Empowering Youth of Color in STEM

K-12 STEAM education

Central LA

Applying a proven solution to a new issue or sector (using an existing model, tool, resource, strategy, etc. for a new purpose)

Youth of color—especially young men and young women—are vastly underrepresented in STEM due to systemic barriers like limited access to mentors, culturally relevant learning, and industry exposure. In Pico-Union and Koreatown, over 90% of residents identify as Latino or Asian, and more than 30% of families live below the poverty line. Yet less than 30% of STEM workers nationally are Black or Latino. In Pico-Union, the average math proficiency score is 14%, and in Koreatown, it's 20%, significantly below the California public school average of 33%. Without early, identity-affirming access to STEM, these youth are shut out of high-wage careers. This gap perpetuates cycles of disconnection, underemployment, and lost talent in innovation fields. Now is the time to change that by investing in community-rooted STEM programs that build skills, confidence, and belonging

Empowering Youth of Color in STEM is a yearlong program that supports 40 high school students—20 young men of color and 20 young women of color—from Central Los Angeles neighborhoods like Pico-Union and Koreatown. The program offers identity-affirming, experiential STEM learning guided by eight trained WFIT coaches (four men and four women of color) who serve as culturally responsive mentors and role models.
Participants will engage in small-group sessions held thrice monthly within their gender-specific cohorts. These sessions include hands-on STEM activities, skill-building workshops, and discussions that link STEM exploration with personal identity and leadership. Each quarter, the two cohorts will come together for a full-group event that promotes collaboration and shared learning.
The curriculum integrates field trips to STEM-rich environments (e.g., science centers, tech companies, etc.), guest speakers from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM, and project-based learning that culminates in a community-facing STEM Showcase. Youth will present their final group projects, co-designed with their cohort, to families, educators, and partners.
This initiative provides much-needed access, inspiration, and confidence-building for youth who are often excluded from STEM pathways. It also equips them with 21st-century skills like problem-solving, communication, and teamwork — all while reinforcing their sense of belonging in spaces where they’ve historically been marginalized.

Empowering Youth of Color in STEM will help transform Los Angeles into a city where Black and Brown youth see themselves as future scientists, engineers, coders, and problem-solvers. In the short term, 40 students will gain confidence, mentorship, and exposure to STEM fields through culturally relevant, high-impact learning. They’ll leave the program with tangible skills, a sense of belonging, and a support network.
In the long term, this program will build a scalable model for identity-based STEM engagement that can be replicated across other neighborhoods. It will plant seeds for a more inclusive and diverse local workforce—one where the youth of color from Pico-Union, Koreatown, and beyond lead innovation. LA’s tech and science sectors will benefit from their participation, perspectives, and leadership. This is about equity, access, and preparing the next generation to thrive.