NoMa STEAM was formed in 2022 when founding members realized there was a significant gap in STEAM resources and opportunities for students living and attending schools in the North Main Columbia area. Through the efforts of local partnerships, NoMa STEAM started FIRST Robotics Team 9315 Coding Comets which uses challenging and collaborative problem-solving to equip students with marketable STEM skills as they work with volunteer mentors and field experts to build large, competition robots. In fall 2023, the FIRST LEGO League Explore Team 29860 was started to develop a pipeline of scholars who are efficient in building, coding and programming. Along with adult mentors, members of the FRC team serve as Junior Mentors and Counselors for our LEGO camp hosted by a local elementary school. We are hoping to expand our program by offering a FIRST LEGO League Challenge team in fall 2025 to engage students in the middle grades.

We began building The Bridge of Hope Community Garden in spring 2024 to provide fresh produce to senior citizens while engaging youth in meaningful community service. Volunteers aged 8 to 88 contributed over 350 hours last year, and it continues to grow.