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SEAOI Outreach Events and Volunteer Opportunities
While SEAOI encourages any meaningful volunteer activity, the following is a list of events that SEAOI supports. Contact us to get involved with our upcoming Outreach Events! Below is a list of past activities we've participated in, and we look forward to updating this list - and our outreach events - as we all emerge from social distancing regulations and more in-person events are planned.
Future City Competition 
Future City is a program of DiscoverE. DiscoverE is a nonprofit dedicated to providing global resources, programs, and connections between K-12 students and engineers and STEM professionals. They have a special focus on reaching girls, and under-represented and under-served students. DiscoverE is the backbone organization behind some of the earliest and most broadly adopted STEM and engineering programs available. They are free to all students and it is their intent to remain at no cost.
SparkShop
SparkShop is a STEM education nonprofit that delivers hands-on engineering programs to Chicago elementary schools. Their curriculum guides 4th and 5th graders through design thinking, introducing them to new skills and pathways. They are passionate about equity in STEM, directing outreach and resources to underrepresented students at no cost to their schools. This year, SparkShop is reaching over 2500 students across 40 elementary schools.
Girls Build!
Girls Build! Day—hosted by the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC)—is a special STEAM festival designed just for girls. During the festival, youth are invited to build, learn, and network with professionals in architecture, construction, engineering, design, and related fields. The day also includes a keynote speech, where attendees hear from (and ask questions of) a distinguished female STEAM professional. The program is designed to engage middle and high school youth (ages 11-17) who identify as female or other marginalized genders (all are welcome, including families). WiSE hosts a table at Girls Build! where volunteers help students learn about structural engineering through hands-on activities and connecting with SEAOI professionals. The program is once per year on a Saturday morning with ~300 attendees. Volunteer commitment is very low (only a few hours), with minimal prep required.
Bob Johnson on Being a Lifelong Volunteer
Bob Johnson is a dedicated structural engineer and mentor passionate about inspiring the next generation of engineers. A graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology, Bob has built a career focused on innovation, problem-solving, and community engagement. Through mentorship, outreach, and professional involvement, Bob actively supports aspiring engineers, encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM. Their commitment to shaping the future of engineering is reflected in their leadership and dedication to lifelong learning.
Rebuilding Together
At Rebuilding Together, we make essential repairs to help our neighbors stay in their homes.
Our work often goes beyond each home. Local affiliates who are rooted in the community work closely with community residents and leaders to revitalize our communities. Together, we create and execute plans to address some of the needs of each specific community.
Through our work, we are also positioned to address the long-term recovery of communities struck by natural disasters. We commit to our neighbors in need and help them rebuild in the months and years following a disaster.
Looking for Model Building Volunteers
SEAOI is always looking for volunteers to build models to use at events promoting awareness of structural engineering among school-age children.
Using hands-on, interactive models is a fun and effective way to present structural engineering concepts and systems to young students, their parents, and the general public that attend these type of events. While allowing for interactive exploration, some models are very simple, others are more complex.
As we expand our library of models, we are looking for volunteers to create new models or recreate and enhance some of the existing models that we have used over the years. These models are the centerpiece of our engagement with the students and a means to spark their imagination and curiosity while providing tidbits of education.
Anyone with an interest in assisting should contact the SEAOI office.