“Equity in STEAM” initiative aims to increase access to education

Intel and the YWCA are teaming up on an initiative to increase student access and encourage diversity in professions in “STEAM”: Science, Technology, Education, the Arts and Math.

We learned more about the “Equity in STEAM” initiative from Zel Fowler, President of the Arizona Alliance of Black School Educators and Jennifer Sanchez, Intel’s Arizona Community Affairs Manager.

What is the “equity in STEAM” initiative?

“We are talking about science, technology, engineering, arts and math and we are talking about giving all children access to the STEM careers and access to knowing and learning about STEM in general,” Fowler said.

Fowler added, “STEAM is important because it is not the future, it’s the present but it’s something definitely our students need to know about as they start preparing for their futures.”

Equity within this initiative means that all students, from all schools, in all areas, have equal opportunities to learn STEAM subjects.

Intel is participating in the initiative to help create technology for all people. The company wants to ensure that everyone has access to technology.

“We see the…gap in professionals of color in STEAM and so when we look at the United States population being at about half people of color and when we look our Black, Latino, and Native American scientists and engineers we know that they make up roughly 12%,” Sanchez said.

She added, “We want to help change that, that students have access in their schools and in their community to dream of being in STEAM.”