Cultivating a Culture of Belonging for Latinx Youth in STEM

As we kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, it is a time to celebrate the Latinx leaders who have made extraordinary contributions in STEM — but also time to rededicate ourselves to dismantling barriers that many Latinx youth continue to face.?

We’ve actually gone backwards in representation of Latinx STEM professionals in the past 20 years, despite growing demand for these jobs in the US. These disparities start early, with Latinx youth much less likely to take STEM classes or engage in STEM-focused enrichment programs. As Dr Ebony O. McGee has powerfully described, we have more than a leaky pipeline — the pipes are broken and we need a system fix.

Responding to this call to action, KID Museum and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation are teaming up to give teachers access to a new approach to learning, designed to boost Latinx student engagement in computer science and STEM. With support from the Infosys Foundation USA , the new Latinx Educator Maker Lab will support educators who serve Latinx students in grades K-8, by bringing culturally responsive, maker learning to their classrooms — equipping both teachers and students with the skills and confidence to pursue computer science and STEM, while cultivating a culture of belonging.?

Maker education has a proven impact on STEM engagement, developing both the technical and social emotional skills that students can harness throughout school and bring into a workforce that desperately awaits more talent.

A total of 100 teachers from three cities (Phoenix, Dallas, and Los Angeles) will participate in the inaugural program over the course of this school year, kicking off during Hispanic Heritage Month. Teachers will learn how to introduce students to coding and engineering through creative, project-based, maker learning that allows students to bring their ideas to life. For example, students will use coding platforms to explore themes of social justice, STEM identity, and community building. With an emphasis on culturally relevant curriculum and engaging diverse learners, students will be able to connect their own lived experiences with the STEM content they are learning.?

In addition to intensive training to bring maker-centered learning into their classrooms, the cohort of educators will participate in a learning collaborative to share culturally responsive resources and ideas, and provide support throughout the year. In the process, the program will foster ongoing collaboration and innovation in classrooms serving Latinx students — building a powerful network of champion teachers and opening up pathways to a more inclusive future.?

Cesar Chavez once said, “Real education should consist of drawing the best out of our students.” We agree. The Latinx Educator Maker Lab will provide our teachers with new approaches, resources, and community, so that they will be able to do just that.

Co-authored by:

Antonio Tijerino , Hispanic Heritage Foundation

Katherine E. Maloney , Infosys Foundation USA

Cara Lesser , KID Museum

Please spread the word about this professional development opportunity to educators in our three workshop cities (Phoenix, Dallas, and Los Angeles).