STEMposium: To Inclusion and Beyond

PSEC's signature event the "STEMposium: To Inclusion and Beyond", on October 30, 2024

brought together collaborators in STEM education and industry and members of the

Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective and the Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem.

Below you will find more information on the event, including the three sessions presented, our recognition ceremony where PSEC recognized members of our community, honoring them for the impactful work they do through their organizations, as nominated by their peers, and plenty of pictures of the event!

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We were thrilled to have Dr. Joeletta Patrick as the STEMposium’s Keynote Speaker. Dr. Patrick is currently serving on a two-year detail assignment to NASA Langley Research Center as the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Champion. Dr. Patrick shared her personal journey that brought her to NASA, including what inspired her during childhood and how she pursued her interests through education. She also spoke about best practices around community-based STEM, the importance of collaborative, cross-disciplinary work in the field, and her current work on DEIA at Langley Research Center.

Councilwoman Nina Ahmad, Ph.D., shared her own personal connection to the importance of STEM education and presented a Citation from City Council of the City of Philadelphia "Honoring and Recognizing The Philadelphia STEM Equity collective on the Occasion of Hosting Philadelphia STEM Equity Week from October 26 to November 2, 2024 in the City of Philadelphia".

As an At-Large City Councilmember, Dr. Ahmad uses her experience as a scientist and activist to find responsible, evidence-based solutions to address Philadelphia’s critical priorities.

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Our emcee was Brittney Shipp, meteorologist for NBC10’s First Alert Weather Team. A five-time Emmy®-nominated and Emmy award-winning journalist, Brittney earned a bachelor’s degree in International Development Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has also earned a Certificate of Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. Having combined her passion for children’s education and meteorology, Brittney wrote and published the children’s book, The Meteorologist in Me. She has shared her book with over 35,000 students, including international audiences in Cuba and Australia.

STEMposium Presentations

Insights from the Cramp Community of Practice

The Partnership Community of Practice (PCoP) at William Cramp Elementary school is a project of the PSEC K-12 Workgroup. PCoP brings STEM partners into Cramp to increase aligned, high-quality and culturally competent STEM experiences for students. In this session, panelists will unpack the process and learnings from establishing new partnerships with a K-5 school and delivering culturally responsive approaches, in-school STEM experiences across K-5 grade levels, OST professional development for aftercare providers and running a family STEM event.

Presenters:

Jamie Shuda, Director of Outreach, Education, and Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Co-Founder and Director, Project BioEYES
Elias Corbin, Community School Coordinator at William Cramp Elementary School, City of Philadelphia
Hollie Barattolo, Assistant Director of Professional Development, The Franklin Institute
Michael (Cabbie) Cabán, Education Programs Manager, The Franklin Institute
Leslie Grace, Director, Elements of the Community, Inc.
Suzanne Safran, Education Director, Riverbend Environmental Education Center
Alyssa Evringham, Assistant Manager of Education, Center for Aquatic Science

Reflections on STEM Pathways

Current post-secondary students and recent graduates share reflections on their experience so far on a STEM career pathway. Panelists will highlight opportunities and challenges along their pathway and will focus on the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their gender, race, or background.

Presenters:

Kamal Carter, Senior Field Prototype Engineer, Boston Dynamics
Gabriela Alfaro, Engineer, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW)
Imani Dixon, Chemical Engineering Student, Drexel University
Daniel Miller-Uueda, STEAM Curriculum Specialist, School District of Philadelphia (Facilitator)

Looking into the Future of STEM

What will STEM careers of the future look like? In this session, STEM professionals share their insights and predictions about current and future cutting-edge technologies and the skills needed to be ready for emerging STEM careers. Speakers will discuss the increasing demand for STEM professionals across various industries such as data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and renewable energy and the need for continuous learning and adaptability as technology and industry trends continue to evolve at a rapid pace.

Presenters:

Ivana Seric, Senior Product Scientist, Zelus Analytics
Jessica Tilli, Director of Math for the School District of Philadelphia
Jeremiah Oteh, Founder, CULTURAL.IP
Sinclair Wu, Co-founder & CEO, RightON Education
Nick Monzi, CEO & Co-Founder, Learn Fresh (Facilitator)

STEMposium Recognitions

STEM Equity Leaders & Organizations

For the impactful work they do through their organizations

Satoia Wright - For your impactful work at Friends Select - delivering culturally competent work in education. Ensuring that all of your students see their background as an asset to excel in their STEM academics
Renee Harris - For the equity driven mindset, you established at Esteem Girls –providing STEM education, entrepreneurship and economic equity knowledge to girls from historically underserved communities in Philadelphia.
Hannah Farrell - For the impact you are making as an educator at Mt. St Joseph’s Academy for girls - increasing STEM exposure and proficiency for young women through robotics experiences and mentorship
Jamie Shuda - For the equity building experiences you deliver through BioEyes- inspiring a new generation of scientists through high-quality and inclusive programming in K-12 public school classrooms
Atiyah Harmon - For your visionary leadership, influence, mentorship and the transformational experiences you provide through Black Girls Love Math. Your work empowers others and is creating pathways for Black girls to become STEM educators and leaders - addressing issues of representation, access and equity.
Launchpad - For your barrier-breaking free technical training for Philadelphia's youth. Equipping young people with transferable skills and experience to access life-sustaining STEM jobs.

PSEC Leaders

Members of our Collective, who are role models for their contributions and commitment to collective work.

Maya Heiland - For your leadership as a member in the K-12 Education Workgroup. Your vision, commitment and work was instrumental in establishing the Partners Community of Practice and making it a success .
Francesca Tuazon - For your leadership as a member in the Work Environment Workgroup. Your proactive management and continued engagement was critical for the team to sustain momentum and establish the first DEIB Forum.
Betsy Payne - For being a STEM Equity Collective Multiplier! Your ability to relate to all members with patience and grace, giving everyone time when they need it is a key component to the relational success of this Collective.