Thanks to the Golden State Community Foundation, we were able to pilot “See It and Be It” at Madison Park Academy High School in East Oakland. The program took place from February-May and left a lasting impact on both educators and students, helping to fill a college and career curriculum gap, and shifting the culture of student discourse around career pursuits. To get a full picture of the partnership program, watch the recap video that the StS team put together featuring testimonials from students and teachers.
Madison Park Academy is located in a high needs area of East Oakland, CA. 100% of its students are students of color (80% LatinX and 15% African American), and 97% of its students are economically disadvantaged. For STEAM the Streets, this is exactly the population we strive to help.
400 students received our career-connected curriculum weekly as part of the school’s college and career advisory period. The curriculum includes culturally relevant lessons highlight 11 careers ranging from Marine Science to Mental Health, Digital Marketing and Software Engineering. Previously, teachers were hodge-podging lessons together each week. “STEAM the Streets’ curriculum was a reliable and consistent activity. Students knew that on Thursdays they were coming in to learn about careers, that we’re going to jump start some discussion about our dreams.” – Hannah Scharlin-Pettee, Media, Arts & Design Teacher, Madison Park Academy High School.
To kick the program off, STEAM the Streets performed its “This Can Be You” assembly for the student body, and trained instructors on the curriculum. StS closed the program with a series of “Carve Your Path” workshops to help students take the next step in their career planning journeys.
For more information on “See It and Be It,” check out our programs page or contact info@steamthestreets.org.