Flagstaff's Community Vision

Flagstaff recognizes its role as a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in its Education, Business and Governance;

Flagstaff values and celebrates its heritage as the home of major scientific institutions, technology-based companies, and institutions of higher education;

Flagstaff aspires to foster the success of its STEM organizations and to incubate and attract other such entities as a key avenue for increasing the prosperity of all our citizens;

Flagstaff commits to support and encourage our schools in their efforts to educate our children to be successful in an ever-more-technological, competitive, and complex world;

As such, we, the Flagstaff STEM Community,will collectively work towards the following goals:

1. Strengthen STEM literacy
2. Promote STEM-related business
3. Sustain STEM initiatives

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1. STEM literacy among students, families, and the community will be strengthened by:

• Pursuing high quality STEM curricula in our schools
• Creating sustained and meaningful partnerships between STEM businesses and organizations and our schools, and across the PK-12-adult continuum
• Increasing STEM opportunities for students that are outside of the regular school day or year
• Promoting community dialogue around the importance of STEM in Flagstaff’s education, businesses, and culture

2. The promotion and expansion of STEM-related businesses and institutions will be advanced by:

• Highlighting existing STEM business partnerships and economic development opportunities
• Attracting STEM leaders, personnel, businesses, and initiatives to Flagstaff
• Pursuing legislative efforts, where feasible and necessary, to support local STEM institutions, initiatives and education
• Establishing a comprehensive and effective dissemination plan to inform stakeholders, the community, and the region of successes, achievements, and opportunities

3. Establish financial sustainability for STEM activities and outreach by:

• Aligning local STEM programs and expenditures, where practical and feasible, to the STEM City Strategic Plan
• Seeking external funding through public and private sources
• Establishing a STEM City Fund to support local STEM education and outreach initiatives

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STEM for Flagstaff
For Schools:

• Increased community support for STEM curricular needs
• Enhanced STEM-business and organizational connections for schools, teachers, and students
• Expanded support for building and sustaining a cadre of professional STEM educators in Flagstaff
• Improved academic achievement and knowledge in STEM areas

For Businesses:

• Well-educated, locally grown work force
• Increased workplace innovation
• Strengthened 21st Century Work Skills
• Attractive community for high-quality personnel and their families

For The Community:

• Increased innovation in the community
• Greater economic development
• Expanded job base and more high-paying jobs to prevent “brain drain” from the community
• Greater tax base to support community needs and cultural and recreational assets
• Overall well-educated and engaged citizens

For STEM-based Institutions:

• Improved Faculty/staff recruitment and retention
• Accelerated innovation
• Excellent educational opportunities and schools for families
• Sustainable model for economic development

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