GameAbove Giving remains focused on helping the southeast region of Michigan by supporting Digital Divas K-12 STEM initiatives. During the summer, GameAbove and other organizations provided 500 hands-on STEM activity kits to young people in Washtenaw County. With the support of GameAbove, Digital Divas has planned supplemental STEM education for young people in middle school for this 2021-22 academic year as part of its Digital Divas and Dudes program.

“Our goal is to continue exposing the maximum number of young people to opportunities available in a STEM career,” said Bia Hamed, Digital Divas director. “Jobs will look very different in 10 years, so we must prepare the next generation’s workforce. In the very near future, 9 out of 10 jobs will require some digital skillset. With the help of GameAbove, we are building relationships with these students that will help guide many of them into desirable STEM careers.”

With the school year underway, EMU is looking to Digital Divas and Dudes to help young people get a jump start in STEM. The program, intended for 8th graders, will serve students in various Metro locations such as Detroit, Dearborn, Wayne, Southfield, and Ypsilanti. It will serve as an introduction to various STEM majors and careers, which will help interested students select related electives in high school.

Earlier this year, GameAbove contributed $250,000 to the Mr. October Foundation and Digital Divas collaborative effort in bringing STEM education to young women and men in the Detroit area. Since January 2020, GameAbove contributions to STEM K-12 education outreach have reached over $800,000.

"GameAbove is committed to STEM and the communities in southeast Michigan," said GameAbove Advisory Board Member Khalid Walton. These programs are helping young students explore STEM careers today so they can be ready to enter the workforce in the future. We are incredibly happy to support the university in this work."