Our Mission

P4L's mission is to help economically disadvantaged students prepare for educational and life success by engaging them in STEM enrichment and college awareness-access-readiness programs.  P4L addresses the "opportunity gap" experienced by many MCPS students, who because of the lack of family resources, are at risk of being underestimated and under-encouraged.  P4L supports our students towards higher levels of educational and personal development as they enter high school and prepare to become productive and contributing young adults.

Our overarching goal is to help our youth become skilled, productive, and responsible creators and not just consumers of technology.  Through a broad array of after school, weekend, and summer activities, enhanced by field trips and guest speakers, our youth gain STEM and digital communication skills and interests for high school and beyond.

Coached by adult educators and STEM professionals as well as older peers, our youth become contributing digital citizens as well as striving STEM scholars, with aspirations and confidence for their future.

We Believe

• Every child has the potential to be an inspired and committed learner;
• Our community has the responsibility and ability to help make learning come alive for all of its children and youth;
• The engagement of parents and families is critical to student success;
• Business, community and older student mentors and role models can make a remarkable difference in the life of a student;
• Our future as a community, county, state and nation is tied to our ability to help every student learn, strive and tap the magic in themselves.

Instructors

At each of our partner schools, we link students to talented and caring MCPS teachers, who encourage our youth and help them strive and achieve. Many of our teachers have been with our programs for several years.  Examples include:

• Ned MacFadden at Eastern Middle School, who’s been one of our “adolescent whisperers” for 10+ years. 
• Jo Doerrman, at Shady Grove Middle school, has been teaching computer technology for us since 2006. 
• Additionally, we have a years-long special partnership with Karen Giacopuzzi, founder of Gadget Lab, who leads one of our most popular STEM programs, "Tech Squad."
  

Inspiring Adults

Each year we engage college students and adult professionals who visit after school programs.  They inspire our youth and stimulate their interests in future STEM pursuits and professions.  Program guests have included bioengineering grad students, an etymology researcher, electrical engineer, video game designers, digital artists, photographers, and videographers.

Annually, our students meet college students and admissions staff, and take campus tours that include Montgomery College, The Universities at Shady Grove, Towson University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and American University.  New for 2022: University of Maryland College Park.

Classroom Assistants

Passion for Learning engages high school and college students—including many P4L program alums.  For the current 2024-25 school year, 10 MCPS high school students are coaching and mentoring their younger peers. Our thanks go out to:

Emmauel, India, Ismael, Jeferson, Jenny, Kayla, Michael, Mraihi, Tokyo, and Tyrese