Episode Summary:
1) It is important that once we've "arrived" that we give back to the community that helped to raise us. 
2) Informal STEM is as important to the development of STEM identity for our Black and Brown children. These opportunities are often the first and only opportunities our children have to become engaged in STEM. Do not take them lightly.
3) Its important that as Black professionals in STEM to find your place and find your voice
4) Dr. King has worked extensively on Black Girl Identity in STEM. This is vitally important work to do. This work helps us to understand how Black girls identify with STEM and gives us a pathway to follow to reaching more Black girls and increasing the number of Black girls that continue in STEM.

Dr. Natalie King Bio:

Natalie S. King, PhD is a three-time University of Florida graduate, and assistant professor of science education at Georgia State University. Her scholarly work focuses on advancing Black girls in STEM education, community-based youth programs, and the role of curriculum in fostering equity in science teaching and learning. Dr. King is passionate about preparing students to enter careers within the STEM disciplines and founded I AM STEM Camps — community-based programs that provide comprehensive curricula that embrace students’ cultural experiences while preparing them to become productive and critically-conscious citizens. She challenges the capitalistic agenda for encouraging girls’ involvement in STEM, and reframes STEM as a mechanism to promote sisterhood and social justice.

Dr. King’s work is published in academic journals such as the Journal of Research in Science Teaching and the Journal of Multicultural Affairs. She is particularly interested in dismantling divisive walls and centering faith-based institutions as an underutilized resource in communities. Dr. King recently released her book – Let the Church say Amen to STEM: Guidebook to Launching and Growing Extraordinary Youth Programs. She believes that churches have the potential to be a driving force for STEM education, and can positively impact younger generations by promoting intergenerational relationships, civic leadership, and activism. 

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