It has been reported that the STEM sector faces a significant equity problem. The field, predominantly white and male, lacks diversity, with 66.02 percent of women in STEM being white and only 14.58 percent, according to 2019 data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
To address this issue, Black Girls Do Stem and LitShop have reportedly teamed up to support Black girls in the St. Louis area in exploring STEM careers through specialized programming and professional development resources.
Black Girls Do Stem stated that since its inception in 2019, it has served over 250 girls, with 121 currently participating in their Signature STEM Saturday Academy program. The organization highlighted that through their hands-on STEM learning tailored to specific career paths, mentoring from Black women in STEM, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) content, 100% of their girls have discovered new career fields, shown increased interest in STEM careers, and rated their overall engagement and sense of belonging at 4.5 out of 5.
It was previously reported that Black girls exhibit a strong interest in STEM activities and careers despite reports suggesting otherwise. LitShop and Black Girls Do Stem aim to nurture this interest.
Kelli Best-Oliver, Founder of LitShop, mentioned that LitShop engaged 250 girls and gender-expansive youth in hands-on workshops and events in 2023 and is planning its largest summer program in 2024. Over 100 youth will reportedly gain exposure to construction careers, architecture, and entrepreneurship while developing confidence, community, and leadership skills through reading, writing, building, and making.
