5th Annual STEAM Days of Action Happening Now

The Fifth Annual HBCU STEAM Days of Action, hosted by the Congressional Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus and Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) started this week.

Over the past four years, the day has proven so successful that it was expanded to an entire week in 2021. HBCU STEAM Days of Action are held virtually via Zoom between March 28, 2021 through April 1, 2021.

Most events are closed to press. However, at Noon EDT on Thursday, March 31st Rep. Adams will host “HBCU Partnerships 101: Best Practices for Engagement Across Industry,” a panel discussion that is open to the public.

Said Rep. Adams …

HBCUs contribute nearly $15 billion to our annual economy and have provided pathways of opportunity to millions of Americans, many of whom are first generation college students. I would not be in Congress today if not for the North Carolina A&T University. That is why HBCU STEAM Days of Action is so important. It’s a time when HBCUs come to Capitol Hill to advocate for more equitable federal resources – and they don’t come alone. They are joined by industry leaders who have made a commitment to creating strategic and sustainable partnerships with HBCUs. As we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic and contemplate future challenges, it has never been more important to make sure every talented student has access to a world class science, technology, engineering, arts, and math education.

Said Rep. French Hill (R-AR) …  

I am proud to kick off the fifth annual HBCU STEAM Day of Action alongside my co-chair, Rep. Adams. Arkansas is home to four of our nation's HBCUs: Shorter College, Philander Smith College, Arkansas Baptist College, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. We must work across the aisle to support STEAM programs at all our nation's HBCUs, which produce 42 percent of all Black engineers. I look forward to meeting with HBCU leaders to learn more about the unique challenges they face and discuss how Congress can work on a bipartisan basis to support these institutions. Addressing their needs will ensure the United States continues to lead the world in scientific advancement.

During STEAM Day, HBCU and business leaders will meet with Democratic and Republican Members of Congress in the House and Senate. Over 70 HBCUs, organizations, technology companies, and industry leaders are sending representatives to participate in these days of advocacy.

The bipartisan list of Congressional leaders participating in this year’s HBCU STEAM Days includes:

• Rep. French Hill (R-AR), Co-Chair of the HBCU Caucus

• House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

• House Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

• House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC)

• House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby C. Scott (D-VA)

• Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA)

• Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture Chairwoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

• Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR)

• House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott (D-GA)

• House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member G.T. Thompson (R-PA)

• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture Chairman Sanford Bishop (D-GA)

• House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

• House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Patrick McHenry (R-NC)

• House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA)

• House Energy and Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ)

• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS)

• House Science, Space and Technology Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)

• House Science, Space and Technology Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK)

• House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA)

As co-chair of the HBCU Caucus, Rep. Adams also leads the HBCU Partnership Challenge, which will be highlighted during HBCU STEAM Day.

Sixty-seven percent of job seekers say a diverse workforce is important when considering job offers, and organizations that report higher levels of racial diversity bring in nearly 15 times more sales revenue than their counterparts. The Bipartisan HBCU Caucus believes that in order to achieve true diversity in our workforce, we must focus on the front-end of this conversation – our students and the schools they attend.

The impact of HBCUs on our workforce is clear. HBCUs produce:

·         27 percent of all African-American STEM graduates;

·         40 percent of all African-American engineers;

·         50 percent of all African-American lawyers;

·         50 percent of all African-American public-school teachers; and

·         80 percent of all African-American judges.

These statistics demonstrate it is impossible to have a diverse and inclusive workforce without HBCUs.

For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Sam Spencer at Sam.Spencer@mail.house.gov.