Overview: The Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy is returning for its 11th year, offering an 8-week immersive program focused on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), science, and journalism to dozens of girls, ages 11-14. The program, presented by the California Society of Extraordinary Women, aims to empower students to discover their extraordinary selves through mentoring and education. The program has previously supported young girls in learning about aviation, science, technology, and journalism, and has taken in students who were not doing so well in school, with their grades in school improving after completing the program.
Alyssah Hall
The Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy is returning this fall, poised to expect 50 girls who will participate in an 8-week immersive program focused on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), science and journalism.
California Society of Extraordinary Women (CSOEW) Founder, Shirley Coates, recalled when she started the Ignite program 11 years ago. Coates noticed the disparities in the number of kids graduating high school in cities across Riverside, specifically female students. Perplexed by the statistics, she asked herself, “Why was this happening?”
“We found out the reason why this happens is because girls, sometimes, by the time they’re around 11 [or] 12, their esteem starts to fall. They don’t have that belief in themselves as they did when they were younger,” Coates said. “Then, of course, as they start to go further into middle school and high school, their esteem goes further [down], because then, there is peer pressure. And then I realized some don’t have the parental support they need.”
The Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy is a free program for girls ages 11 to 14, presented by CSOEW. The program provides specific skills that support personal and academic success, including but not limited to team building, greater self-esteem and preparation for college.
When the program was first established, it was only a leadership academy until Coates was inspired by an article she read about technology. She had discovered that only 16% of women were in leadership positions in the tech field.
“That was an eye-opener for me. We’re in the age of technology, and then we’re not being involved. It was even lower for African American students and girls of color. So, that began to be my focus. And that’s how it just motivated me to say, ‘Well, what can I do about this?’” Coates said.
Coates found a way to impact her community and fight the disproportionate graduation rates by creating the Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy. Ignite students are not admitted into the program based on grades, they just have to have a “willingness” to learn. Coates said Ignite has taken in students who were not doing so well in school in the past, and by the time they completed the program, their grades in school had improved.
“Some of these students have gone on to be leaders in their school, [participating] in their student government, or running for class president. Things that they hadn’t thought of doing until they realized, ‘Oh, I’m a leader,’” Coates said.
“This is why our mission is to empower students to discover their extraordinary selves through mentoring and education for a lifetime. That’s why I say the students, they’re already extraordinary. They just don’t know it yet,” Coates explained.
Last year, the program hosted a 10-year anniversary, and Coates said many college-aged students, who had been a part of the Ignite program when they were young, came back to celebrate. She said it felt like she was on cloud nine because that’s the impact she wanted to make: for this program to be life-changing. Returning students who attended traveled from San Diego, Washington and even Georgia as a Spelman graduate.
The Ignite program focuses on leadership, technology, geographic information systems (GIS) and recently added journalism to the curriculum. These subjects are led by Black Voice News reporter Breanna Reeves and Program Coordinator Kennedy Schneider, and also features other distinguished guest speakers.
One of Ignite’s former students, 15-year-old Bella Cuesta, has become a student instructor who will lead a science portion of the program. Coates said that Bella is a brilliant student who conducts hands-on science presentations and projects weekly.
“It’s funny because most of these experiments that I’m giving the students, they’re all ones that I found years ago and wanted to do. But I couldn’t find all the materials and it wasn’t fun doing them by myself. So, it’s nice to be able to teach other people while also having some fun myself,” Cuesta said.
Cuesta said this opportunity is exciting and unexpected. She appreciates that Coates allowed her to have additional responsibilities and explore her creativity. Ignite has impacted Cuesta as a student by teaching her to ask thoughtful questions and openly listen to different perspectives.
“As an instructor, I’ve gained confidence in guiding others and explaining complex concepts in simple ways. Teaching has also taught me patience and has helped me realize how much I enjoy helping others understand STEM concepts,” Cuesta said.
The program expects to host 50 students and once the 8-week interval is completed, the students will be rewarded with a graduation ceremony. Coates said there will be a guest speaker, a student speaker and the students will present the information they’ve learned in class at the graduation. Their last graduation was held at the Grier Pavilion located on the rooftop of Riverside City Hall.
Located in the School of Business at Cal Baptist University, the cost-free, eight week program begins on Oct. 5, with orientation from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Classes are on Saturdays only and officially begin on Oct. 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Parents can register their students by visiting csoew.org.