From the Block to the Boardroom: 3 Lesson’s Learned on the Power of STEM Education
What’s good, world?! I’m Dr. Hassan Brown, a Brooklyn native (I rep real hard!) who has gone from the block to the boardroom. Let me tell you a bit about me and what I’m doing here. I had a bit of a rough start out the gate; I was born prematurely, with partially developed intestines and neonatal sepsis. I underwent surgery within days of my birth and spent weeks in the hospital recovering. At the age of three, both of my parents were imprisoned for drug offenses. My mother was later deported to Panama after serving a prison sentence, and my father appeared intermittently in my life thereafter. After narrowly avoiding the foster care system, my sister and I were taken in by my aunt, who raised us as a single parent. To support us, my aunt worked multiple jobs and depended on both public assistance and the help of extended family members and friends. Like they say, it takes a village.
While I felt deep love and affection at home, growing up poor — on public assistance, with the stigma of incarcerated and absentee parents — was challenging for me. Determined to rise above my situation, I pushed myself to excel academically. I worked throughout high school to relieve the financial strain, and participated in various extracurricular activities in an effort to keep out of trouble, and to become a well-rounded kid. I went on to attend and graduate from Morehouse College, earn two master’s degrees and a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University.
I am passionate about education because it was my way out of a seemingly hopeless situation. My life experiences and challenges have fueled my work ethic, drive, and passion for building better systems to support the countless children living in situations like the one I was born into. I am currently the chief executive officer of Career Catalyst, an education technology and media venture aimed at inspiring young people from under-represented and under-resourced communities to explore careers in STEM — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I think this platform is pretty dope; something I wish I had when running around these Brooklyn streets and I’m so excited for its upcoming launch midyear of 2022! There’s nothing like this in the market. As we wrap up 2021, I’ve been reflecting and wanted to share some of my learnings on this path to creating Career Catalyst.
Lesson #1: Exercise your power. Tell your story.
“We killed the facades, we feel free to fly. We’re birds that reserve in the charismatic sky”- Kendrick Lamar
We are in the midst of a digital / technological revolution and our futures and tech are intertwined. In building this platform, I have realized how so much of the language, resources and curriculum of STEM excludes the experiences and narratives of communities of color. STEM careers are so wide-ranging and span everything from Dr. Fauci to Dr. Dre. We hear a lot about traditional STEM careers such as medicine and engineering, but there are so many more careers that fall under STEM, many of which are in the DNA of communities of color — think agriculture, beat making / sound engineers, and food science. When it comes to the intersection of education and the future of work, it is of critical importance that the voices and experiences of communities and practitioners who have been historically untold are brought to light and uplifted so that they can inspire this generation, and the next, to have a seat at the table and contribute to the future of work, and ultimately, the society that we aim to build. There are a lot of dope Black and Brown folks out here doing cool work in STEM and I want y’all to know and say their names. Career Catalyst will expose youth to the current and emerging opportunities within STEM, and inspire them to jump in and pursue.
Lesson #2: Optimizing learning in informal spaces–the schoolhouse ain’t the only place to learn.
“Sky’s the limit and you know that you can have what you want, be what you want.”- Notorious B.I.G
Today’s youth have way more tools at their disposal, literally at their fingertips, but youth of color remain disadvantaged because of lack of access to educational resources and innovative curriculums exposing them to high-earning and socially impactful STEM careers. For example, just 47 percent of high schools in the United States offer computer science courses, according to a 2020 State of Computer Science Education report by the Code.org Advocacy Coalition. Furthermore, the same report states Black, Latinx, and Native American students represent only 23 percent of students taking advanced placement computer science courses despite comprising nearly half of the nation’s K-12 enrollment. What I hope to achieve through Career Catalyst is shifting mindsets and redesigning systems in education that give marginalized youth awareness of their innate creativity and unique perspectives they can bring to their classrooms and community-based organizations. Once they can see themselves in STEM fields, they can take hold of careers that can build wealth and sustain their communities.
Lesson #3: This isn’t just about education, it’s about wealth-building.
“Cash rules everything around me. C.R.E.A.M., get the money. Dollar dollar bill y’all.”- Wu Tang Clan
The street philosopher, Jay Z, once said that financial freedom is our only hope, and I agree with him wholeheartedly. STEM careers provide a solid pathway for high-earning potential and wealth generation. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the STEM workforce has grown rapidly in recent decades and STEM jobs are projected to grow faster than all other jobs. In addition, the wages for STEM workers are generally higher than those in non-STEM roles; in 2019, workers in STEM roles earned an average of $86,960, according to the United States Department of Labor, almost twice as much as those in non-STEM occupations. I am on a mission to ensure that Black and Brown youth are able to capitalize on this growth and career opportunities.
Career Catalyst is in the business of developing educators and helping students spark social impact. My aim is to cultivate confidence in young people to pursue formal and informal STEM opportunities, increasing their odds of being full participants in the future of work and innovation economies, leading to more gainful employment and economic security. This is accomplished by creating a curriculum focused on tech literacy, providing role models in STEM industries that represent them and help them tap into their potential, and accessing equitable funding sources to sustain our programs through the years as more young people join the platform. I will be advocating for local policies that address structural inequities and improve outcomes for youth participants to access resources pointing to the STEM workforce that will close the gaps in workforce development. We must be intentional in collaborative settings and our efforts for social impact by bringing these resources to the youth who, in turn, can share them with their networks and communities.
As we embark on a new year, I see opportunities to break through barriers young people face in their transitions, such as lack of understanding rigorous STEM curriculum and exposure to STEM career pathways, and I’m so excited to see Career Catalyst take shape. Stay tuned for my progress and the upcoming launch!
I amplify the stories of dope Black and Brown STEM professionals through education, tech, and media. Read my story, follow me, and contact me to learn more and join the cause!
