The Dallas (TX) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated is in our 11th year of the STEAM Academy, an Umbrella program incorporating our five facets (Health and Human Services, International Trends and Services, National Trends and Services, Services to Youth and The Arts). The STEAM Academy is in alignment with the National STEM education and career readiness initiative. The purpose of the STEAM Academy is to cultivate self-confidence, communication, critical thinking, and leadership capabilities by engaging 7th to 12th grade female scholars of color in exciting activities that promote and support innovation creativity and problem-solving skills; increase STEAM awareness and career readiness; and empower them to complete a STEAM college education and compete in the global STEAM workforce. The opportunities we offer these scholars are experiences they might not otherwise receive in their current environment.
We partner with middle school counselors primarily in nine southern sector school systems to recruit girls of color entering the 7th grade. Since 2012, we have touched the lives of over six hundred girls who attended for at least one year. Over the duration of the program, we have celebrated the graduation of 30 STEAM scholars, all who participated in the program for five years or more and all in college and the majority are pursuing a STEAM major.
Annually, we award scholarships to deserving college-bound high school seniors and in 2022 we added awards for continuing college students. In total, we provided $43,000 in scholarships to twenty students. We proudly support various community initiatives that align with our mission and values such as voter registration and educating our youth (United Negro College Fund, Historically Black College & Universities). Our annual fundraiser that supports our programs is the Women Who STEAM Awards. Recognizing the importance of creating a pipeline to success for all young girls of color while also exposing them to dynamic women in STEAM fields, the Dallas (TX) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated is honored to have established the Virtual Women Who STEAM Awards.
The Women Who STEAM Awards is our annual fundraiser and recognizes outstanding women in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics who exemplify extraordinary contributions in their fields while also Serving, Teaching, Excelling, Aspiring and Mentoring within their workplaces and communities. The Dallas (TX) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated is committed to cultivating young female scholars, championing diversity and inclusion in STEAM fields, celebrating the contributions of women of color in STEAM fields and growing this award to inspire and ignite young girls of color to pursue careers in STEAM.