Arva R. Rice
President & Chief Executive Officer, New York Urban League

Twitter: @arvarice

A few years ago, I attended a national conference focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) that singlehandedly transformed the focus of our affiliate.  One of the consistent themes of the conference was the dearth of Black and brown students and adults in the sector.  After the first hour, I also noted the dearth of people of color attending the event.  By the end of the conference, I felt compelled to weave STEAM into our existing programs by seeking relevant partnerships and creating programs to address this crisis head on. 

Warren E. Logan, Jr.
President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Chattanooga

Twitter: @ulchattanooga

Chattanooga, Tennessee’s fourth largest city, struggles with the same challenges other urban communities and public schools face across the nation—serious achievement gaps and inequities in education for minority and low-income students. In 2008, the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga responded to these challenges by securing a multi-year state grant to launch the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy, a dynamic after-school and summer academic enrichment program for minority and low-income students attending some of the lowest performing inner-city schools in our community. Our vision was to reduce achievement gaps in science, math, and reading for at-risk students and inspire them to consider pursuing a STEM college and career pathway.

William G. Clark
President & CEO, Urban League of Rochester, NY

Twitter: @UrbanLeagueRoch

During the 20th century, Rochester, New York, relied on big manufacturers like Eastman Kodak and Xerox to drive its economy. Individuals without a post-secondary degree could find well-paying jobs that provided lifelong careers. Those days are long gone. Manufacturing jobs have declined, and the region is investing in STEM-related industries. This transition is fueling demand for workers with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills. Workers with STEM skills also have higher earning potentials compared to other industries. However, people of color are underrepresented within STEM fields, putting them at a disadvantage as the economy continues its transformation.

Dr. Myiesha Taylor
Founder, Artemis Medical Society

Twitter: @ArtemisMedSoc 

Throughout the history of our nation’s civil rights movement, images played an important role in conveying the struggle for equality. In this era of widespread media access, near universal adoption of social media platforms and the rapid dissemintation of content, images hold an even greater importance in conveying messages—both good and bad.