Network Voices

Stories from the field to help us learn and change the system for more equitable STEM pathways for Black, Latina/o/e and Indigenous youth.

Leaders in the Field

"We're all working towards trying to increase the number of Black and Brown students who are prepared to enter STEM careers in college. I think the real strength of the Network is that we don't feel like we're doing this alone; we’re not isolated. That's the advantage of really working together, and learning from what others are doing. "
Janille Williams and Mary Valmont
Mary Valmont and Janille WilliamsArthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health
“There's just not enough representation in so many different areas of professional life. There are areas in academic life that really need to be addressed. This (racial equity) is not something that we can just say, ‘well, it'll get better’ or, ‘if it was just for this, this would happen.’ We're really the people who can make those changes. So having that strong network is incredibly rewarding and effective.”
Kate Klonowski
Kate KlonowskiProvost Early Career Scholars Program
“It's important because I've seen how severely underrepresented we are with regards to Black and brown people, women, any type of minority. You want to have more representation within a lot of organizations, but it's not just the numbers that's the issue. That is the primary issue, but it's also once you get there, how do you (Black, Brown, Indigenous youth) navigate the politics? How do you navigate the norms?”
Grady Burrows
Grady BurrowsHIT in The CLE
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Stories From STEM PUSH

Carol Seanez

Carol Seanez, Native American Science and Engineering Program with the University of Arizona Office of Early Academic Outreach

As Navajo STEM educator, and past participant of  Native American Science and Engineering Program with the University of Arizona Office of Early Academic Outreach, (NASEP) Carol Seanez would like to see greater appreciation for, and inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and practices in STEM disciplines.  “You know, the scientific method is to observe, think of a…

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Grady Burrows

HIT in the CLE focuses on whole-person STEM education

Grady Burrows knows how important diversity in STEM is for innovation, progress, and equity. But Burrows, executive director of HIT in the CLE says that the key to increasing success for Black, Latina/o/e and Indigenous students in STEM is more than just a numbers game. “You want to have more representation within a lot of…

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Gene Team Lab

Gene Team Student Shares Program Experience

Issam Abushuban, a student who participated in a pre-college STEM program at the University of Pittsburgh, shares how his experiences with Gene Team and mentorship from Dr. Becky Gonda and others positively influenced him.

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Students at project exploration

Project Exploration Finds Connections Through STEM PUSH Network

When Natasha Smith Walker first met Hakeem, she shook her head and thought to herself, “That boy looks very young and is really mischievous.” Hakeem was running back and forth throughout the new West Side STEM Learning Center that Project Exploration had just opened to serve an often-forgotten and neglected area of Chicago. The building…

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