CAPA Awarded $1.046 Million in Federal Funding for STEM Forward Project
The Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County (CAPA) is pleased to announce that its STEM Forward project has been awarded $1,046,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 federal Community Project Funding, following passage of the federal spending bill by Congress and its signing into law.
This significant investment was secured with the strong support of Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth, Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Senator Angela Alsobrooks, and will be administered by NASA.
STEM Forward is a community-based initiative designed to expand equitable access to STEM education and enrichment for youth in Howard County, with a focus on underrepresented and underserved communities. The project builds upon the success of CAPA’s TechGirls program and will enable CAPA to expand programming, strengthen school partnerships, and broaden the impact of STEM learning for local students and families.
“We are deeply grateful for the leadership and advocacy of our federal partners and for their confidence in our community-driven work,” said Lan Deng, Executive Director of CAPA. “This funding represents a meaningful investment in our youth and in the future of our community.”
“When we spark an interest in STEM from an early age, we open new doors of opportunity for Maryland students to thrive in school and in their future careers. That’s why we fought to deliver over $1 million in direct federal funding to support the Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County’s efforts to provide STEM programming to underrepresented youth here and empower more young Marylanders along their academic journeys,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee.
“Expanding equitable access to STEM for young people across Maryland will create real pathways for success and wealth for our young people while also fueling our economy and keeping Maryland at the forefront of innovation, science, and technology. I am thrilled to have worked to secure over $1 million for the Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County and look forward to seeing how this federal investment transforms the lives of young people in Howard County,” said Senator Alsobrooks.
“From civic engagement opportunities to educational resources, the Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County has made a tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of families for over a decade,” said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. “I’m proud to join Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks in delivering over $1 million for CAPA’s STEM Forward initiative to connect young students to educational opportunities in coding, science, robotics, and engineering. It’s through programs like these that we can prepare our young students for 21st-century opportunities and empower the next generation of leaders.”
“We are especially thankful to our congressional partners for their support and commitment to investing in our youth and their future in STEM,” said Jean Xu, Founding President of CAPA. “What began as a small, grassroots effort has grown into a community-driven movement. This support affirms our long-standing belief that every child deserves early, inspiring, and equitable educational opportunities.”
CAPA looks forward to working closely with its congressional partners to share the impact of this project and celebrate this milestone with families, students, and community partners in the months ahead.
