FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2021
Media Contact:
Susan Baker
susan.baker@GONorthernVA.com; 703-403-6983
GO Virginia Region 7 To Fund Research To Increase STEM Opportunities for Minority Students
FAIRFAX, Va. — GO Virginia Region 7 has awarded $97,000 to the workforce development organization Future Kings (www.future-kings.org) to conduct research to help Black and Latino boys in grades 6-12 gain the knowledge they need to succeed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Future Kings seeks to create a pipeline of young men from underserved communities able to excel in STEM-related careers and positively influence their communities.
Future Kings, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Dumfries, Virginia, was founded in 2009 by Dr. Arik King with a commitment to shrink the opportunity gap. The group uses education, mentoring, training and practical experiences to support young men as they master 21st-century technology.
Future Kings will use findings from its grant-funded research to create a road map for how to scale its program and increase the number of Black and Latino boys in STEM-based education and in STEM-based careers such as cybersecurity, biomedical sciences, game design, drone engineering and more.
“Northern Virginia continues to grow as a hub for STEM-based companies and careers. That’s why GO Virginia strives to increase the opportunities available for Northern Virginia residents to obtain the skills they need to fuel the local job market with local talent,” said Sid Banerjee, GO Virginia Region 7 chair. “We’re proud to partner with Future Kings to make access to STEM training and jobs more equitable in our region.”
Since its inception, Future Kings has served more than 1,000 students. Program graduates have a 100% high school graduation rate with 90% of those graduates attending college. Program participants have gone on to STEM majors at colleges and universities such as Yale University, Johns Hopkins, Norfolk State University, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, West Virginia University, Northern Virginia Community College, Virginia State University, Morehouse College and more.
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GO Virginia is a nonpartisan, business-led economic development initiative whose goal is to diversify Virginia’s economy by strengthening the state’s private sector, creating more high-paying jobs. It funds collaborative programs among business, education and government in every region of the state, including Northern Virginia’s Region 7, which consists of the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park; and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William.
For more information about GO Virginia Region 7, visit GONorthernVA.com.
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