Devin Jefferson
He/Him
Science Museum of Virginia
Thriving Earth Exchange Fellowship
Devin Jefferson has spent his career connecting nonprofit missions to high-impact initiatives through program management, youth development, and STEM programming in both formal and informal settings. As a native of Richmond, Devin has a deep knowledge of and connection to the Metro Richmond area.
Community Partner
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond (BGCMR) is to empower young people—especially those from historically marginalized communities—to succeed in life.
Through innovative programs and a diverse and dedicated staff, BGCMR provides a safe, educational, and welcoming space for students in their community. BGCMR wants every young person to know and experience the Clubs as an anchor that provides security and guidance as they explore new opportunities without fear.
Project Description
Richmond has some of the highest rates of allergies and asthma—shown to be correlated with long-term exposure to poor air quality—in the United States. However, air quality information is currently based on individual monitors on the urban periphery of the city.
This project engaged members of the local community—youth in particular—in collecting baseline air quality data measurements for Richmond neighborhoods to increase their community’s climate resilience.
The project team created a Science Learning Lab Curriculum that can be scaled for kids and the community at large. Through this collaboration, the teams also developed a sustainable Community Science curriculum that can be implemented by the Boys & Girls Clubs in the future.
The partners are continuing to work together to explore additional ways to gather and share information to help increase their community’s climate resilience.