4th Annual MLK Jr. Youth Summit: 200 Minneapolis students explore STEM Justice at the Science Museum

Students listening to keynote speaker.

On January 16, almost 200 middle and high school students participated in a full day at the Science Museum of Minnesota for the 4th MLK Jr. Youth Summit hosted in partnership with Project Success and the Minnesota Office of Equity, Opportunity, and Accessibility. 

Thulani Jwacu addressing the crowd.

The day began with breakfast and welcome remarks from Thulani Jwacu, Director of the Science Museum’s Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center, and Ashley (Storm) Oolman, Chief Equity Officer for the State of MN, as well as our own Adrienne Diercks and Laura Garcia. The day was centered around the idea that STEM can be a powerful tool to address social injustices. The messages were poignant for students as they thought about Martin Luther King Jr. Day and how it relates to their futures. 

After the speakers addressed the group, students began a scavenger hunt activity around the museum challenging the groups to visit 14 different booths hosted by local companies and organizations such as The Works Museum, JK Movement, and more. Two Science Museum exhibits were open to the students to learn from: Weighing the Evidence and the Skin Exhibit. At each booth, students asked questions about the different organizations and companies’ missions and visions and given prompts to help them dive deeper. Questions such as “What is the primary goal of Girls Dream Code?” or “What specific skills can you learn from gaming to get a job?” stimulated meaningful conversations with students and the STEM and Social Justice experts at each booth. Students were so excited about the challenge to complete the scavenger hunt, that several chaperones had to hustle to keep up with the groups. The day ended with students sharing what they learned. The groups with the most correct answers received prizes from the Science Museum.   

  • Students at battle bots career station.
  • Students at battle bots career station.
  • Students at career station.
  • Student at career station.
  • Students at battle bots career station.
  • Student listening to booth speaker.
  • Students learning at career booth.
  • Students at career station.
  • Students at museum exhibit.
  • Student with VR headset.

When the students traveled back to their schools, the PS staff witnessed heightened joy on the bus, as they built community by singing pop songs at the top of their lungs. In the midst of our current environment filled with fear and sadness, those young people were able to find a lovely moment of happiness, hope, and a sense of belonging. When asked what they thought of the day, students all gave a resounding two thumbs up for the experience. 

MLK Jr. said  
“Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that” and “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear” 

Thanks to the partnership of Dr. Micheal Wulf, Thulani Jwacu at the Science Museum, and the Minnesota Office of Equity, we were honored to provide a day for students that was a positive light in a dark time. Students left the day with a deeper understanding of different careers available to them and feeling equipped to dream and create the futures they want for themselves.