TECHBRIDGE GIRLS - STEM EQUITY LEARNING COMMUNITY - FALL 2023
The 2-hour, virtual STEM Equity Learning Community sessions are scheduled from August to December on the second Thursday of each month at 10 am Pacific | 11 am Mountain | 12 pm Central | 1 pm Eastern.
Techbridge Girls has re-engineered how STEM Education is taught for 20+ years. Our curriculum and training help educators challenge gender, racial, and class bias in STEM fields and culture to help girls* see their unique STEM lineage, community, interests, and path to success. Research tells us that responsive learning environments can make all the difference in girls’ sustained interest in STEM. We also know that OST program managers, directors, and site directors play a critical role in the STEM trajectory for girls because they ensure their afterschool programs’ classrooms are equitable, gender and culturally responsive experiences. The STEM Equity Learning Community is designed to equip OST program managers, administrators, and site directors so that more equitable learning spaces are available for Black, Indigenous, and Latina girls (and gender-expensive youth).
Through the STEM Equity Learning Community, participants will:
Explore how to use asset-based frameworks and practices to combat inequities in OST STEM.
Experience culturally relevant and gender-responsive strategies that increase STEM belonging and persistence.
Deconstruct identity and bias, equipping participants to engage staff in the reflection and action required to facilitate equitable STEM programming.
Develop STEM equity action steps for their OST program.
Become part of a unique national community of OST leaders who are growing the number of equitable STEM learning spaces.
Receive $1000 stipend for their participation in the learning community, evaluation, and research.
STEM EQUITY LEARNING COMMUNITY TIMELINE
Session 1 – Welcome & Onboarding + What is equity in STEM? – August 10 In this session, participants will experience a warm welcome and be introduced to their colleagues from across the nation. After a brief overview of expectations and timelines, participants will discuss the Million Girls Moonshot Equity and Inclusion Framework and connect with their Home Group for the first time to explore equity in STEM. Home Groups will meet each session to dig into STEM identity and belonging and develop as equity advocates.
Session 2 – Educational Equity & STEM – September 14 It is critical for equity educators to understand the context and history they are working in. In this session, participants will explore the histories that make up the struggle for educational equity and discuss their own motivations for engaging in this important work. They will close the session with an activity that connects educational equity to STEM equity and explore how reshaping the narrative of STEM can have a positive impact on what BIPOC youth can dream, be, and achieve in STEM.
Session 3 – Building STEM identities through Belonging & practice mindset – October 12 Often, we think about numbers and statistics when we focus on equity. While important, data does not necessarily lead to concrete strategies to implement in programming, while centering belonging does. In this session, participants will explore the concepts of identity and belonging and learn how focusing on belonging increases STEM equity and persistence in OST programming.
Session 4 – Beyond Bias: Expanding How We Understand Bias– November 9 Equity educators need to uncover their own biases as well as understand how systems inform and enforce them. In this session, participants will explore how biases connect with systemic inequities and bring their own knowledge and experience to develop strategies to identify and check biases. Participants will determine how to create a village of support to ensure belonging, equity, and justice for all youth in STEM OST settings.
Session 5 – Best practices in delivering STEM programming – December 14 In this culminating session, participants will synthesize their learnings from the previous sessions, moving ideas to action by committing to STEM equity action steps. The Community of Practice will close with opportunities to network and stay connected so that participants can continue supporting each other to continue their STEM equity journeys.
Questions? Reach out to cherrera@techbridgegirls.org or program-managers@techbridgegirls.org with any questions.