Black Girls do STEM logo -side profile of girl with STEM symbols

Black Girls Do STEM

Entrepreneur: Cynthia Chapple

Founded: 2019

Black Girls Do STEM (BGDSTEM) provides a seven-year continuous pathway for Black girls beginning in 6th grade through to university and workforce entry. The 6th-9th grade girls engage in a Saturday Academy community-based STEM exploratory learning program for 8 months (28-32 hours) in community and 16 weeks (28-32 hours) as an after school program. This programming promotes innovation and understanding of many problem solving approaches and design methodologies. Students are introduced to the engineering design process, design thinking framework to help them utilize tools to better define and understand problems and create solutions. The girls also participate in group mentoring with BGDSTEM’s network of Black women in STEM. BGDSTEM is aimed at increasing curiosity and interest in STEM coursework in traditional K-12 educational environments and beyond into higher education and career development.