Welcome to the Rise In STEM Community!
We are a grassroots organization based in Etobicoke, ON dedicated to introducing youth to various pathways in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) while supporting the development of leadership, technical, and critical thinking skills through interactive workshops, industry exposure, mentorship and civic engagement.
As a newly formed organization, we are excited to hit this milestone of launching our official website, however, as we all know, the world is in great pain right now because of the one too many black lives lost due to police brutality. We stand with those calling for a systemic transformation, not just within the law enforcement, but in all systems of our society.
Our education system and the culture of academia is no exception to anti-blackness and systemic racism. Research has shown us that black youth are disproportionately punished in schools, streamed into essential or applied courses reducing opportunities for post-secondary education, and often told they won’t be successful in their chosen career path.[1]
STEM disciplines are also inherently rooted in colonial structures that have created and perpetuated racial biases, stereotypes and discrimination that continues inflict harm and further disenfranchise black youth and communities. Academics and STEM professionals play a significant role in shaping society, from policy-making to textbook and curriculum creation to hiring practices, so there is an opportunity to incite real change when black communities are integrally involved in these conversations and when decisions are made. It is critical that educators, business executives and governments begin to examine how structural racism plays out in their organizations and prioritize the need for greater representation of black students and professionals at all levels of our institutions and businesses.
The inception of Rise In STEM was to address the various barriers black youth face, deconstruct negative perceptions of black people in STEM, and increase youth awareness of the diverse, intersecting areas for opportunity across these fields. Now more than ever, we are ready to invest whole heartedly into the next generation of black leaders in STEM and create opportunities for personal development and growth beyond STEM education.
This global awakening on systemic racism is only the first step to dismantling such deeply rooted systems of oppression. There is a long, uneasy road ahead and it will require courage and collective effort to better understand the colonial histories of our learning and work environments, while constantly addressing the issues it creates. We must maintain persistent action and momentum for the change we want to see.
We are grateful for our partners who have enabled the success of our work thus far and always welcome new supporters who share our mission to break down systemic barriers to STEM.
Looking forward, I know that the youth are the change makers of our world and we will continue to uplift and empower them to walk in their light. The future will be brighter.
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Irene Kessie
Executive Director & Founder of Rise In STEM
[1] James, C.E. & Turner, T. (2017). Towards Race Equity In Education: The Schooling of Black Students in the Greater Toronto Area. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: York University