Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity in Detroit partners with Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) for STEM Day Program
Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) has partnered with Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) to expose students to STEM through pop-up workshops and STEM academies. With Detroit recently launched as a new CARE community, resources will primarily be focused on the North End and North Corktown neighborhoods.
"Students from marginalized communities are disproportionately excluded from STEM education. Introducing them to STEM at an earlier age not only helps them foster problem-solving, critical thinking and decision making skills, but also prepares them for the jobs of now and the future, " says Nkechi Mbanu, Detroit CARE City Leader. "I'm excited that, under team leader Yolanda Durfield, the CARE Detroit partnership with DAPCEP is shaping up to be a hallmark program under our city strategy. Children within the CARE Detroit neighborhoods of North End and North Corktown will gain additional exposure to STEM, thanks to our support of DAPCEP.
Since 1976, DAPCEP has served as an educational, non-profit organization that provides high-quality and standards-aligned science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming to over 11,000 youth throughout Southeast Michigan and Illinois. DAPCEP ensures that students of color with the talent, intelligence, and capacity to excel in STEM fields receive the training and preparation required to develop their skills and build confidence.
To kick off the partnership, Cummins participated in DAPCEP's annual STEM Day program in May. The program attracted 17 metropolitan Detroit schools, with over 1,000 middle and high school students participating, and featured 14 STEM topics. Of 14 participating corporate partners, Cummins helped facilitate three exciting hands-on projects: A 2-cylinder engine Lego build, The World of Engineering: Solving Technical Challenges with Math and Science, and the Earthquake Engineering Challenge. In addition to the learning and fun, students were provided Cummins branded giveaways to take home.
STEM Day also provided an opportunity for 22 Michigan-based Cummins employees to participate with family members for the event. Representing Accelera by Cummins, CSSNA, Cummins-Meritor, and CARE Detroit, employees volunteered as workshop facilitators and student management leaders. Cummins had the most significant representation and demonstrated an excellent example of integration and collaboration.
"Meritor started our partnership with DAPCEP in 2022, supporting STEM Day at Bates Academy in Detroit," said Yolanda Durfield, Senior Program Manager - Accelera by Cummins. "As a 15+ year volunteer, I am absolutely thrilled to continue this partnership through CARE Detroit, impacting over 1000 students with the amazing talent of Cummins associates. I am confident our engagement will create a phenomenal pipeline for the future of STEM careers."
Cummins Inc., a global power solutions leader, comprises five business segments - Components, Engine, Distribution, Power Systems and Accelera by Cummins - supported by our global manufacturing and extensive service and support network, skilled workforce and vast technological expertise. Cummins is committed to its Destination Zero strategy, which is grounded in the company's commitment to sustainability and helping its customers successfully navigate the energy transition with its broad portfolio of products. The products range from advanced diesel, natural gas, electric and hybrid powertrains and powertrain-related components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, valvetrain technologies, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, axles, drivelines, brakes, suspension systems, electric power generation systems, batteries, electrified power systems, hydrogen production technologies and fuel cell products. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (U.S.), since its founding in 1919, Cummins employs approximately 75,500 people committed to powering a more prosperous world through three global corporate responsibility priorities critical to healthy communities: education, environment and equality of opportunity. Cummins serves its customers online, through a network of company-owned and independent distributor locations, and through thousands of dealer locations worldwide and earned about $735 million on sales of $34.1 billion in 2023.
