Connecting African American Youth and Technology - DHEx Enterprises Says Take the Pyramid STEM Challenge

PHILADELPHIA, PA, September 21, 2010

Data continues to confirm that African American youth are lagging academically in math and science. As a retired engineering manager, this topic is of deep concern to me. As I looked back over my youthful years, I find that some of the many things that I was exposed to had a profound influence on my ability to do well in math. With that as a foundation, I was able to easily move into a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) career, fields that still have a shortage of African Americans and definitely females.

In my elementary years, I read numerous books, put together models of the brain, human body and a space ship, worked on puzzles, legos and building blocks. I also watched or helped with handy repair projects around the house. What all of these things had in common is that they challenged my mind and help build the development of logic skills. With that as my background, math, biology and science, which are extremely challenging, were my favorite and easiest subjects. Although not everyone will have the same outcome, I believe that exposure to these types of activities, at the earliest age, will influence the learning ability of some of our youth. If a child decided at the high school level to take a technical career path, it might be too late, not only to improve their math and science grades, but also to gain the logic skills to be successful at a technical career.

I challenge our parents and the community to be proactive and help our youth develop logic and cognitive skills. These are the critical skills needed in math and science. In addition to having your child reading as early as possible, we must also expose them to things that challenge their mind. Instead of allowing the computer or calculator to think for your child all of the time, expose them to a brainteaser product. Some classic examples of brainteasers are legos, chess, puzzles, rubix cube, and mazes. Not only are these less costly than a computer, they are also challenging and fun. The benefits of these "toys" for your child will last a lifetime. Who knows, completing these puzzles could translate to a career in computer design, building design, or medical discoveries - by your child, no less!!

To support this endeavor, the Pyramid STEM Challenge was developed. It consists of 3 parts: exposing our youth to more technology role models, taking a child to work to see a STEM career in action and a competition which consists of completing a series of brainteasers in a specified period of time. Further details are provided at the website - http://www.pyramidstem.wordpress.com.

Deborah Gary is President of DHEx Enterprises, LLC (www.dhexenterprises.com) which provides educational, engineering and information technology products and services. She also owns Color Book Gallery (www.colorbookgallery.com), a multicultural children's bookstore in Philadelphia, PA.