09/15/2026
This week, I sat with three executives who support students in STEM post-high school. They are leaders in higher ed, industry, and workforce programs; different institutions, same message. They implored PRC to teach determination, resilience, and persistence alongside content, because too often that's the conversation that matters most. They're seeing young people between 18 and 24 who have the content knowledge and technical foundation. However, they struggle to push through when things get hard. That equals too many youth who never finish their programs. I ask myself the questions that the great Rita Pierson stated, "So what? Now what?"
It made me sit with our/my role at PRC. Robotics isn't just about the build. It's where our youth practice the 5 C's: creativity, communication, curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration. The skills that carry them past the moment they want to quit. The 5 C's are necessary.
So I'm asking myself, "Are we doing enough? Are we partnering with our stakeholders deeply enough? Are we truly equipping our youth to build the futures they dream of?"
PRC is always reimagining how we serve our young people while ensuring we have "Robotics in Every Neighborhood: From Cradle to Career." This IS the work for all of us.
If you work with youth, we want to hear what you're doing to equip them for a better future. Let's build this bridge together. 1 ❤️
