Richmond Community Foundation 6th Annual Northern California Summit on Children and Youth

The Richmond Community Foundation and the members of the 2015 Summit Steering Committee are pleased to bring the 6th Annual Northern California Summit on Children and Youth to the Richmond Civic Center again this year. The summit is scheduled for April 30, 2015 and the theme for this year’s event is Bridging the STEM Diversity Gap – Building the Next Generation Workforce.

Lack of diversity in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields received national attention when the largest technology companies in the country released their diversity numbers.  Across the board, African Americans and Latinos made up barely 2% of the workforce.  And although women make up more than 50% of college graduates, they represent less than 30% of those working in STEM fields.  We need to ensure that careers in STEM fields are available to all Californians and build pathways that provide opportunities for young women and young men of color.

The day will be comprised of dynamic speakers and presentations that explore academic, vocational, training, mentoring and employment programs targeting underserved youth and focusing on STEM, and also evaluate career opportunities for women as well as boys and men of color.  The goal is to demonstrate successful STEM pathways and encourage more organizations to replicate or scale them up for West Contra County stakeholders.

This convening will attract educators, community organizations, community leaders, local government and elected officials, businesses, and area foundations from throughout Northern California to share innovative approaches, research-driven models, and best practices for supporting children and youth.