N.E.R.D.S

Who We Are

Our mission is to inspire the inner nerd to learn for Life through engaging hands-on learning activities, defining a NERD as anyone who desires to learn. Our NERD Life program aims to develop students socially, educationally, and financially through core four principals: Social Development, Leadership Development, Self-Care, and Financial Literacy.

Help Inspire the Inner NERD

Make A Donation

You can donate to help us continue to inspire the inner NERD of the youth in our community using this safe, secure PayPal link. All donations are tax deductable.

Help NERDS Go, Give, & Grow

The Go Give Grow initiative provides our NERDS students with the opportunity to travel, participate in a service learning experience, and reflect on their experience. Aside from having the time of their life and gaining memories that last forever, there are a number of important advantages that students achieve from experiencing travel and service learning opportunities.
The Go Give Grow initiative aims to develop students in the following areas:

Compassion:

Exposure to the problems and perks of other lifestyles helps students see their world in a different way. Having a broad awareness of how other people live and what other cultures prioritize allows a student to think differently about their own lives.

Confidence:

Living and working for any amount of time in a culture that’s different from home can help prepare students for college. Overcoming challenges while traveling will help students grow confidence and prepare them for life’s obstacles.

Better academic performance:

Research has shown that travel increases gains in academic content knowledge. Traveling while young, of course while fun, is also an important investment to enhance a student’s academic performance in the future.

New Friends:

Cultural immersion through travel and service programs can also help break down language barriers and open new channels of lifelong communication. Exploring a new place opens doors to establish new friendships and relationships that never would have been acquired without traveling.

Members

Our Board members

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Tonkia Bridges

Coach Tee

Tonkia Bridges (Coach Tee) is a passionate educator and N.E.R.D.S. founder. With a professional background in research and education, Coach Tee began working extensively in education starting in 2009. Her passion to nurture and develop students continued to grow, leading to the decision to develop an organization addressing the academic and social needs of students in her community. As a result, N.E.R.D.S. was launched in February 2018. Since the very beginning, Coach Tee’s vision for N.E.R.D.S. has been to inspire the inner nerd of young learners through fun and education with hands-on learning experiences that help students become life learners, future leaders, and compassionate caring members of their community. That vision is fulfilled in N.E.R.D.S. NERDLIFE program, providing students with various learning experience beyond the four walls of the classroom. A sports lover, avid reader, and a lover of learning and exploring new things, she is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with degrees in Chemical Engineering 03’, Chemical Technology 06’, and Educational Leadership 08’.

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Sharonda Washington

Product Designer

A survivor of triple negative breast cancer with a whole lot of life to live, Sharonda Washington is a holistic product designer turned engineer with over 15 yrs experience across two Fortune 500 companies. She is passionate about translating consumer needs into technical realities along with storytelling & targeted messaging to create business-changing content. As a holistic designer, she is responsible for implementing strategies that help businesses grow to realize their full potential through detailed strategic execution that increase brand relevance, awareness, and growth potential through trends and new innovation strategies. When she isn’t working, you’ll find Sharonda with her husband, and three children chasing soccer balls, traveling, and living life to the fullest!

NERDLIFE

What is NERDLIFE (Nurturing Educational Readiness & Development through Learning Infused with Fun & Education)

A STEM focused program infused with creativity and literacy to provide a fun nurturing environment to grow and learn. NERDLIFE activities consist of STE(A)M, Book Club, Interactive Media, and academic enrichment.

Target Skills Developed:

Critical Thinking

Problem Solving

Time Management

Public Speaking

Collaboration

NERDLife Core Values

Respect: We include others and embrace our differences.

Commitment: Dedicated to contributing positively to the team.

Teamwork: Teamwork makes the dream work.

Engaged: We actively participate.

Fun: We celebrate what we do.

NERDLIFE Students (recruiting)

Education

STE(A)M Play Time

(CHEM FUN)

NERD for Life(Clubs)

Readiness

Bike Club

Garden Engineers

Book Club

Interactive Media

LEAD NERD Jr.(Programs)

Development

Robotics

3D Printing

STEAM Projects (Neuroscience, Computer Science, Engineering)

Get In Touch

Contact Us

Get in touch with N.E.R.D.S to learn more about our work and how you can get involved.