CHICAGO — STEM From Dance helps female-identifying young people of color find where they belong in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through dance. The nonprofit is holding its first-ever Chicago Pop Up for girls ages to 18 starting at 8 a.m. Feb. 1.
“Dance creates a warm, joyful atmosphere that builds sisterhood, fosters connections, and lowers doubt, and makes for a STEM environment that is encouraging and inviting,” organizers write. “Combining dance with tech transforms STEM careers from unthinkable to within reach.”
Research shows that youth of color have skills well-suited to careers in science, technology, engineering and math, but are less exposed to careers in those fields than students in general, writes St. Louis Public Radio.
“When we think about the basic skills of technology, Black students have them,” Cynthia Chapple, founder of Black Girls Do STEM, told the station. “We are just simply not highlighting that for them well enough … and then telling them, ‘Hey, you can go and do this as a career full-time and make this amount of money.’”
Overall, though Black Americans account for about 14 percent of the general population, they accounted for only 9 percent of STEM workers in 2021 — barely much greater than the 7 percent of a decade earlier, says the National Science Foundation.
Black females receive even less exposure to STEM careers than Black males. Overall, people who are from inner cities and rural areas also receive less exposure to science related careers.
STEM From Dance aims to counter these trends by leveraging the historical importance of dance to Black culture, in order to offer young Black females a glimpse at a possible STEM career in their future.
The day’s events include an AI music lab, where youth can use artificial intelligence to create digital soundscapes; a lab focusing on physics nad motion; another that highlights Afrobeats and hoop dancing; and a “showcase” where participants can blend technology and movement for a creative performance.
This event is free and offers Black and Brown girls a chance to explore movement while also discovering new pathways and finding a supportive community. It takes place at Register here.
