Dance-Powered STEM Revolution for Girls

K-12 STEAM education

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) LAUSD (select only if you have a district-wide partnership) San Gabriel Valley Central LA East LA

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

In LA, where 73% of students are Latino or Black, the STEM confidence crisis devastates girls of color before they reach middle school. By second grade, girls who once raised eager hands in math class begin doubting their abilities. Nationally, women of color comprise 32% of the population but less than 5% of the STEM workforce—a gap that starts with eight-year-olds who internalize that "STEM isn't for girls like me."
The data demands action: 57% of teen girls doubt their STEM abilities, while only 35% feel they belong in STEM spaces. This translates to thousands of brilliant minds turning away from lucrative careers. Traditional STEAM education fails to connect with girls' cultural identities, creating barriers where bridges should exist.
AI and automation are reshaping our economy—STEM jobs will grow 10% by 2033. Los Angeles cannot afford to exclude half its talent when research proves diverse teams drive innovation. The time is now to interrupt this pipeline of lost potential.

STEM From Dance transforms K-12 STEAM education through dance-integrated technology projects that build confidence in girls of color. Girls design LED-lit costumes using circuits and coding, choreograph dances synchronized with animations, and create music through data science—all while mastering computational thinking, engineering design, and programming fundamentals.
Clubs are our educator-led innovation that democratizes access to excellence. We equip passionate educators with our proven curriculum and comprehensive training, empowering them to become agents of transformation in their own communities. Clubs take place during or afterschool, and in out-of-school spaces.
Pop Ups are one-day experiences designed to spark interest in STEM topics, boost confidence, and encourage deeper engagement. Perfect for girls curious about STEM—just one day can transform their perspective and open doors to endless possibilities.
Camps provide transformative three-week intensives featuring advanced projects: complex costume engineering, AI-powered music creation, and collaborative performances with daily technical workshops, creative collaboration, and family engagement.
Grant period goals: establish 15 Clubs serving 270 girls, deliver 2 Pop Ups reaching 120 girls, and host 1 Camp for 60 girls—directly impacting 450 girls total. This approach positions girls as creative experts first, then technical innovators—proving STEM excellence flows naturally from cultural expression.

Short-term: 450 girls across LA gain unshakeable STEM confidence. Schools report transformed classrooms as participants demand more STEM and declare engineering aspirations. Families witness daughters coding at home and explaining algorithms to siblings. We build sustainable infrastructure: trained educator-leaders and strong community partnerships.
Long-term: LA becomes a national model for culturally responsive STEM education. Our alumni pipeline feeds engineering and computer science programs and attracts local tech companies seeking diverse talent. By 2030, we reach 5,000 LA girls annually. Corporate partners recruit from our alumni network, recognizing the innovation advantage of teams led by confident women of color.
Scaling: Educators become multipliers, launching new Clubs. Pop Ups spark community interest. Camp alumni become teen mentors and eventual program facilitators. We prove that centering girls of color’s brilliance drives unprecedented innovation.