THE SEATTLE AND TACOMA ALUMNAE CHAPTERS OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC. TO CO-HOST Plant Your STEM! – Emerging Young Leaders Community Youth Summit

The Emerging Young Leaders Community Youth Summit will educate Puget Sound area youth on opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related fields The Dynamic Urban Opportunities Foundation (DUOF), the community outreach arm of the Delta Upsilon Omega (DUO) Seattle Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) and the Zeta Omega Omega (ZOO) Tacoma Alumnae Chapter of AKA are proud to announce “Plant Your STEM!” – their upcoming Emerging Young Leaders (EYL) Community Youth Summit. The summit will focus on driving awareness and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related subjects and careers. Reaching Puget Sound-Area YouthAccording to the U.S. Department of Education, “only 16 percent of American high school seniors are proficient in mathematics and are interested in a STEM career.” With few American students seeking knowledge in STEM fields and the demand for professionals with STEM backgrounds increasing in the U.S. every year – the need to educate American students to excel in STEM subjects has become a top priority in the United States. In response to this need, and in an effort to positively impact youth in the Puget Sound area, the DUO and ZOO chapters of AKA are partnering to host the EYL Community Youth Summit, which will take place on Saturday, March 1, 2014 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Tukwila Community Center. Students in the sixth through eighth grades are invited to attend and will have an opportunity to interact with professionals currently working in representative STEM fields – as well as participate in hands-on learning activities. Parents and guardians are also encouraged to attend the summit. They will be invited to participate in a parallel program taking place in conjunction with the student activities, during which they will receive tips for keeping their student(s) interested in STEM subjects, learn about educational funding, grant and scholarship opportunities, and receive information about projected career and earning potential for STEM professionals. On-site childcare will be available to parents and guardians in attendance with young children not participating in the summit. There is no cost for the EYL Community Youth Summit and all participants will receive a continental breakfast, boxed lunch and snacks throughout the day. To sign-up for the event, please register online here; the deadline for registration is Friday, February 21, 2014. Plant Your STEM! – Emerging Young Leaders Community Youth SummitSaturday, March 1, 2014; 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (Breakfast, lunch and snacks provided)Tukwila Community Center12424 42nd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98168Cost: FreeRegister online here by February 21, 2014 For more information, contact:Jennifer M. ColemanAKA DUO Education Committee Chairman(253) 517-5068education@akaduo.org