Niesha Butler, a former WNBA basketball star, wants kids in Brooklyn to have the opportunity to thrive in science and technology careers, not just in sports.
"There's 200,000 jobs in STEM available," Butler said, referring to the science, technology, engineering and math acronym. "But New York kids from low-income families want to be athletes. But less than 1% go pro. Why are we not supporting all kids?"
With that, Butler opened S.T.E.A.M. Champs in Fort Greene two years ago, becoming the first Black-Latina to open a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) education center in New York. It provides summer camps, workshops and after school programs for children ages five through 18 year round.
On a recent visit to the center on 157 Willoughby St., camp children were gathered around desk top computers, laptops and various materials, and were busy constructing robots or coding a video game in a fun, energetic setting.
Some children were constructing a small Ferris wheel made out LEGO blocks, which was connected to a laptop. One boy created a code so the wheel moved at various speeds. Nearby, several girls assembled a small robot. Another group coded a video game where a dinosaur avoided cars on a highway.
The goal here is to provide STEM opportunities for a demographic not often represented in the field, including girls and those in underserved communities, Butler said.
When the New York native transitioned from TV reporting to her first tech job about a decade ago, she was hired as a software engineer for Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the Super Soaker. Butler said Johnson was intentional about hiring women and became her mentor. From there, she began to see the need to encourage girls to stay in STEM.
"After age 13, girls don't continue," Butler said. "They lose confidence and focus on boys. So, it's quite a tough, upward battle. We encourage the boys to let the girls to speak and their moms are grateful for that."
The same goes for underserved communities. STEM careers are dominated by white men and Butler believes it is important to redirect children from those communities who tend to pay attention to other fields.
"There aren't too many STEAM programs and there's a wide disparity in Brooklyn," said Charlie Calixto, a former intern who keeps in contact with Butler. "So it gives parents access to these programs. It's been engaging with parents as well as kids, who grow and develop in confidence."
But it is not only the STEM projects that the children are growing and learning from but also leadership skills and how to problem solve. STEM requires more than simply coding or building a robot, but skills that reflect Butler's background as a WNBA player.
"STEM is not for everyone," Butler said. "But there's teamwork, cross-learning and helping to work through problems."
Hannah Yi, an instructor, agrees STEM has much to offer its students. "They're finding out what they like to do," she said. "They have fun when they get into it and that breeds passion."
In September, the center will be moving a new location on 4th Avenue near Barclays Center and will have a residency at the Dock Street School in Dumbo.
Butler said she wants to partner with other schools and is also planning a STEM bootcamp for adults so they will have skills for the workforce. In addition, S.T.E.A.M. Champs offers SHSAT tutoring so students from underserved communities can prepare better to attend the city's specialized high schools, including at nearby Brooklyn Technical High School.
In the two years since she opened S.T.E.A.M. Champs, Butler is pleased she's made some inroads, but she is also looking further into the future.
"It's an American issue," she said. "Only 4% major in computer science. That's shutting doors and letting a small few in control."
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