Bayview Hunters Point YMCA's STEAM Event Champions the Next Generation
At the 2nd Annual Whatchamacallit STEAM event, the Bayview Hunters Point YMCA transformed the Southeast Community Center into a place where science came to life through curiosity, creativity, and play.
Community partners, including the 49ers Foundation, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, City College of San Francisco, YBike, and En2Action, invited young people to build, experiment, and explore through hands-on STEAM activities. A youth-led design competition gave participants the opportunity to put their ideas into action, reinforcing a simple but powerful message: innovation belongs to everyone.
For Bayview Hunters Point YMCA Associate Executive Director Drew Kodelja, one moment stood out above all else.
“Kids were having fun being kids. There were no phones, no technology—just young people moving, exploring, creating, and discovering together. It was a safe space designed by youth, for youth, where they had the freedom to be curious and the confidence to try something new.”
That sense of curiosity is exactly what the Bayview Hunters Point YMCA works to champion. Throughout the year, more than 260 young people participate in programs that help them discover new interests, build confidence, and develop the skills to lead in their schools, careers, and communities.
This year also marks a milestone for the Bayview Hunters Point YMCA. For 30 years, it has been a place where young people discover their potential, families find connection, and community comes together.
On Saturday, September 19, the community will celebrate that legacy during Three Decades on the Block, honoring three decades of connection, resilience, and impact while looking ahead to the next generation of Bayview leaders.
Because championing young people isn’t about one event. It’s about creating opportunities, year after year, for them to explore, belong, and realize what’s possible.
