QUICK FACTS
The underrepresentation of women of color in STEM fields has reached crisis proportions. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that in 2015 only 2.9% of Black women, 3.8% of Latinas, and 5% of Asian women earned STEM degrees in higher education. Higher education scholars have raised a clarion call to the intersections of gender, race, and STEM culture that perpetuate oppressive forces which systematically track girls of color away from science and math throughout their education, limiting their training and options to go into STEM fields as adults (Alfred, Ray, & Johnson, 2019). Gender stereotypes, the male-dominated culture, lack of role models, and math anxiety are key factors that further entrench gender STEM gaps (American Association of University Women, 2019).
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Bishop Arts Theatre Center (BATC) is partnering with the Young STEM Professionals to offer a twelve-week program for girls of color between the ages of 12 and 17 years old. This program provides engaging and fun interactive STEM project-based and hands-on learning. The Girls of Color Discovering STEAM Program will explore their interest of Software Engineering by developing and coding their own story.
This program helps young people with essential skills for life in the 21st century as they learn to:
- Problem-Solve
- Think creatively
- Reason systematically, and
- Work collaboratively
The Objectives/Outcomes
- Overview of Technology, Software Engineering, and Lessons in the Programming of Software.
- Identify a social issue that they are passionate about.
- Develop a solution for the social issue.
- Use their artistic talents to:
- Create a story board
- Program/code the story of the social issue and solution.
Workshops will resume January 12 – April 6, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Bishop Arts Theatre Center.
For more information contact adrian@bishopartstheatre.org.
