The responses below are from 16 Cambridge City Council candidates, to a questionnaire circulated by the KSA to all 19 candidates in the summer of 2021.
“Cambridge should be a world leader in STEM education. It’s in the city’s veins. No where else do you walk around to local shops named Darwins or Miracle of Science. I think we need to really focus on STEM education in K-12, especially as a bridge to connect the kids growing in Cambridge to the high paying STEM jobs offered here.” – Burhan Azeem
“I believe there is untapped potential in promoting public-private partnerships leveraging our city’s creative resources toward the public good. A crucial subcategory of these includes educational initiatives. Much like existing educational partnerships among Kendall Square life sciences companies and local public schools, I believe the city can initiate similar programs among local startup, software, and green-tech companies, for example.” – Dana Bullister
“You are among the stars in Cambridge and greater Boston. Kendall organizations, as the future job generators and knowledge centers, are the key to Cambridge’s STEAM programs.” – Dennis Carlone, incumbent
“Since not everyone may be familiar with me, it’s worth pointing out I have both an engineering and a computer science background. But the reality is liberal studies, softer sciences, the arts,… all are very meaningful. And I do not want STEM education displacing other aspects of education.” – Robert Eckstut
“Several large biotech and pharmaceutical companies have initiated programs that strive to bring practical STEM training to students in the Cambridge and Somerville schools. I’d like to see Kendall-based companies take this a step further and create paid internship programs that allow youth and young adults in Cambridge to get the experience they need to start careers in life science and technology companies.” – Tonia Hicks
“I would like the City and the Kendall Square Association to work more closely to recruit employers that would be willing to hire high school interns to expose them to opportunities in the fields of research and development, biotech, computer science, and more. These opportunities also need to be paid to ensure that the ability to accept a position is not contingent upon the privilege of being able to work for no compensation.” – Alanna Mallon, incumbent (Vice-Mayor)
“The skills our young people need to make it in the world today are different then even 20 years ago. We need to create internship and job programs that are specifically geared toward lower income students. I am excited about the Foundry but if the young people who gain those internships are all middle class, white kids, then we failed.” – Marc McGovern, incumbent
“I recognize that this may offer opportunities to our students as they enter the workforce, but I also recognize that some of our students may not have the means or desire for advancing their education after high school. Starting STEM at earlier ages may help, but it is also important to give students the opportunity to succeed even if they do not go to college.” – Joe McGuirk
“A key role for Kendall organizations is to push us to not only aim higher, but hit a higher target. Too often, the community does not hold us accountable for our results. WE have a laudatory high school graduation rate, yet we have a mediocre college completion rate for low income students and students of color. Or apprenticeship programs. The Biogen lab is a fantastic resource – as is the maker space at Washington Elms. How are they utilized? Do we need more? I beg Kendall organizations to demand more from the city – I beg you to all step up and help us – we need you and the families need you.” – Patricia Nolan, incumbent
“The STEAM initiative ensures economic and social barriers do not impact students’ ability to get a quality education, helping to prepare a more diverse and representative workforce for our city. I think we can evaluate the efficacy of the Biogen Foundation STAR Initiative, and work to increase participation and cooperation from the Kendall community to fill any gaps in advancing STEM education.” – Sumbul Siddiqui, incumbent (Mayor)
“I do think that, as with so many other City efforts, we could benefit by having one department, or one individual, designated as the coordinator of such efforts so that they can gain a better sense of where the gaps are, what groups of people aren’t being served or engaged with, where does the outreach need to be strengthened, and so forth.” – E. Denise Simmons, incumbent
“I will take action to push private institutions, such as Harvard, MIT, and Cambridge-based corporations to create a start-up fund and competition to advance the initiatives of CRLS’ graduating students. I will also put a concerted focus on expanding year round youth employment opportunities with the City, something Kendall organizations could play an important role in.” – Theodora Skeadas
“Cities such as Somerville have an associated Jobs Linkage to ensure that new commercial development leads to training and STEM education programs to ensure that residents have access to the jobs that will be housed in the new developments. It’s one approach to funding education and training to ensure that residents have access to well-paying jobs.” – Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, incumbent
“The Kendall Square Association can expand on its current school partnerships by working with students, parents and teachers to expose them to all the wonders of the work being done in the KSA community through internships, externships for teachers, work study opportunities and more.” – Paul Toner
“We are lucky to be in a City with such wealth of resources in tech and life sciences. I would like to advance STEM education for families in Cambridge by extending the Mayor’s summer jobs program into a year-round fellowship program where students can work 5 hours a week during the school year at local companies, including tech and life sciences companies.” – Nicola Williams
“Cambridge needs to invest in programs like the Young People Project, Universal Pre-K, After school programs, RSTA and others to ensure access to a full education for ALL children. Affluent families have no trouble accessing STEM education opportunities in and near Cambridge. Kendall organizations can deepen their support for YPP and other local efforts to improve educational outcomes for Black students.” – Quinton Zondervan, incumbent