Dr. Kofi Nyarko
Principal Investigator · Director, CEAMLS
Our story
The pilot year
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2023
Launch
With support from corporate sponsors and government funding, our journey began in 2023 at a single public library in Baltimore. We launched our first series of interactive AI workshops with a simple mission: make artificial intelligence accessible, engaging, and fun for young learners. The response from students, families, and educators exceeded our expectations, confirming that hands-on, game-based learning could inspire curiosity and build confidence in emerging technologies.
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2024
A Strategic Pivot
As we expanded, technology audits revealed that the greatest barrier to AI education was not interest, it was access to reliable devices and internet connectivity.Rather than scaling back, we redesigned our programs with an offline-first approach. We developed printed learning materials, facilitator guides, and hands-on activities enabling meaningful AI learning experiences without requiring computers or internet access.
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March 2026
Empowering Educators
Recognizing that sustainable impact begins with teachers, we launched our AI Professional Development Program. Through workshops, classroom-ready resources, and practical training, we equipped educators with the knowledge and confidence to introduce AI concepts in their classrooms.
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2026
Scaling Through Open Resources
To expand our reach, we enhanced our educator programs and made our curriculum and teaching resources open source. By providing freely accessible, high-quality materials, we enabled schools, libraries, and community organizations to adopt and adapt our AI education programs.
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2027→
Statewide Expansion & Research
Building on our success in Baltimore, we are expanding our programs to schools across Maryland. At the same time, we are establishing a dedicated research initiative to measure educational outcomes, evaluate best practices, and contribute evidence-based insights that advance equitable AI education.