Laney College buzzed with energy on Friday evening as families from across the Bay Area gathered for the Julia Robinson Math Festival, hosted in the Student Center. Instead of worksheets or practice tests, children were met with puzzles, games, and colorful building blocks — sparking curiosity and laughter at every table.
More than 120 participants — from toddlers to college students, teachers, and grandparents — joined in the hands-on activities designed to make math approachable, engaging, and fun. At one table, students snapped plastic shapes together to build three-dimensional figures. One child proudly created a hexagonal box with a lid that opened and closed, transforming math into both play and discovery.
A Community Effort for STEM Access
The festival was made possible through a partnership between the Julia Robinson Math Festival and Laney’s Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) Program. MESA provides tutoring, workshops, and community support to help underserved students thrive in STEM fields.