Young women of color have as much potential to become leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as anyone else, but aren’t given as many opportunities. The Black Girls Do STEM program wants to help them unlock their true STEM potential.
The non-profit plans to enroll 80 U.S. based Black girls in grades 6-9 in its free STEM Saturday Academy for both in-person and virtual. Enrollment is open through March 31.
“After noticing an absence of blacks girls from majority African-American districts of the region not being invited to engage STEM-related events, I wanted to do something for the girls specifically within the public education that I feel are missing out on the opportunity,” Black Girls Do STEM Founder and Managing Director Cynthia Chapple told Fox2 Now.
Currently, black women make up only 2% of STEM professionals, according to the Black Girls Do STEM website. The program’s mission is to “trigger an increased curiosity through deliberate education, access and opportunity of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) within the minds of black girls in every community.”
Girls enrolled in the STEM Saturday Academy will meet every month, participate in workshops, and engage in experiments just like real scientists. The workshops include 28 hours worth of STEM education and mentorship networking where girls will get to mingle with science and engineering professionals, according to Fox2 Now.
“This is about unlocking the potential of black girls,” Chapple told Fox2 Now. “Freeing them up to imagine that they are capable of something that maybe they have not historically dominated”.
Participants who want to socially distance due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to attend virtually. Register here.