By most accounts, the decades-old Youth Exploring Science (YES) program at the St. Louis Science Center successfully guided young people from underserved communities into college and careers in science, technology, engineering and math — or STEM. The program was doing so well that in June, the Burns & McDonnell engineering and architectural firm awarded the Science Center $250,000 to expand YES. But just a few months later, leaders at the Science Center abruptly announced suspension of the program. Neither Science Center leadership nor the Zoo Museum District — which distributes tax revenue to the institution — responded to requests for comment. “I had to explain to families, ‘I want to help you but I no longer work at the Science Center,’” she said.