Black History Program with Professors William and Aida Jackson
Tuesday, February 23rd 2021
The link to our presentation is here:
https://youtu.be/eBuMG-FFTLo
Black History ProgramJoe Slezak, Solar System Ambassador with NASA
at Appleton Public Library invites Aida and William
Jackson to speak at the Black History Month
presentation at Appleton Public Library in
Appleton, Wisconsin https://apl.org/
Organized by library directors Emily Villanueva and
Katherine Hanle the program was to show the gains,
accomplishments and challenges of African Americans
in STEM, STEAM and STREAM. The Black History
Month program was to motivate students of color
and culture in the local school district to
become interested in STEM, STEAM and STREAM
education. How there is a difference between
each and how it influences learning.
Seasoned educators, William and Aida provided
information specifically to Black, Brown and students
of color for students in the Appleton Area School District
http://aasd.k12.wi.us/
Many times Black and Brown parents do not
understand what STEM, STEAM and STREAM
are so they do not know to guide their children
in careers outside of sports and engineering.
Mr. Slezak guided the discussion by asking key
questions and sharing statistics that William and
Aida examined and how data and statistics affect
Black and Brown youth in their decisions to enter
into future careers.
STEM is not about making a youth into a geek
or nerd, there is something for everyone. The
career options are more than the options for
sports and entertainment. It was shared that
geeks, nerds and blerds (Black Nerds) rule the
world and a growing number of girls and women
are taking the lead.
Aida (Afro-Latina), artist and published author clarified
the potential of STEM, STEAM and STREAM to the
audience and addressed the opportunties for Latinx,
Latino and Hispanic youth, teens and young adults.
The diversity of Appleton, Missouri in its Hispanic community
can build future scientists, engineers, computer programmers
with mentors, educators and professionals that can lead and
guide kids in schools.
The virtual discussion shared the influence of career
choices and opportunties to help youth, teens and
young adults grow in new directions for careers in
STEM, STEAM and STREAM. Black, Brown and Indigenous
youth need to understand that there are opportunties
outside of sports, games and entertainment waiting
for them. There are scholarships that allow them to
attend college, vocational and industrial education
schools so they can learn necessary skills for careers.
The brain is the key to success, sports and entertainment
can be a conduit of connected potential in great careers,
educational success, digital skill development and
continued growth are what will propel youth of color
and culture to grow beyond where they are. Youth must
realize that sports only last so long, the human body can
only take so much punishment. Mental and thought
growth are important to build thought leadership skills
to earn high paying jobs that require 21st century technology
skills.
Black history is more than sports and entertainment there
are many thought leaders, innovators, creatives and
influencers that are in STEM, STEAM and STREAM industries.
Looking at current NASA STEM, STEAM and STREAM careers
there is room for future Black, Brown and Indigenous youth.
The link to the presentation:
https://youtu.be/eBuMG-FFTLo
Outagamie Waupaca Library System
http://owlsweb.org/
For more information email:
teen@apl.org
Who We Are:
William Jackson – https://myquesttoteach.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wmjackson
Aida Correa-Jackson – https://lovebuiltlife.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lovebuiltlife
