Oakland and other cities to get Black Panther-inspired STEM centers
By Mia Johnson
The Walt Disney Company is donating $1 million to support STEM programs after the success of Black Panther and its portrayal of science and technology.
Kids inspired by the industry and science seen in Black Panther can soon expect their dreams to come true. The Walt Disney Company announced that it is donating $1 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to expand its STEM Centers of Innovation, according to a press release via Business Wire.
Disney attributes this donation to the success of Black Panther, set in the fictional nation of Wakanda. Isolated from the rest of the world, the country thrives on the fictional element of “vibranium,” which fuels the countries scientific advancement.
“It is thrilling to see how inspired young audiences were by the spectacular technology in the film,” Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger said in the press release. “So it’s fitting that we show our appreciation by helping advance STEM programs for youth, especially in underserved areas of the country, to give them the knowledge and tools to build the future they want.”
Parallel to the ending scene in Black Panther, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) center in Oakland, California, will be one of the many new centers opening soon. Though, we’re not sure that Princess Shuri will be able to run the center like in the movie — we wish she could!
Other communities poised to receive centers include: Atlanta; Baltimore; Chicago; Harlem in New York; Hartford, Connecticut; Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans; Orlando, Florida; Philadelphia; Washington, DC, and Watts, California.
With the donation, kids will be able to get hands-on experience learning about the field STEM through “3-D printers, robotics, high-definition video production and conferencing equipment,” according to the press release.
“Thanks to Disney’s support, we can expand our outreach and allow more youth to find their passions and discover STEM careers,” said Jim Clark, the president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, in the release.
As the STEM field goes underrepresented for minorities and women, this contribution will be a good foundation for children who are interested in the field, or might not have had the exposure to the field in the first place.
Next: Black Panther tops second week box office
With a contribution like this, we might just have a few Princess Shuris in the making.