Reimagining educational equity through strategic alliance partnerships in response to the USA STEM-M diversity gap. (24th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rocha, Janet; Castillo-Lavergne, Claudia M; Byrd, Marcus J; Carnethon, Mercedes R; Miller, Rebecca; Lin, Maria; Marsh, Erica E; Jackson, Janice K; Yancy, Clyde W
• Is Part Of: Health promotion international. Volume 37:Number 2(2022)
• Publication Date: 2021-08-24
• Subjects: youth -- empowerment -- workforce planning -- equity -- STEM-medicine/health; Health promotion -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daab094
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-4824

Abstract

Summary: Addressing the USA diversity gap in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEM-M) through strategic alliance partnerships (SAPs) is an innovative solution toward combating the educational inequalities presented in K-12 education for marginalized youth interested in STEM-M professions. We present a model that unites multiple stakeholder s committed to diversifying the workforce in STEM-M, through the implementation of a multi-year high school pipeline program designed to better achieve STEM-M equity, access and opportunity at the secondary school level. We developed a unique model based on an SAP in a large metropolitan area in the Midwest that joins an Academic Medical Center and a local Public High School. Our results involving 46 students over 8 years demonstrate 100% high school graduation rates; 97% college attendance with full or partial scholarship support, and early evidence of post-graduation aspirations in STEM-M careers. Our early progress calls for more rigorous study against standard educational practices. If our program is proven to be more effective, then potentially more strategic public−private partnerships to foster K-12 pipeline programs to better achieve equity through educational access, opportunities and resources should be developed and targeted for those marginalized youth that have been historically denied STEM-M opportunities. After 10 years of dedicated effort, we see evidence of potential benefits of this SAP to develop K-12 pipeline programs with similar aims of STEM-M diversification, particularly by way of more-equitable provision of educational opportunities to students belonging to minority racial and ethnic groups.