The Afro STEAM Research Cohort serves as the research and innovation engine of our organization, dedicated to reimagining how science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education can serve and uplift Black and historically marginalized communities.

Our cohort members are leaders in developing impactful STEAM outreach activities designed to meet real community needs. Every project begins by centering community impact first, ensuring that each activity provides tangible value to local youth, families, and educators.

Through our unique partnership with the Temple University Africology Department, these outreach activities are then further transformed. Africology scholars provide critical feedback, guiding cohort members in reshaping their activities into Afro-centered STEAM programming — integrating culturally responsive pedagogy, historical awareness, and liberatory education frameworks.

This project is a proud collaboration between Afro STEAM, the Temple University Africology Department, and Slap Box Productions Organization (SLPBX). Over the past five years, we have been dedicated to producing this vibrant, deeply-researched work. Our team’s commitment culminated in a dynamic partnership with Lil Drummer Boy Studios, blending vivid animation, Afrocentric storytelling, and academic rigor to reframe historical events through the eyes of those most impacted.

As we continue to expand the Anime for Edu project, we invite university interns passionate about historical storytelling, digital media, and community engagement to apply for our upcoming programs. We are also welcoming community youth participants interested in learning creative production and historical analysis.

RSVP today to join us for our Summer and Fall 2025 sessions and be part of a powerful movement using art and education to inspire change.

The Computing, Engineering, and Robotics Cohort focuses on hands-on innovation, bringing together university scholars and youth to design, build, and engage with emerging technologies.

Through a series of interactive workshops and engineering kits, participants collaborate on machinery-building projects that serve as models for ethical technology development and Afrofuturistic design. Each project encourages critical thinking about the role of technology in society, emphasizing the importance of equity, sustainability, and cultural relevance.

By blending technical skill-building with ethical inquiry and creative expression, the Computing, Engineering, and Robotics Cohort cultivates a new generation of technologists committed to reshaping the future through a culturally rooted, socially responsible lens.

The Powerful Mindz Leadership initiative provides executive opportunities for faculty, organization position holders, and active members of influential National Society's. These leaders play a crucial role in the expansion and impact of our organization, contributing to the development of programs, measurable outcomes, and scholarly publications.

Leadership roles within Powerful Mindz are designed for individuals committed to advancing the mission of Afro-centered STEAM education, fostering long-term change, and ensuring that our programs reach their full potential. Leaders are tasked with driving strategic initiatives, mentoring the next generation of scholars and practitioners, and producing impactful publications that highlight the organization’s growth and influence in the field of community-driven education.