Community Partners
M.A.R.S. has collaborated with strong viable community groups. The 4 groups of experts in Early Childhood Education, Mathematics, Arts, Reading, and Science (STEM) will collaborate to offer skills that will become a stimulator for a community that presently does not have the level of resources or job training to activate economic growth in the area.
The M.A.R.S. Early Learning Academy will become the hub for the community, teach underprivileged children math, art, reading, and science, become a valuable resource and introduce a STEM training and job development center to young children.
Our facility is where the other organizations will provide their educational programming during regular business hours and use the space in the evenings and weekends for their individual programs
The full M.A.R.S. Early Learning Academy program consists of 4 separate 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations that have served the King County, WA area for over 60 years, collectively. They have entered into a collaborative effort to merge their programs and expand their work to create a full center that will serve underprivileged children and the community-at-large.
Mona Bailey Academy
Will integrate their curriculum to provide science and technology learning sessions to the Toddler & Preschool students. There will also be learning sessions for parents.
STEMTAC Foundation
Will integrate their STEM curriculum to provide STEM learning sessions to the Toddler and Preschool students as well as program development.
Engageable Designs
Is a social good, social impact organization cultivating excitement and skills around math. Their mission is to create engaging learning experiences for students of all ages, especially in high-need, low-income schools. They develop early numerical literacy and love of learning in children of color, through fun, culturally relevant math enrichment programs.
Engageable Designs Programs offers the Mathematician in Residence (MIR)program during the school day to give class math enrichment, and the Saturday Math Academy (SMA). Cultivating excitement and skills around math. Our mission is to create engaging learning experiences for students of all ages especially in high-need low-income schools. The STEMTAC Program proves to be an intergenerational, vibrant, and fast paced collaborative study of math. They also offer an Early Algebra Program(EAP) before or after school, a Summer Math Camp during the summer as well as other offerings.
Northwest Black Pioneers
Was founded by O.L. Mitchell, Dr. Robert Gary Sr., Paul Mitchell, and Paul Buller to provide the greater Seattle community with educational programs and the opportunity to experience touring22 HBCU's with historical culture awareness to our young people. As a strategic partner to many local and national programs, we provide an integrated approach to encourage and motivate students of diverse backgrounds to pursue opportunities and resources that will enrich their educational and life experiences; thereby increasing their value to our communities.
We offer After School tutoring and mentoring to help students get prepared as well as an annual Black College Tour. It is our mission to provide the unique opportunity to increase the awareness of the benefits and available choices of attending an institute of higher learning for high school students of color- some of whom may be economically and socially disadvantaged.
Tod and Tara Leiweke
Tod and Tara Leiweke are distinguished figures within the Seattle community, whose contributions extend significantly within the professional sports sphere, notably with the Seattle Kraken organization. Their collaborative ethos and community-centered approach are emblematic of their partnership with MARS Early Learning Academy. With a shared vision for cultivating an enriching environment, Tod and Tara's association with our academy significantly bolsters our mission of fostering a nurturing space for young learners. Their extensive knowledge and seasoned experience in community engagements, particularly through the Seattle Kraken, enriches our educational endeavors, embodying a collective aspiration for nurturing the holistic development of our students. This partnership exemplifies a harmonious blend of community involvement and educational advancement, driving a mutual goal of making a meaningful impact in the lives of the families we serve in the Rainier Beach community and beyond.
Marc Joy Media
Marcus Joyner, the esteemed owner and Senior Project Manager at Marc Joy Media, is a visionary artist known for his captivating Afrofuturistic Art. With a keen eye for aesthetics and a profound understanding of digital platforms, Marcus lends his artistic and technical expertise to the Rainier Beach community, enriching the lives of its residents, particularly the young learners at MARS Early Learning Academy. His artistic endeavors transcend the traditional, with a remarkable collection of Afrofuturistic art showcased on his Instagram, where young African American children are depicted navigating through sci-fi environments and worlds. This unique artistic narrative resonates with the boundless curiosity and potential of every child, mirroring the nurturing environment of MARS Early Learning Academy.
The team has a thorough collaborative plan that meets the needs of the South Seattle community to provide math, art, reading, and science programs with a STEM-based focus(M.A.R.S.). This collaborative group will also make available educational recreational activities and programs for at-risk youth and even job development training. The M.A.R.S. Early Learning Academy holds the primary role in developing an infrastructure for this community.
The plan is to expand it's services for many years. The success of this Academy will have a profound effect on the participants, their families, the South Seattle Community-at-large.