
betterment of society, the Panasonic Foundation uses collaborative
partnerships and strategic grants to provide new generations,
particularly those from historically underserved communities,
with more equitable and inclusive pathways to creating fulfilling
lives, supporting healthy communities, and participating in the
innovation economies of the future.
Keynote Address from Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten
The celebration included a live painting experience by muralist
Juan Oquendo and a student spoken
word performance from Amya Martinez,
youth poet and 2024 Poetry Out Loud Winner from NJPAC Youth Arts.
In addition to remarks and testimonials from Alejandra Ceja, the Panasonic Foundation's
Executive Director; Megan Myungwon
Lee, Panasonic North America CEO and Chairwoman and
Stephanie Yeldell, Space Technology
STEM Education Lead, NASA, attendees had the opportunity to
hear from keynote speaker, U.S. Deputy Secretary of
Education Cindy Marten, who
emphasized the critical importance of investing in youth and
advancing educational equity and workforce readiness.
Collaboration with NASA and the NIA to Provide Hands-On
Access to STEM Skills
Ahead of the celebration, the Panasonic Foundation, in
collaboration with NASA and the National Institute of Aerospace,
hosted the A Space for All '24 event at the Newark Museum of
Art for local students grades 5-8. The event aimed to inspire
and engage students and communities by giving them a unique
opportunity to explore cutting-edge technologies.
Students had the chance to learn about the role of robots in
space exploration, before designing and constructing their own
grapple fixture for a robotic arm. They also built and tested a
solar rover kit to better understand how space exploration will
harness and use solar energy.
"It was an honor to come together with our community partners,
Panasonic employees and the Deputy Secretary to reflect on all we
have achieved together over the past 40 years, propelled by our
longstanding culture of innovation, exploration, experimentation,
and constant learning," said Alejandra
Ceja, Executive Director of the Panasonic Foundation.
"However, this event was as much about looking ahead as looking
back, as we recognize that there is still much work to be done to
ensure that every student can contribute to the innovation
economies of the future. A child can't envision a future they don't
know exists. We remain more committed than ever to our mission to
bridge the divide between the educational inequities that exist
today and the opportunities of tomorrow, securing brighter futures
for our communities, our business and our world."
About the Panasonic Foundation:
The Panasonic Foundation meets students where they are, in the
regions where we live and work, to advance equitable access and
early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
education, particularly among young learners from historically
underserved communities. As the philanthropic arm of Panasonic
North America since 1984, the Panasonic Foundation bridges the
divide between the educational inequities that exist today and the
opportunities of tomorrow—securing brighter futures for our
communities, our business, and our world. Follow the work of the
Panasonic Foundation on Instagram @Panasonic.
About Panasonic Corporation of North
America
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic
Corporation of North America is a
leading provider of Consumer Lifestyle technologies, as well as
innovative Smart Mobility, Sustainable Energy, Immersive
Experiences, and Integrated Supply Chain solutions. The company is
the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Holdings
Corporation. One of Interbrand's Top 100 Best Global Brands of
2023, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to
businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region.
Learn more about Panasonic's ideas and innovations at
na.panasonic.com/us
1 U.S. Department of Labor (2022, November 4). STEM Day: Explore Growing Careers.
https://blog.dol.gov/2022/11/04/stem-day-explore-growing-careers
2 The Education Trust (2023, July 24). Why STEM Equity Must Address the
Experiences of Women of
Color. https://edtrust.org/resource/why-stem-equity-must-address-the-experiences-of-women-of-color/
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