Divas in the Digital Spotlight - Northwestern's Nichole Pinkard - Northwestern University
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Evanston-Northwestern
Community News
Winter 2020
NEWS
Divas in the Digital Spotlight
N
orthwestern’s Nichole Pinkard
knows the value of creating sup-
portive learning spaces, both
on- and offline. The associate
professor of learning sciences works to
blend technical platforms and social rela-
tionships to create optimal environments for
young girls interested in science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM).
Pinkard’s Digital Youth Divas program is
designed to involve local girls in STEM activ-
ities beginning in fourth grade and track the
outcomes all the way through high school.
“Data tells us that girls do not engage in
computer science,” she says. “If a middle
school girl is not participating in STEM activ-
ities, like robotics or coding club, regardless
of how she does academically she won’t
decide to pursue a STEM major in college.”
Over 60 “divas” meet on Saturdays to social-
ize, learn, and work on projects that include
coding and 3-D design. Older girls and young
women—Evanston Township High School
students and Northwestern undergraduate general, but particularly girls of color, so they should show up with more girls taking com-
STEM majors—mentor the younger girls. The don’t feel they have to choose between STEM puter science and engineering courses at
program is free. activities and activities with friends.” ETHS—that’s our first sign of impact,” she
says. The program’s first cohort is now in
“We know that in order to increase the pipe- With funding from the National Science
sixth grade.
line, we have to target girls who don’t think Foundation, Pinkard’s team will study what
STEM is their cup of tea,” Pinkard says. “If happens once girls enter high school five
we create places that are inviting, they may years after starting in the program. “Are they
discover an interest. Our goal is to create an more likely to enroll in STEM courses? We (continued on back page)
ecosystem of engaging programs for girls in believe our program’s evidence of success
Economic and Community Development
Elevating Evanston Youth
“We really want to . . . make sure
they become a vibrant part of the
community. A career that pays enough
means they don’t have to leave.”
W
hile Evanston may be known
as a college town, around
200 students from Evanston
Township High School grad-
uate each year without further schooling
plans, and 25 percent of those who go to col-
lege don’t make it through the first year.
In June 2018, the Mayor’s Employment
Advisory Council (MEAC) was created to
foster connections between ETHS and
local employers and to provide career
opportunities for young people who don’t
want to go to college. Part of city mayor you can get into right out of high school and AMITA also provides scrubs to the students
Stephen Hagerty’s Elevate Evanston make a great living, but you have to be pre- in ETHS’s health science class. During the
initiative, the council (pictured) links pared,” he says. last part of the school day every other Friday,
students with career opportunities in the they’re taken by bus to job-shadow in vari-
Run by volunteers, the initiative eventually
community while providing local busi- ous hospital departments.
needed a full-time advocate. Hagerty desig-
nesses with a well-prepared talent pool.
nated money from Northwestern University’s Gambow notes that the initiative is import-
“Evanston is fortunate to have a thriving, Good Neighbor Fund to hire Tana Francellno, ant to the city because young people repre-
diverse business community, great schools, who works directly with ETHS adminis- sent its future: “When you see young people
and a strong network of organizations,” trators. The school now organizes career being priced out of Evanston, that leaves
Hagerty said when announcing the program. months, each focused on a different path- a hole. We really want to fill that hole and
“Working together, we have a marvelous way, such as manufacturing, healthcare, IT, make sure they become a vibrant part of
opportunity to elevate our youth, elevate or public service. the community. A career that pays enough
our city, and create a better Evanston for means they don’t have to leave.
The Northwestern funding is a game-
everyone.”
changer, Gambow says, providing resources “I’m absolutely amazed at how far we’ve
“ETHS graduates about 850 students a “to establish this program as sustainable, come in 18 months and by how many people
year—that’s a great population,” says Neil with a solid bridge between employers and want to be part of this,” he says. “And now
Gambow, who chairs the MEAC. “We began ETHS.” kids and teachers are saying, ‘Let’s do more.’”
working with the high school to develop a
Already the program has reached 422 stu-
process for employers to come in and show
dents. Seventy-three have taken a full-day
students what local careers look like.” TO LEARN MORE about the council, email
field trip to three manufacturing employers
Neil Gambow at neilnexnine@gmail.com.
The program starts when students enter that offer summer internships, and local
high school. “We invite all students, because healthcare providers Erie Family Health
we want to make sure young people under- Centers, AMITA Health, and Presbyterian
stand there are career opportunities that Homes participated in a panel for over
50 students.
2 OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS – WINTER 2020
Health and Public Safety
Levy Senior Center: An All-Stop Shop
The center’s popular lecture
series presents experts who
speak on topics ranging from
resistance in Nazi Germany
to the history of candy in the
US. The hourlong talks often
draw on the expertise of
Northwestern faculty; School STAFF PROFILE: ASHLEY WANLAND
of Education and Social
Policy professor Cheryl Northwestern
Judice recently spoke about welcomes
interracial relationships Ashley Wanland
between white men and as assistant
black women. director of com-
S
eniors in Evanston, Skokie, Lectures are held in the center’s Linden munity relations
Chicago, and surrounding cities Room, where a donation from Northwestern for athletics.
are engaging with peers, continu- is funding a new sound system for hearing Wanland works
ing their learning, and improving impaired seniors. Further improvements with local busi-
their quality of life thanks to Evanston’s Levy include exercise-friendly flooring, new nesses, community groups, and organiza-
Senior Center. At the city’s second-most- chairs, and a video system. Says Newton, tions and coordinates outreach activities
used center, older adults take art and fitness “Northwestern was the first donor—they’re for student athletes.
classes, organize trips to cultural events, get our advocates.” In an example of Wildcat athletes’ commu-
help with tasks like signing up for Medicare nity involvement, Wanland helped organize
The new Jamming Jean Concert Series,
and renewing driver’s licenses, and receive a December food drive in which all 19 of the
named in memory of Northwestern alumna
regular health screenings. University’s varsity teams gathered canned
Jean Levy London, presents well-known
“We’re an all-stop shop here,” says Judy musicians at free Friday evening concerts goods to benefit families in Evanston’s
Newton, president of the Levy Senior Center that attract over 300 attendees. “Our goal is Fifth Ward.
Foundation, which funds the center. Open to to bring the community together,” Newton Wanland also identifies programming,
those ages 55 and above, yearly membership says. “Many seniors are alone during the day, event, and competition opportunities to
costs $34 for Evanston residents and $54 and our events give them something to look bring Evanstonians into the University
for others; membership is free for those 90 forward to.” community.
and older.
She adds that center staff are excited “We want to show our commitment to the
about the warm reception they get from city and to being a good neighbor,” she says.
Northwestern’s community relations office: “At the end of the day we’re all on the
“I know I can go to them and get ideas and same team.”
follow-through—they have been extremely
supportive and offer good ideas about how
we can partner with the University.”
TO LEARN MORE about center activities
and to support the foundation, visit
lscfevanston.org.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS – WINTER 2020 3
Education, Child, and Youth Development
Digital Divas
(continued from front page) EVENTS
MODERNISMS
THROUGH APRIL 5
Block Museum, 40 Arts Circle Drive
With works from NYU’s Abby Weed Grey
Collection, this free exhibit surveys
art from Iran, Turkey, and India—three
nations where unique and vibrant forms
of modernism sprang forth in the 1960s
and ’70s.
MEN’S BASEBALL
NORTHWESTERN VS. KENT STATE
“Technology is not going anywhere—we’re
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 3 P.M.
going to be using it in all aspects of our lives,”
Rocky and Berenice Miller Park,
Pinkard adds, noting that smart appliances
2751 Ashland Avenue
are increasingly important to how we engage
Cheer on the ’Cats at their home
at home. “That means we need women to
opener! Visit nusports.com for more
also design technology. It’s not just about
information. Tickets are $7 for adults
equal numbers—you need people person-
and $5 for youth.
ally connected to what they are using. There
is a need to have all genders, races, and
socioeconomic statuses as part of the tech
community.”
CONNECT WITH US Digital Youth Divas is currently housed at
Our email newsletter includes Evanston’s Family Focus; Pinkard is work-
a monthly Northwestern events ing with Northwestern’s neighborhood and
calendar. Email Shayla Butler at community relations office and the city
shayla.butler@northwestern.edu to expand the program to the new Robert
to sign up. Crown Community Center.
Do you have a business or non- Pinkard says the uniqueness of the Divas
profit in Evanston? We can help mentoring model is allowing girls to see
increase your visibility, facilitate someone taking the next step: “Everyone
89TH ANNUAL WAA-MU SHOW:
connections to the Northwestern doesn’t need Steven Spielberg—if you’re
STATE OF THE ART
community, and find student making movies for the first time, you just
FRIDAY, MAY 1–SUNDAY, MAY 10
volunteers. need someone to show you that you can
Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson Street
create something interesting. Women won’t
For details, visit northwestern.edu In this student-produced original
go into STEM unless they have a history of
/communityrelations or contact musical, follow a covert group of artists
solid success. Our model helps girls see that
Neighborhood and Community vandalizing world-renowned pieces of
it’s doable.”
Relations executive director Dave street art in a metropolis of the not-so-
Davis at dave.davis@northwestern distant future. When the mayor’s misfit
.edu or 847-467-5762. child crosses paths with the vandals,
TO LEARN MORE and to enroll, visit
the city elite find themselves caught
digitalyouthnetwork.org/divas.
between their dream of the city on the
national stage and the truth behind the
young citizens’ acts of resistance.
Tickets $10–$30.
©2020 Northwestern University. All rights reserved. Produced by
Global Marketing and Communications. 2-20/250/JS-GD/2962
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