The district is taking proactive steps to promote Black and Indigenous excellence in STEM fields through two upcoming workshops tailored for Black and Indigenous students.
Firstly, on May 13, the Ethọ́s Lab, a non-profit innovation academy, will host the Uplifting Black Excellence: STEM learning summit. Aimed at Black students in Grades 8-10, the summit will feature inspiring narratives of scientific achievements by Black leaders, fostering motivation and empowerment among participants.
Subsequently, on May 16, Grade 8-10 Indigenous students will engage in a workshop organized by UBC’s InSTEM program. This session will focus on fostering creativity and design by integrating both western and Indigenous perspectives, aiming to instill a sense of joy and curiosity in learning.
JB Mahli, Director of Instruction with the district’s Racial Equity department, highlighted the importance of providing diverse experiences for students, particularly Black and Indigenous youth, to recognize the interconnectedness of different worldviews within STEM fields. The goal is to enable students to envision themselves as professionals in various domains, including STEM.
The workshop on Black excellence stemmed from student interest in interactive STEM learning and community-building across schools. Through partnerships like the one with the Ethọ́s Lab, students will engage in hands-on engineering challenges inspired by past Black professionals’ accomplishments, fostering a sense of achievement and potential career pathways.
Similarly, the Indigenous excellence workshop aims to cultivate a joy for learning while dispelling stereotypes and biases about Indigenous student success. Collaborating with InSTEM provides Indigenous youth with role models and mentors from UBC, fostering a supportive environment for their educational journey.
The workshops will take place at the Resource Education Centre, located at 14033 92nd Ave., with the Uplifting Black Excellence session on May 13 and the Uplifting Indigenous Excellence session on May 16, both running from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.