Pioneering women in the careers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will be honored at this year\u2019s State of Minnesota Governor\u2019s Council Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The celebratory event commemorating the birth of human rights icon, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., takes place on Jan. 21 (King holiday) from 10 a.m. \u2013 noon at the Ordway Theater, 345 Washington St., St. Paul, and will honor NASA\u2019s Katherine Coleman Johnson, Dr. Reatha Clark King and is keynoted by former astronaut Mae Jemison. KARE 11\u2019s Adrienne Broaddus will serve as the event\u2019s host. The event is free and open to the public. It will also stream live on TPT public television.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coleman Johnson\u2019s accomplishments were celebrated on screen with the No. 1 film, \u201cHidden Figures,\u201d in which Taraji P. Henson portrayed the brilliant mathematician. It was Coleman Johnson\u2019s efforts that allowed NASA astronaut John Glenn to successfully orbit the earth and return safely. Clark King, a former president of Metropolitan State University, is a chemist by trade who plied her craft working for General Mills where she later became vice president of the General Mills Foundation. Jemison made history in 1992 as the first Black woman to travel in space when she was a member of NASA\u2019s Space Shuttle Endeavour crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
James Burroughs, the state\u2019s former director of Chief Inclusion Officer, was lead on the team that put this year\u2019s celebration together. He said the planning council wanted to be intentional in not just celebrating a man but elevating a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRecognizing the lack of female representation, particularly Black women, in the STEM fields we want to raise awareness for diversity inclusion and equity in STEM careers by incorporating this theme into every aspect of this year\u2019s celebration,\u201d said Burroughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Burroughs offered several statistics to highlight the need for more African-American women to participate in careers of STEM. He said in 2012, white women earned 6,777 PhDs in STEM fields and white men earned 8,478 PhD degrees. But for African-American women, that number dwindles to 684 \u2013 10 times fewer scientific doctorates than their white counterparts, with only 3.5 percent of STEM bachelor\u2019s degrees. Women comprise 56.8 percent of the U.S. workforce and a mere 8.5 percent of the country\u2019s engineers. Approximately 87 percent of all engineers are white males.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts STEM professionals will experience the highest growth in job numbers between now and 2030, yet only a fraction of girls and women are likely to pursue degrees that enable them to fulfill these news jobs. To that respect the planning council was again intentional in its actions. Burroughs said the council partnered area Black professionals in STEM with high school and middle school students at schools that included North Community High School, Minneapolis, Como Park High School, St. Paul and Franklin Middle School, Minneapolis, to introduce them to careers in their various fields. Studies show girls have great interest in STEM careers during ages 5-12, but this interest quickly dwindles in middle and high school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faith Jackson, the event\u2019s planner and founder of 612 Media Management said getting STEM superstars Coleman Johnson, Clark King and Jemison was Burroughs\u2019 vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJames had the idea to bring Mae Jemison and Katherine Coleman Johnson to honor them and things just grew from there,\u201d said Jackson. \u201cWe were talking about the underrepresentation of Black women in STEM and we wanted to do something to address the issue while at the same time honoring these amazing women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to honoring the pioneering women, Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will provide remarks and musical performances will include Ray Covington, the Minnesota Orchestra, Indigenous Roots and others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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