Greater North Atlanta Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. Partners with Georgia Tech & Morehouse to Host STEM Con

Jack and Jill of America, Greater North Atlanta Chapter, in partnership with the GeorgiaTech Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics (C.E.I.S.M.C), and Computing, US Navy – Office of Diversity, Morehouse College -Office of Health Professions, hosted the “AIM for the Power of STEM+A” conference this past weekend at the GATech’s Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons (CULC) September 19th, 2015. 
The conference was free with approximately 200 middle and high school students, from Atlanta and surrounding counties, in attendance.

Underrepresented groups are lacking in the professional fields of medicine, science, and technology. The goal of the conference is to expose underrepresented students, specifically those students who are African-American or Hispanic dissent, to a wide range of healthcare careers and to highlight the importance of education in the science, technology, engineering, and math (S.T.E.M.) fields.
“We thrive to provide an environment where students will have an opportunity to interact and network with a variety of healthcare and S.T.E.M. professionals to discuss STEM & health science career options, explore new and cutting edge technology and research, while participating in several exciting workshops that will be offered throughout the conference”, says AIM STEM+A Project Director, Lisa Smith who designed the STEM-based program along with Courtney Baines, AIM STEM+A Conference Coordinator. The program was just awarded its third grant funding award through the Jack and Jill of America Foundation to produce its 5th program to reach underserved students going into the 2016/17 academic year.
Naval Lt. Anthony Chase, Al Duncan of Al Duncan Enterprises, LLC and David Lohrmann of Destination Imagination were among the speakers during the General Session before transitioning into Parent Workshops, led by Dr. George Tucker, that focused on how to best support students pursuing STEM-based learning and the health and medical sciences.
In addition, the program also included an exhibit forum for students called ‘S.T.E.M. and Mentoring Symposium’ where the healthcare and S.T.E.M. professional, from various disciplines, set up interactive ‘hands on demonstration’ display that highlights various aspects of their profession. Students also had opportunities to ask questions and discuss career options with conference exhibitors.
Please refer to the following video for further information. The following link is a STEAM promotional video that highlights our conference sponsors - https://youtu.be/o9CuzM-176o.

ABOUT JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED

MISSION: Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2-19, dedicated to nurturing future African-American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.

The late Marion Stubbs Thomas founded Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated on January 24, 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Twenty mothers came together to discuss creating an organization to provide social, cultural and educational opportunities for youth between the ages of two and nineteen. In 1946, ten chapters were involved in the national restructuring process. Constitution and bylaws were drawn up and the organization was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware.

Today, Jack and Jill boasts over 230 chapters nationwide, representing over 40,000 family members. Each chapter plans annual programming activities guided under a national theme. Through service projects, Jack and Jill of America creates a medium of contact for children to stimulate their growth and development.

“To us as mothers, it [Jack and Jill] has become a means of furthering an inherent and natural desire …to bestow upon our children all the opportunities possible for a normal and graceful approach to a beautiful adulthood.” Marion Stubbs Thomas