Perspectives on Building Racial Equity in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Health Science Education and Workforce Systems

Persistent and deeply entrenched systemic racism too often contributes to the lack of Black and Latinx people from low-income communities ascending and succeeding at the highest levels of STEM and healthcare careers. The authors examine the relationships between equity-centered innovations in K-12 STEM education, persistence, and attainment. The authors identify community-specific constructs with potential to engage partners and increase collective capacity for more Black and Latinx youth. They focus on how to structure social-emotional health into STEM and health science learning models, occupational identity development, and specific work-based learning strategies for students. Data and infrastructure are considered, and approaches to program design are discussed from a methodological point of view. This analysis considers these elements through its case study of the rush education and career hub (REACH), a pipeline and workforce intermediary. REACH is distinct for its position within Rush University Medical Center, an anchor institution on Chicago's west side.