In late 2022 and early 2023, GM provided nearly 8,000 free special GM editions of the children’s book CeCe Loves Science and Adventure, written by Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, to public elementary school students across the country. GM employees hand-delivered many of these books to students in five different communities in which we operate. The story follows CeCe and her friends as they use science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to solve problems and earn their camping pin.
This opportunity was made possible through a GM grant provided to First Book, a nonprofit working to ensure educational equity for children living in low-income communities by providing books, educational resources and personal care items so that kids have what they need to learn and thrive. Our goal in collaborating with nonprofits like First Book is to help ensure that students from all backgrounds see themselves reflected in STEM-based children’s books and resources, helping to build their confidence as they develop lifelong reading skills and explore their natural STEM curiosities.
Employees volunteer in their communities to create special moments
Between the pandemic and virtual schooling, the past several years have taken a toll on many students’ learning, and STEM subjects are not immune to the impact. It is challenging to identify the most successful approach to increasing interest in STEM disciplines, but one way many of us developed deep interest in subjects in school was through reading. Books are a tool to help us explore, imagine and take us to new places. To create personal moments for students in the communities where GM operates, employees coordinated with local elementary schools to create experiences that best met the needs of the students. Books are being distributed to students in Detroit and Flint, Michigan; Arlington, Texas; Rochester, New York and Bowling Green, Kentucky by employee volunteers.
Highlighting our communities
During the deliveries, our employee volunteers read a few pages of the book, shared stories about their careers and STEM experience, and engaged in a Q&A with students and teachers.
A full auditorium of elementary school children clapping, listening to 6 GM employees at the front of the room read a story
In Arlington five employees visited Blanton Elementary and met with nearly 200 students from first grade through third grade in the school auditorium.
“It was heartwarming to see the excitement of the children at Blanton Elementary,” said Ximena Cifuentes, a quality engineer at Arlington Assembly. “I’m very excited to see the new generations use STEM to make a positive impact in the world!”
Team members in Flint volunteered to deliver books to four different elementary schools within the community — Brownell STEM Academy, Durant-Tuuri-Mott Elementary, Freeman Elementary and Pierce Elementary.
“It was an extraordinary opportunity for our team to give back to our community,” said Shelia Conner, engineering group and business systems manager at the North American Engineering and Tooling Center in Flint. “We had a lot of fun reading to many classrooms throughout the school, and the children absolutely loved getting their own book to take home.”
In Detroit, volunteers delivered nearly 4,000 books to more than 80 schools so that every second-grade student in the Detroit Public Schools Community District received a book.
GM works to bring culturally responsive programs to youth across the country who may not otherwise have access to robust STEM learning opportunities. These amazing experiences would not be possible without the time and dedication of our employees. They have helped to create meaningful, personal moments for students that will help inspire them as they continue their academic journeys.
We are honored to have our efforts with First Book nominated for the “Best Education Initiative” Halo Award. The Halo Awards is an annual recognition of outstanding corporate social impact initiatives.