CFI Robotics NFP Receives JCCC Foundation Grant to Launch Dual Language STEAM Night Program

CFI Robotics NFP (Center for Future Innovators) is proud to announce that it has received a 2025 Student Development and Achievement Grant from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago (JCCC) Foundation. The award was presented during the 35th Annual Presentation of Grants Ceremony held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago.

The grant will support the launch of Dual Language STEAM Night: Building Multicultural Communities Piece by Piece, a free bilingual robotics and family learning program beginning in January 2026. Each session will introduce children ages 5 to 8 and their families to hands-on LEGO Robotics projects taught in English and a partner language. The first series will feature Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese, with plans to expand to additional languages in the future. The schedule for the initial Dual Language STEAM Nights will be released in November.

“We are deeply honored to receive this grant from the JCCC Foundation,” said Brian Meadows, Executive Director and Co-Founder of CFI Robotics NFP. “Their support allows us to bring families together through creativity, language, and technology, showing that innovation and cultural understanding can grow hand in hand.”

“When students build and code together across languages, they learn that innovation has no boundaries,” said Tianyao Timothy He, Co-Founder, Board Member, and Head Robotics Coach at CFI Robotics NFP. “Our Dual-Language STEAM Night is more than a robotics class, it’s an opportunity for young learners to connect cultures through teamwork and imagination.”

“This program opens doors for families to explore robotics while embracing the richness of their own languages and traditions,” said Ren Li, Board Chair and Co-Founder of CFI Robotics NFP. “When parents and children learn side by side in a bilingual setting, they don’t just build robots, they build understanding and stronger communities.”

CFI Robotics NFP extends its sincere gratitude to the JCCC Foundation for supporting innovative programs that connect families through robotics, language, and cultural learning.

Distinguished guests at the ceremony included Masashi Mizobuchi, Consul General of Japan in Chicago; Josie Yanguas, Director of the Illinois Resource Center; and Kimako Patterson, Chief of Staff for the Illinois State Board of Education. The event also recognized the 2025 JCCC Foundation Board of Directors, led by President Ryohei Tsuji, and concluded with closing remarks by Koichiro Fujishima, President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago.

The JCCC Foundation’s Student Development and Achievement Grant Program supports innovative educational projects that foster student growth, cultural understanding, and collaboration among schools and nonprofit organizations. CFI’s Dual-Language STEAM Night initiative fully embodies these values, blending robotics, language learning, family heritage engagement, and a global vision within a welcoming, hands-on environment that builds bridges across communities.

Dual Language STEAM Night Program Overview

Dual Language STEAM Night: Building Multicultural Communities Piece by Piece is a bilingual robotics program designed to bring children and parents together through the power of STEM learning. The program focuses on LEGO Robotics education, where students and their families work side by side to design, build, and program robots while exploring concepts in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.

Each session encourages families to engage with advanced robotics terminology and project-based language in both English and a partner language. By learning and using technical vocabulary from both languages, parents and children are able to discuss their projects in greater depth, improving communication and mutual understanding at home and in the classroom.

Sessions are led by bilingual educators and supported by trained student volunteers, community partners, and cultural organizations. All materials are provided free of charge to families. The program’s goal is to strengthen STEM learning, language development, and family connection through collaborative robotics. Future sessions are expected to expand into additional languages and partner locations as community participation continues to grow.