Our Story

The Pressley Family STEM Foundation was founded in June 2024 by three Black women and one Black man, united by a powerful purpose: to honor the legacy of chemists Kenneth Joseph Pressley and Elbert Elmore Pressley — and to carry their spirit of scientific excellence into the next generation.

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What began as a heartfelt tribute became a thriving movement. The founders recognized a critical gap in STEM access for Black and Brown youth across Philadelphia and its surrounding communities — and decided to do something bold about it.

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Named in Honor Of

Kenneth Joseph Pressley
Chemist & Trailblazer

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Elbert Elmore Pressley
Chemist & Inspiration

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Their legacy lives on in every child who picks up a beaker, writes a line of code, or solves an equation for the first time.