Pertenecer/YouBelong: Introducing academic and geoscience careers to youth from under-served communities

Abstract:

Pertenecer/YouBelong was started by students at Stanford Earth who acknowledge the lack of representation in the geosciences from many communities. Many of the under-represented communities are often under-served and youth have little exposure to the geosciences and academic careers. Stanford Earth, being in the San Francisco Bay area, is part of a region with significant economic and educational inequalities that mostly impact under-represented minority group communities. Using the resources available through Stanford Earth and a Diversity Innovation Fund Grant, Pertenecer/YouBelong aims to: 1.) expose K-12 students and their families to life on a college campus, 2.) introduce careers in earth/environmental sciences to populations that lack exposure to and representation in these fields, and 3.) most importantly, show students that they belong and can thrive in academic spaces like Stanford Earth. In the last two years we have held 17 events (some in Spanish) with over 800 participants. Events have included career days and campus tours at Stanford, visits by Stanford Earth scientists to local classrooms, and field/career specific workshops. A sample survey of participants showed that 82% were from underrepresented minority groups (URM) or low-income families, with none of the surveyed participants having parents with 4-year degrees. Since going virtual, Pertenecer/YouBelong has successfully transitioned to virtual events, reaching students from across the country beyond the Bay Area, including states such as New Hampshire, Texas, & Massachusetts.

Our success is attributed to the hard work of our student volunteers and the rich partnerships we have developed with community organizations and public school systems who work with and support our target audience. Pertenecer/YouBelong serves as a model that could be economically and feasibly adopted by many institutions. By introducing the geosciences and showing students they belong on our campuses, we can all take one small step towards ensuring equitable educational opportunities.