Ribbon Cutting Marks New Era in STEAM Education

With one snip of the scissors, The Dan & Cassidy IDEA Space KC is officially open and a new era of STEAM learning is underway for students across Kansas City.

IDEA Space and the Leawood Chamber of Commerce welcomed nearly 100 guests on Tuesday, Sept. 13, to celebrate the completion and opening of Kansas City's Center for Innovation, Discovery, Entrepreneurship and Arts.

Shane Foster, President of the Barstow Schools, Leawood Mayor Peggy Dunn, Eric Floyd, Leawood Chamber Executive Board Member and Vice President of JE Dunn, and IDEA Space Director Kellye Crockett cut the ribbon and invited guests to tour the center.

IDEA Space has four main areas: Makerspace, Technology Lab, Fabrication Workshop and Incubation Hub. Each is equipped with cutting edge tools and technology where students learn to invent, iterate, solve problems and to develop real-life products and solutions. It is a place where children work alongside each other to learn crucial 21st century skills, regardless of their neighborhood, school district, gender or socioeconomic background. The disciplines are pipelines into four workforce development areas: skilled trades, engineering, advanced manufacturing and computer science.

Fall after school courses in computer science, arts, engineering and skilled trades begin the week of Sept. 19. Registration is underway, with more courses and October start dates coming soon.