This past summer, Saginaw high school students had the chance to look at their futures from a whole new perspective – literally. Thanks to a $40,000 Community Improvement Initiative grant awarded annually from the Saginaw Community Foundation, HELP Community Violence Intervention (HELP CVI) launched its 2025 Summer of Innovation: STEM & Innovation Days in July at the Delta College Downtown Saginaw Center.

The two-day camp provided 50–60 students – many from underrepresented and underserved neighborhoods – with hands-on experiences in today’s most exciting technology fields. From flying drones and coding apps to designing video games, participants explored how creativity, innovation, and problem-solving can shape both their futures and their community.

STEM with Purpose

HELP CVI’s approach went beyond career exploration. By combining immersive STEM education with community violence prevention, the Summer of Innovation connected technology to real-world impact. Students:

• Trained to earn a recreational drone pilot’s license and learned how drones can be used in public safety
• Explored app and game design as tools for crime prevention and community building
• Heard from tech professionals and entrepreneurs during career panels and live demonstrations

For Executive Director Kareem Bowen, the mission of HELP CVI is rooted in addressing violence where it happens most. “For those of you who are not aware, community violence intervention is the understanding that the communities where violence exists or permeates most are the communities most equipped to deal with it,” he said. “HELP CVI is a response to the gun violence that has happened in our community.”

Since its founding, HELP CVI has worked directly with youth. 

“We have been able to successfully engage a number of young people who are or have been involved in violence,” Bowen shared. “We target populations from the ages of 12 to about 22.”

Why It Mattered

Technology was at the heart of the Summer of Innovation. Bowen noted how vital these tools are for engaging students: “We’re going to engage our young people with technology – drones, coding, and programming – using it to help serve our communities. Drone technology, in particular, allows us to have a presence without being overbearing and still allow young people to be young people.”

The program also encouraged participants to see their skills as pathways to careers. 

“This allows us to empower them with an entrepreneurial spirit, to show them how they can create a viable business, give back continually, provide for their families, and elevate their willingness,” Bowen said.

Above all, his motivation remains personal. “I’m passionate about this work because I’m passionate about our kids,” Bowen added. “I believe everybody wants to have a community where they can feel safe, raise a family, and enjoy the beautiful legacy that Saginaw provides for all of us. This project allowed us to create innovative ways to engage our young people.”

The program was free to students and included meals, mentorship, and career connections with local employers. By combining cutting-edge STEM learning with a vision for safer neighborhoods, HELP CVI’s Summer of Innovation helped create a pipeline of leaders ready to build brighter futures for themselves and for Saginaw and beyond.

2025 SCF Board of Directors’ Community Improvement Initiative $40,000 grant recipient, HELP CVI.