Bilingual STEAM and ART Programs at MOLAA

K-12 STEAM education

Long Beach

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

In the U.S. Hispanics and African Americans constitute only 7% and 9% (respectively) in STEM fields, reflecting a large underrepresentation in STEM. Women constitute only 27% of the STEM workforce, even though they represent 50% of the total college-educated workforce.43% of MOLAA’s surrounding area of Long Beach (22.9% under 18) identify as Hispanic/Latinx, and 27.7% identify as another minority. In LA County, 48.6% of residents identify as Hispanic/Latinx, and 26.2% identify as another minority, representing the need for offering STEAM programs that reflect the diversity of LA County. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8% growth in STEM occupations by 2029, compared to 3.4% for non-STEM jobs. STEAM learning opportunities outside the school environment, such as at a museum, allow for developing STEAM skills in an accessible and appealing way to students, help overcome inequities, and broaden exposure to STEAM for underrepresented youth.

To address the inequities in STEAM, LA2050 would support MOLAA’s Bilingual STEAM and ARTS programs for youth K-12, including two initiatives: STEAM Sundays and STEAM Week at Summer Camp:
STEAM Sundays is an educational initiative that will provide engaging STEAM workshops for K-12 youth during MOLAA’s “Free Sundays” at no cost to youth and their families. STEAM Sundays workshops will take place approximately 18 Sundays throughout the year and will include STEAM hands-on projects like Pendulum painting and cyanotypes of indigenous Latin American botanicals.
STEAM Week at Summer Camp is part of MOLAA’s three-week Bilingual Arts & Culture Summer Camp and implements one STEAM themed week inviting about 120 campers to understand the interconnectedness of science and design and encourages important life skills like critical thinking, creativity, analysis, and communication. STEAM related activities may include origami, pendulum painting, creating zines, ceramics, or exploring styles of architecture.
Our STEAM and ART programs utilize Teaching Artists specialized in creating connections between science, technology, engineering, art and math and are overseen by qualified MOLAA Education staff experienced in the incorporation of cultural elements in education. MOLAA also partners with STEAM organizations such as: Demo Chicks, Genesis and Child Creativity Lab, and Artist Analivia Cordeiro (Digital Body Language Workshop).

As the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art, MOLAA serves as a bridge that connects Latin American, Chicanx, and Latinx culture with Los Angeles County residents. A predominant portion of MOLAA’s visitors constitute youth and families in its immediate area of Long Beach, CA as well as Greater Los Angeles County. MOLAA’s Education Department maintains vital partnerships with Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), focusing on low-income students from Title 1 schools. 
STEAM programs at a museum allow young people to develop crucial skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity, and learn to apply them across different subjects. This unique and fun experience allows for a more engaging and meaningful experience, exposing youth to STEAM skills and mindsets that are needed to thrive in growing STEAM fields, inspiring LA County youth to explore future studies in STEAM.