St. Petersburg Housing Authority Empowering Youth with Robotics Event
New Initiative Introduces Robotics to SPHA Youth
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (JANUARY 8, 2026) - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is organizing an event to allow SPHA youth to explore their creativity and engineering skills by building their own robot.
Build-A-Bot Workshop:
- Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
- Time: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
- Location: President Barack Obama Main Library (3745 9th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713)
The Build-A-Bot Workshop event is part of SPHA's Gulf Futures 3D initiative, a grant-funded STEM program focused on building scientific and environmental literacy among youth grades K-8 in SPHA communities. The program places special emphasis on local issues like long-term health, environmental sustainability, and community resilience in Gulf Coast regions.
The mission of SPHA's Gulf Futures 3D initiative is to empower students through a dynamic blend of classroom learning and place-based experiences that ignite curiosity and creativity with emerging 3D technologies. By engaging learners in hands-on activities-such as 3D printing, scanning, CAD design, and virtual reality exploration-SPHA is helping students discover both the excitement and real-world potential of these tools.
The initiative is being paid for with a $740,860 grant from the Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to launch the Gulf Futures 3D project. The initiative has begun introducing cutting-edge 3D technology and immersive learning experiences to youth living in SPHA communities, equipping them with the tools and skills to become innovators and problem-solvers in their own neighborhoods.
The Gulf Futures 3D initiative is providing a transformative way to engage youth in scientific exploration. Equipped with 3D printers, virtual reality goggles, and 3D scanners, participants will use 3D technology to address real-world socio-environmental challenges in the Gulf region. The program will prepare youth for 21st-century careers while empowering them to design sustainable solutions for their communities.
"The Gulf Futures 3D project reflects SPHA's commitment to empowering the next generation through innovation, education, and community engagement," said Michael Lundy, SPHA President and CEO. "We're excited about the opportunities this initiative is bringing to our SPHA youth."
"Our Build-A-Bot Workshop event gives our youth a chance to see themselves as future engineers," said Kiara Lovett, SPHA's Director of Social Services. "By connecting creativity with technology, we're helping them build confidence, explore new career paths, and realize that their ideas can truly make a difference in their community."
Projects for the Gulf Futures 3D initiative are being guided by SPHA's partners, including The Sanderlin Center, SelfCAD, St. Petersburg College (SPC), and Tampa Bay Watch. Youth are applying STEM skills to community-driven projects, pinpointing local environmental challenges and designing innovative 3D solutions. Projects will take place in local parks, beaches, and waterways, strengthening connections to place while building technical expertise. Participants will analyze environmental data, design sustainable solutions, and visualize complex systems to address key Gulf Coast challenges.
Funded through the Gulf Research Program's Place-Based Education initiative, Gulf Futures 3D is one of several projects across the Gulf region designed to foster environmental awareness, technical proficiency, and community-based learning for K-8 students. "This suite of projects not only strengthens students' scientific and environmental literacy but also equips them with the technical skills, creativity, and leadership needed to innovate solutions for their communities," said Karena Mothershed, Director of GRP's Board on Gulf Education and Engagement. "By grounding learning in the unique environments of the Gulf region, these projects inspire students to see themselves as problem-solvers and stewards of their future."
The National Academies' Gulf Research Program (GRP) is an independent, science-based program founded in 2013 as part of legal settlements with the companies involved in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The GRP's mission is to develop, translate, and apply science to enhance the safety of offshore energy, the environment, and the well-being of the people of the Gulf region for generations to come. It supports innovative science, guides data design and monitoring, and builds and sustains networks to generate long-term benefits for the Gulf region and the nation.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine.
SPHA is the leading affordable housing provider in the city of St. Petersburg, serving more than 4,000 low-income households. SPHA's mission is to provide safe, sanitary, accessible, decent, and affordable housing to eligible citizens of the city of St. Petersburg, while enhancing and promoting resident self-sufficiency.
For more information about the Build-A-Bot Workshop event, contact: [email protected]
Exterior of the President Barack Obama Main Library in St. Petersburg, Florida.
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ABOUT THE ST. PETERSBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY (SPHA):
An independent quasi-governmental entity and a political subdivision of the State of Florida, operating under Chapter 421 Florida Statutes, SPHA is the local administrative agency for housing assistance programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). SPHA offers a variety of programs and services that provide affordable rental housing to low-income families, seniors, veterans, and the disabled in the greater St. Petersburg region. For more information, visit www.stpeteha.org.
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