STEM Center Forums: Empowering Changemakers in STEM is a President’s Innovation Fund project that launches monthly lunch forums that brings together students, peer mentors, and faculty advisors to engage in reflective dialogue to build community and empower student leadership.
There are a total of six forums planned this academic year that will walk students through a series of interactive workshops that centers on student discussion and builds on one another. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on identity, equity in STEM, and what it means to be a leader or advocate, as well as gain inspiration from current advocates and engage in community service projects.
On Monday, November 4th, 2019, over 40 students attended the launch of the first forum facilitated by Dr. Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, Jenny Le, and Bryan Swartout. Dr. Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza led students through the I AM Poem activity, where students explored their identities through crafting and sharing personal poems that celebrated each student’s rich history and where they came from. Bryan Swartout and Jenny Le then engaged students in an activity where students discussed their agreement or disagreement to statements such as, “My peers at Skyline College know the real me,” and “I see myself as a leader,” — which sparked thoughtful, stimulating, and lively conversations.
The next forum is on Friday, November 22, 2019, from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in the STEM Center located in Building 7, Room 7-307 featuring Science|Math|Technology Division Dean Ray Hernandez on the topic of Equity in STEM. Click here for more information on future forums!
Article by Jenny Le and Bryan Swartout
