SEM Link’s 2025-26 fiscal year is a milestone year: the celebration of our 20th anniversary. Founded by Ms. Tokiwa T. Smith, a chemical engineer, SEM Link was built on the premise that in order to encourage youth to pursue STEM careers, they must have the opportunity to meet and interact with the STEM community, hence the name SEM Link.

The organization was incorporated in 2005 as a Georgia nonprofit, and a few months later, in the 2005-06 academic year, we began our programming at a middle school in Atlanta. Over the years, we have partnered with schools and community organizations, participated in community events, and hosted our own events connecting youth with the STEM community to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. Across two decades, we have engaged tens of thousands of youth across three urban areas, including Atlanta, the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia), and the San Francisco Bay Area, through hands-on STEM activities, STEM career exploration, and support for young STEM researchers.

SEM Link advances its work through a two-program hybrid model, Community STEM and the Experimental Design Program, that increases K-12 students’ awareness of STEM careers and encourages participation in STEM research through digital learning and hands-on STEM activities in Metro Atlanta. Since our founding, we have engaged over 15,000 youth and their families and created a space for over 400 STEM professionals to share their passion and expertise, inspiring the next generation by helping them build confidence in their ability to read, write, talk, and do STEM.

As we celebrate 20 years of impact, we invite you to be a part of our next chapter. In honor of this milestone, we encourage you to make a gift in multiples of $20, whether that is $20, $40, $100, or whatever you feel inspired to give. Every dollar invested in SEM Link helps us continue this important work to “unveil potential through exposure”, ensuring that the next generation of STEM professionals has every opportunity to meet, learn from, and be inspired by the STEM community.

$20K for 20 Years

Team Members