MINDDRIVE

MINDDRIVE's mission is to explore, inspire, and expand possibilities through equitable access to support, education, collaboration, and mentoring so that all students recognize, believe in, and pursue their greatest potential.

What started as a class in creativity taught by Steve Rees at DeLaSalle Education Center quickly developed into an independent not-for-profit that MINDDRIVE is today.

Founded in 2010, MINDDRIVE is a project-based experiential learning program that serves students from around the Kansas City Metro. They currently serve 250 middle and high school students and are partnered with seven school districts.

Mentoring is a critical component of their after-school programs. They teach problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration through math, science, technology, innovation, and communication, giving our students deep-level experience with real-world applications.

MINDDRIVE offers after-school programs every night of the week: Welding Art Studio, NRL-Battlebots, Electric Vehicle Design Studio, Drone FPV Racing, and eSports.

Welding Art Students learn to weld by creating junk art from scrap metal and displaying their sculptures in an Art Gallery at the end of the school year.
Students on their Battlebots teams build and fight 15lb Battlebots in the NRL BotsKC competition. EV Design students build electric race cars for competition, restore classic cars, convert them electric, and build prototype electric vehicles.

Drone FPV racing involves learning to build and race drones using a simulator, micro racing drones (tiny whoops), and 3-5 inch racing quads.
eSports is a team-based program where students learn adaptive problem-solving skills and compete with other schools.

MINDDRIVE has partnered with local schools to provide school-sponsored Engineering and Metal Fabrication programs. The Engineering Design Studio (EDS) program forms an Electrathon racing team where they design and build a race car for competition in the Electrathon. EDS students also participate in the classic car conversion restomods.

They are working to restore and convert a 69 Chevelle SS using a Tesla Model S system and a 1973 Ford Bronco. The EDS program is a 4-year pathway for high-school students where students can earn a combination of elective and core credits and Industry Recognized Credentials (IRCs). 
MINDDRIVE also offers a turn-key Drone FPV racing program onsite for high schools in KC.

They have two sites. Currently, their main campus is at 2615 Holmes, and they operate another site out of the Ignition Lab at Operation Breakthrough through a partnership partially funded by Travis Kelce's 87 & Running Foundation.

Visit the MINDDRIVE website to learn more, become a mentor/student, or donate.

Website: www.minddrive.org