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The STEAM Connection is on a mission to make technical education accessible for youth through the power of robotics.
Indigenous youths deserve access to culturally responsive + accessible technical education.
11k+
Free EKGAR robots sent
800k+
Youths reached with our representative educational resources
34k+
Users making robots on our virtual learning platform
100%
Designed by youth for youth for free
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Designing, manufacturing, and distributing leading robotic solutions and giving them away for free.
By us for us. Community built and led by youth who represent our students.
Paving the way for Indigenous youths to become innovators.
Robots for the future.
In 2019, Ojibwe (Sault Tribe) teen Danielle Boyer created The STEAM Connection, a minority and youth-led charity that has reached hundreds of thousands of children with technical education with an emphasis on language revitalization. The STEAM Connection focuses on the future: ushering in a new age of education via personal and wearable robotics, ethical artificial intelligence systems, and augmented reality. Informed by the past and present, The STEAM Connection utilizes traditional knowledge to uplift and protect Indigenous communities.
Verizon Forward for Good Challenge Winner for biodegradable robots
Our founder is a Teen Vogue Indigenous Youth Changemaker
Our founder is a two-time guest of the White House
A 2x MIT Solve Winning Team
2023 Echoing Green Fellow and MIT Solve Gender Equity Finalist
Technical education isn't accessible
Understanding the disparities
Technical education is crucial for Indigenous communities, as it promotes self-determination, empowers tech career opportunities, and overcomes systemic barriers. Despite facing challenges like limited computer and internet access, lack of role models, high dropout rates, and underrepresentation in STEM, technical education can bridge the digital divide, enhance career prospects, and assert control over technological development. It empowers Indigenous communities by addressing disparities, amplifying voices, and fostering inclusion in the tech world.
Now what...
What we're doing
We create representative and culturally-responsive technical education that we distribute through our own educational programs as well as educational institutions and companies serving Indigenous youths. We design everything in-house and focus on robotics that are affordable and teach Indigenous languages. Our robots overcome many accessibility barriers and work without WiFi, are made from recycled resources, and are completely free to students. We also create representative comics, art, apps, campaigns, and work to advocate for our communities in technology.
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