Girls STEM Institute: Accepting Responsibility Through a Loving and Holistic Approach

• In Event: Promoting Equity Through Effective Informal STEM Learning Environments

Abstract

…Their love was evident each and every day. I am totally convinced that, through her participation in Girls STEM Institute, Reese will not only continue to develop her STEM interest but will also be aided in her development into a confident, resilient, self-determined, goal-oriented young woman. Thank you, GSI! ~ Ms. Coleman, Scholar’s Caregiver

In this paper, I will provide an overview of Girls STEM Institute (GSI) and discuss the ways GSI has impacted the lives of program scholars and their families through a loving and holistic approach. Girls STEM Institute is a co-curricular informal STEM learning program designed to provide holistic learning opportunities for girls and young women of color ages 9-18 who are historically marginalized in STEM fields. GSI provides an affirming system of support for girls of color focused on STEM identity and overall wellness and well-being (Morton & Smith-Mutegi, 2018) and seeks to rehumanize their STEM learning experiences. The GSI environment serves as a space for building confidence and self-efficacy as well as beliefs about the importance of mathematics and other STEM concepts (Morton & Smith-Muetgi, in press).

The goals of GSI are to:
1. engage girls of color in culturally grounded, inquiry-based STEM curricula through hands-on and minds-on experiences;
2. instill girls of color with the interest and confidence to pursue math or other STEM careers and engage in STEM-related extracurricular activities while providing opportunities to interact with STEM professionals;
3. empower girls of color to understand how STEM-related concepts can be used to address inequities in their personal lives and community;
4. increase girls of color STEM content knowledge;
5. provide college and career readiness experiences;
6. promote the intellectual, social, physical, emotional and financial wellness of participants;
7. build authentic relationships/partnerships with parents/caregivers and community stakeholders.
GSI also serve as counter space, a community of support that not only addresses the academic challenges associated with STEM but also intentionally and directly dissolves the stigmas related to minoritized communities and STEM more broadly.

This paper will center stories built from qualitative and quantitative data collected from program scholars and their parents/caregivers. Since its inception in 2012, GSI has served 114 scholars and their families. Over the last eight years, we have found that six major pillars had the most significant impact on scholars and their families. These pillars include:
1. providing socially transformative stem learning experience,
2. creating an environment of comfort, care, and love for scholars and parents/caregivers,
3. providing collaborative and shared learning opportunities,
4. building authentic parent/caregiver and community involvement and partnerships,
5. providing access to STEM professionals from diverse backgrounds, and
6. providing parent/caregivers supports to continue to advocate in and navigate through K-12 formal learning spaces.
In this paper, connections will be drawn between GSI’s scholars and family stories and the six pillars to understand better and contextualize the impact of Girls STEM Institute.

Author

• Crystal Morton, Indiana University - Purdue University at Indianapolis