[St. Paul, MN, February 17, 2022] -- On February 25, Stonebridge World School in Minneapolis will host its first-ever Black Authors in STEM event. The event, which will take place during school hours, will connect Twin Cities Black authors and illustrators with hundreds of Stonebridge students in preschool through eighth grade for activities such as storytimes, question and answer sessions, and signed book giveaways. The event is organized through a partnership with the Fostering Opportunities and Relationships in STEM Education (FORSE) program through the Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS).
The event will provide an opportunity for Stonebridge students, of which 95% are students of color and 93% receive free or reduced lunch, to interact with Black changemakers within their own community during Black History Month. Students will also learn about careers in technology, art, and science. “More than two hundred students will have a chance to connect with a Black professional who specializes in translating the excitement and possibilities of STEM to children,” said Sara Gomez, MAS Director of Community Outreach. “We are so thankful to Stonebridge and the fantastic presenters for bringing this unique experience to Minneapolis students.” Participating professionals include:
Crown Shepherd, reading advocate and author of Black Boy, Black Boy
Guy Brown, meteorologist for KARE 11 and author of Look Up to See What the Weather Will Be and the companion activity journal My Weather Journal
Eric Childs, literacy advocate, owner of Mind’s Eye comics store, and graphic designer
Nadvia Davis, author of Grant Practices Math with Manners
The Black Authors in STEM event is made possible by a partnership between Stonebridge and FORSE, which is an innovative program designed to close opportunity gaps in Minnesota STEM fields. FORSE leverages partnerships with schools and other organizations to bring scientists and students together for mentoring and hands-on STEM learning. In the 2021-2022 school year, FORSE is on track to serve over 1,000 Twin Cities students. FORSE is a program of MAS, a statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to connecting Minnesotans of all backgrounds with resources and opportunities to engage in STEM learning, research, and communication. FORSE is made possible through the generous support of 3M, the Howmet Aerospace Foundation, the Michael H. Baker Family Foundation, and many other corporate sponsors and individual donors.
