Justice-focused strategies for re-envisioning STEM workforce development pathways for youth through inclusive interactions with an adult professional network of support

This presentation will outline a STEM workforce development model that brings together youth underrepresented in STEM fields and a network of STEM professionals to collaboratively address a regional environmental challenge through research and analysis activities, utilizing a justice-focused framework. The presentation will note the key evaluative ‘bridging’ activities that supported both youth and adult STEM professionals to adopt the STEM Justice framework and to understand how to work together as both learners and leaders to engender a better, more equitable collaboration. The presentation will underscore the role of evaluators in supporting and documenting the important connections between youth and a larger network of STEM professionals in higher education, corporate/government, and community organization as key to an ecosystemic approach to workforce development among youth underrepresented in STEM.