The STEM industry in North Carolina is a vibrant and constantly growing field. It experiences twice the growth of any other industry with a median wage of $94,810; this is 2.5 times greater than non-STEM jobs. Unfortunately, many of our students are unaware and/or unprepared for a career in such an upwardly mobile and impactful industry, especially girls and students of color. Enter SparkNC; a transformative initiative that strives to increase student preparedness for careers in highly technical fields like artificial intelligence, computer systems engineering, and cybersecurity. In this discussion-based session, we will share our approach to creating inclusive programs based on five design principles: (1) learner agency, (2) equity, (3) relevance, (4) connection, and (5) transformation. Through an interactive and collaborative process, participants will have the opportunity to discover new and transformative ways to engage all students in the career exploration process.
