You live. You learn. You give back.
That’s the heartbeat of the AARP Purpose Prize® and the reason we set out to tell the story of Dr. Calvin Mackie, a New Orleans engineer, educator, and visionary who turned a garage experiment with his son into a national movement.
Calvin founded STEM NOLA to close the opportunity gap for Black and low-income students in science, technology, engineering, and math, and create a “cradle to career pipeline” for underprivileged youth. What began with weekend experiments for his son has grown into a STEM ecosystem that has reached over 125,000 children across 5,100 schools nationwide.
The Purpose Prize honors changemakers like Calvin—people over 50 who use the wisdom they’ve earned to change the world around them. Our objective was to do more than showcase his work. We wanted to show how one man’s belief in possibility is reshaping futures, redefining access, and rebuilding confidence in communities that have long been overlooked.
This story proves what we know to be true: Purpose doesn’t fade with age—it flourishes. And when that purpose is honored and amplified, it doesn’t just change lives. It changes trajectories.
Dr. Calvin Mackie doesn’t just teach STEM. He teaches belief. That made our job inspiring—and urgent.
We filmed over two days in New Orleans, beginning with a sit-down interview that captured Calvin’s passion, purpose, and personal journey. On day two, we followed him into his office and into the field—where the real magic happens. We watched him interact one-on-one with students and student leaders, witnessing firsthand the power of representation, mentorship, and hands-on learning.
Our strategy was simple: follow the spark.
We captured Calvin in action—guiding experiments, encouraging questions, and celebrating breakthroughs. We filmed students lighting up as they built robots, learned about levee systems, and saw themselves reflected in the professionals mentoring them. We saw the impact of a leader who doesn’t just talk about equity—he builds it.
Getting Calvin to talk about himself wasn’t easy. He’s focused on the kids. But his students had no trouble telling us what he means to them.
One parent shared: ” My son said to me ‘Dad, when I grow up, I want to be an aeronautical engineer.’ STEM NOLA has given him the confidence, skills, and excitement to actually do it. It has allowed him to explore, wonder, ask questions. Don’t just accept something for what it is. Find out why it is.”
And Calvin? He told us the truth. “ I decided to take it out of my garage into something larger was because I saw what it was doing for the kids. I saw the confidence it was building. I saw the engagement it was building. I saw the words that they were using with each other. So I realized this is what is needed. Of this worked for these kids, what would it do for other kids?”
The AARP Purpose Prize didn’t just hand Calvin a check. It gave him momentum. A platform. A push. The $50,000 prize helped expand STEM NOLA’s reach, deepen its programming, and amplify its message: that brilliance lives in every zip code.
STEM NOLA isn’t just about science. It’s about showing up for kids who’ve been told they don’t fit in. And Calvin? He’s the kind of leader AARP was built to celebrate. He doesn’t just teach purpose. He ignites it.
With AARP’s backing, Dr. Calvin Mackie received $50,000 to help STEM NOLA expand its reach and deepen its impact. Today, the organization has served over 125,000 children across 5,100 schools, offering hands-on STEM education, mentorship, and a vision of what’s possible.
The video became a tool for transformation. It rolled out across AARP.org, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and internal platforms. It traveled to donor meetings, school board presentations, and community events. It helped secure new partners. New believers. New momentum.
This wasn’t just a win for Calvin. It was a win for every person over 50 who’s been told their best years are behind them. AARP flipped that script. This story says otherwise.
Because purpose doesn’t end at 50. With the right support, it multiplies.
