Danielle Boyer
Troy, MI
Bringing STEAM Education to Indigenous Youth
After teaching her first kindergarten science class at age 10 in Troy, Michigan, Ojibwe youth Danielle Boyer, 19, became acutely aware of how disparate access to quality STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education among low-income students disadvantages them and impacts the future of our Earth. She’s been working to increase STEAM education accessibility and affordability ever since through innovative programs that promote technical competency and develop a tangible love for our Earth. In January 2019, Danielle founded her own educational organization, The STEAM Connection, to further this cause.
The STEAM Connection prioritizes work with communities of color, particularly Indigenous communities, providing free classes and events on recycling, innovation, and sustainable design. By making engineering and environmental education more widely available, Danielle is helping children realize their true potential as environmental innovators and simultaneously garner interest in STEAM careers. From her robotics kits made of recycled and biodegradable materials to the 35 youth robotics teams that she mentors, Danielle has reached tens of thousands of students around the world.