Girls Build Drones in After-School Program, Breaking Barriers in STEM Fields
A recent after-school program at the Teen Tech Center in South Dallas has successfully empowered young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields by teaching them how to build drones. This program is particularly significant because it addresses the underrepresentation of women, especially those from low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Although women are leading in college degree attainment, comprising the majority of graduates, they only make up 34% of the STEM workforce in the United States. This gender disparity is even more pronounced for young women of color and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who face additional barriers to exploring STEM careers.
The Teen Tech Center’s seven-week after-school program provided approximately 30 girls, aged 11 to 17, with the opportunity to learn the process of building drones. With the guidance of instructors from Young STEM Professionals, who received a grant from the State Fair of Texas Foundation, the girls gained hands-on experience in constructing a drone prototype.
During the program, the girls learned how to wire the drone and connect it to a breadboard circuit, enabling them to grasp engineering concepts such as lift, thrust, and circuit fundamentals. Additionally, girls aged 16 and older were taught how to obtain a drone flying license, expanding their skills in the field.
Roz Davis, president of Young STEM Professionals, expressed the program’s success in using drones to introduce young individuals to engineering. Many of the younger participants have committed to pursuing at least one science or technology course in high school. This encouraging outcome demonstrates the program’s potential to shape the educational and career trajectories of these girls.
In addition to the drone-building program, the Teen Tech Center offers a range of other STEM workshops that cover coding, digital design, robotics, filmmaking, and Photoshop. These workshops, along with the availability of free training and equipment, make a significant impact in bridging the opportunity gap for young women and encouraging them to aspire to careers in engineering and related fields.
The Teen Tech Center, located at the Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center in southeast Dallas, has been in operation since 2016. While the Park and Recreation Department maintains the physical space, the center’s equipment, including computers and drones, is funded through a partnership with Best Buy and Samsung. The center also receives support from The Clubhouse Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating after-school programs for underserved youth.
Moreover, the Teen Tech Center facilitates internship opportunities for older students in collaboration with Best Buy and the city’s parks department through its career pathways program. This initiative specifically caters to 16- to 19-year-olds residing near the center in South Dallas, further enhancing their chances of gaining hands-on experience and exposure to potential future employment.
Marques Buford, the coordinator of the Teen Tech Center, highlighted the program’s popularity among students from various areas of Dallas, as evidenced by the long waitlist for participation. This overwhelming interest emphasizes the demand for more initiatives that provide young individuals with exposure to new opportunities, fostering the development of the next generation of technicians, engineers, and software developers.
The collaborative efforts of public and private entities involved in this program demonstrate the significance of equipping young people, especially girls, with the tools and knowledge necessary to explore and pursue new career pathways. By breaking down barriers and providing inclusive opportunities, programs like the drone-building after-school initiative are instrumental in promoting diversity and gender equality in STEM fields.
As more young girls are encouraged to explore their potential in engineering and other STEM disciplines, the future of these industries becomes brighter and more inclusive. The success of the Teen Tech Center’s after-school program serves as a testament to the impact that such initiatives can have on the lives of young individuals, particularly those from underprivileged communities. By nurturing talent and sparking interest at an early age, we can build a more diverse and innovative workforce that reflects the true potential of all young people.
