The city of Compton hosted an Air and Space Fair on Nov. 1 aimed to encourage young Black, Latino and other people of color to join STEM careers, through connecting them to Black aerospace and aviation professionals.
This event allowed them to feel represented in the STEM field and learn more about their careers.
Programs like MESA and the DESTINO Science Resource Center are working to make science and engineering more accessible to Black and Latino students through academic counseling, talk circles and professional connections, allowing them to find community, leading them to academic success
Founded through a Department of Education grant in 2019, DESTINO which stands for Developing Engaging Science Through Innovative New Opportunities, offers tutoring, workshops and resources that aim to close equity gaps, and create a welcoming space for students who might otherwise feel out of place in STEM.
“A lot of times students in STEM struggle with identifying themselves in the classroom, especially when maybe there are professors that don’t look like them, their peers don’t look like them,” said Leslie Ortega, DESTINO Lab Coordinator.
The program’s mission extends beyond academics by helping students find community and reassurance through hosting talk circles where students can express their emotions, struggles and concerns.
“So we’ve started a series called “STEM Identity” to create space for those conversations. You know, some of the workshops we had were conversations beyond the tip of the iceberg, the tip of the iceberg being, passing grades or passing a test and success. Bottom of the iceberg, like the tears, the all-nighters. So we want to create a space where students feel seen and heard,” said Ortega.
The MESA program, which stands for “Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement” provides career counseling, tutoring, professional networking, and research opportunities designed to prepare first-generation and low-income students for transfer and STEM careers.
Both programs emphasize mentorship and exposure, and MESA offers partnerships with university labs where students can gain real research experience.
In partnership, the centers host a series called “Sip N Science” which spotlights guest speakers in the STEM industry, giving students a chance to see professionals who share their backgrounds and stories.
With the efforts of both programs, they intend to shape the next generation of nurses, scientists and engineers.
