STEAM SUNDAYS AT MOLAA

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Currently in the US, the majority of STEM workers are white (69%), with Asians making up 13%, blacks 9%, and Hispanics 7%. Additionally, women constitute only 27% of the STEM workforce, even though they represent 50% of the total college-educated workforce. Overcoming this inequity is crucial and MOLAA's STEAM education programs target K-12 students to broaden both access and participation, particularly for Latinos. The USBLS projects an 8% growth in STEM/STEAM occupations by 2029, compared to 3.4% for non-STEM jobs, with median annual wages for STEM/STEAM jobs at $86,980, while the median for all occupations is $39,810. By incorporating the arts into STEM education, we can help make these fields more accessible and appealing to a wider range of students, including those who might not initially be interested in traditional STEM subjects. Furthermore, the STEAM framework enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity and prepares students for rapidly growing career fields.

MOLAA is the only accredited museum in the U.S. dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art. Serving as a bridge that connects Latin American, Chicano, and Latinx culture with LA County residents, MOLAA is uniquely qualified to deliver STEAM programs that break down stereotypes about who can succeed in these fields and encourage underrepresented groups to pursue careers in STEM. Keeping our programs free also allows us to serve a more diverse group of students. STEAM SUNDAYS AT MOLAA will provide engaging STEAM educational programming for approximately half of MOLAA’s “Free Sundays” in 2025. Teaching artists who specialize in creating connections between science, technology, engineering, art, and math through hands-on, innovative community projects will be hired. MOLAA staff and teaching artists involved are experienced in the incorporation of cultural elements into education, promoting cultural awareness and sensitivity. Students will be exposed to our upcoming ARTEÔNICA exhibition that highlights a little-known Latin American art movement, and explores how it expanded the relationship between art, science, and technology. MOLAA currently collaborates with several groups who can also enhance our program: - Demo Chicks: Hosted STEAM week for MOLAA Summer Camp 2022 - MOLAA is partnering with Genesis and Child Creativity Lab for 2024 Summer Camp: - MOLAA Education Team partners with Artist Analivia Cordeiro for the Digital Body Language Workshop

MOLAA envisions a Los Angeles where historically underserved communities have access to high-quality education and employment opportunities. MOLAA’s bilingual STEAM programs can play a crucial role in decreasing educational disparities and improving access for LA County youth, particularly in under-resourced communities. Studies show that students engaged in the arts demonstrate gains in academic performance, college attendance, critical thinking, verbal skills, and decreased dropout rates. MOLAA’s STEAM programs will prepare students from diverse backgrounds for success in any field through engaging hands-on projects that develop the ability to analyze complex issues and devise effective solutions. The STEAM approach improves educational outcomes for students by making learning more engaging and accessible, and catering to diverse learning styles and interests. This can bridge gaps in academic achievement and encourage more students from diverse backgrounds to pursue STEAM careers.

Building on our successful history of developing youth arts and STEAM programs, STEAM SUNDAYS AT MOLAA shift our youth education programs to reflect a 20% increase in focus on sciences through the arts. The skills students develop in our free STEAM programs will be valuable in academic and professional settings, and the relationships created through this program create a stronger supportive network for students. To ensure we are meeting our goals, MOLAA utilizes surveys and conducts public forums and sessions seeking community input and gauging trust levels among diverse staff and community partners. This evaluation process allows us to measure our level of success throughout the year. One of the primary methods we use to define and assess MOLAA's impact and success is through Team-Based Inquiry (TBI) methodology. This approach allows our education and communication divisions to gather data that improves our programming in ways that allow us to serve our students effectively.