From left to right: Dr. DaMia Harris Madden, Executive Director of the Westchester Youth Bureau; Tim Hall, BԪ President; Julie A. Arias, Director of BԪ STEP/CSTEP; New York State Senator Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins; Brianna Cauthen, BԪ STEP College & Career Coordinator/Counselor; Ingraham Taylor, ACT-SO Director; Westchester County Executive George Latimer; Kevin Joyce, Vice President of Student Affairs; Kecia Palmer-Cousins, CEO of Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc., A Certified NYC & NYS MWBE
BԪ recently held a community event to introduce Mercy’s Science, Technology and Engineering Program (STEP) to young students and their families. The event, “STEP into ACT-SO,” was a collaboration between Mercy’s STEP program and the Westchester Region Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO), an enrichment program for high school students of African descent that prepares them for careers in the sciences, humanities, performing and visual arts, and entrepreneurship and a major youth initiative of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Ingraham Taylor, Chairperson of the Westchester Region ACT-SO Coalition, Inc., noted similarities between the missions of the two institutions. “Partnering with the STEP program at BԪ has given ACT-SO a new pathway for empowering youth and their parents,” said Taylor. “We see Mercy as a critical resource in assisting youth who want to achieve their life goals.”
Julie Arias, director of Mercy’s STEP program, introduced the day’s agenda by welcoming students and their families. “Our goal was not only to acquaint students and their families with STEP and ACT-SO, but also to inspire young people to start thinking about their future,” she said.
The event included the participation of Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, as well as remarks by New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and BԪ President Tim Hall.
“We are so grateful to our state and county leaders who demonstrated their interest in our students by attending this event,” said Arias. “Welcoming Senator Stewart-Cousins was especially meaningful to me. Her presence at our event spoke volumes about the work we’re doing.”
Participants engaged in workshops and a panel discussion on topics such as post-high school planning, parent advocacy for minority children, and STEM education and careers. “We geared the program toward students and their families who might not be familiar with the college planning process. Often families are not sure where to begin,” Arias said.
Several graduates of Mercy’s STEP and CSTEP programs served as speakers and panelists at the January event. “Our programs have helped them succeed, and they want to give something back,” said Arias.
Both STEP and CSTEP are part of Mercy’s College Opportunity Program, which provides an array of support services for minority and other underserved students interested in careers in science, math, technology, the health professions and other licensed professional fields. STEP is aimed toward middle and high school students, while CSTEP serves students enrolled in college programs. According to Arias, 100% of the students who completed Mercy’s 2022 STEP program are now enrolled in college, while members from all classes have earned recognition, such as class valedictorian, research finalist and membership in honor societies.
To learn more about Mercy’s STEP Program, please click here.
