Press Release: 300 African Americans on the campus of Mills College for the STEM STEPS for Success Project

February 3, 2015

For Immediate ReleaseJanuary 7, 2015

Contact: Monique August
(510) 614-3000
Monique@rtfisher.com

Over 300 African Americans on the campus of Mills College for the STEM STEPS for Success Project, a collaborative approach to enhancing African American college eligibility

Oakland, CA – On December 20, 2014, The African American Regional Educational Alliances (AAREA), in partnership with the Investing in Innovation STEM Learning Opportunities Providing Equity Project (I3 SLOPE Project), Mills College School of Education, and 8 Bay Area school districts (Castro Valley Unified, Hayward Unified, Livermore Valley Joint Unified, New Haven Unified, Oakland Unified, Pleasanton Unified, San Leandro Unified and San Lorenzo Unified) kicked off the new STEM Strategies to Empower and Prepare Students for Success (STEM S.T.E.P.S. for Success) at Mills College with over 300 African American students and parents in attendance.

The day started with a short rally in front of the Graduate School of Business where families were welcomed and motivated. Jim Negri, Superintendent of Castro Valley Unified School District, attended the orientation and noted “I was very impressed and glad I was able to attend for part of the morning and have the opportunity to talk with some parents. I look forward to attending a future session”. Parents acknowledged the significance and need for culturally relevant STEM and college enrichment programming for African American students in their individual sessions and gave repeated sentiments of appreciation and gratitude throughout the day.

Participating districts, schools, and partner organizations nominated fifth, sixth, and eighth grade students from 9 Bay Area School districts and 56 schools. Of the 776 nominated students, 420 were invited to participate. The next STEM S.T.E.P.S. for Success program session is scheduled to take place this Saturday, January 10th at Mills College with 235 families expected to be in attendance.

The STEM S.T.E.P.S. for Success Project is a collaborative approach to enhancing college eligibility rates of African American students through STEM education and support for students, educators, and families. the STEM S.T.E.P.S. for Success Project provides academic enrichment and college preparation services with a STEM focus to elementary and middle school African American students through Saturday and Summer programming. The AAREA collaborative includes: Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, the Alliance for Regional Collaboration to Heighten Educational Success, Assemblymember Joan Buchanan, Assemblymember Rob Bonta, the Bay Area Science Project, California State University East Bay, Castro Valley Unified School District, Chabot College, Choose College Educational Foundation, Congressman Eric Swalwell, Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney, Hayward Unified School District, Holy Names University, Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, Mills College School of Education, New Haven Unified School District, Oakland Unified School District, Pleasanton Unified School District, San Leandro Unified School District, San Lorenzo Unified School District, and the University of California Office of the President.

For more information about STEM S.T.E.P.S. for Success, contact Monique August at 510-614-3000.

For more information about AAREA, visit www.theaarea.org.