Summary
July 30, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM ET
Pier 57, Discovery Tank, 25 11th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) play a critical role in addressing today’s biggest challenges, yet many voices and perspectives remain underrepresented within these fields. You Belong in STEM: Careers Creating Change is an invitation to reimagine who STEM is for and how diverse perspectives are essential to meaningful progress.
Join Hudson River Park Trust and The New York Academy of Sciences for a powerful panel discussion spotlighting STEM professionals whose careers are creating positive change in their communities and beyond. Panelists will share their personal journeys, the impact of their work, and how identity, lived experience, and purpose have shaped their careers.
This event will explore:
- What it means to feel like you belong in STEM, and how to build confidence in spaces that may feel intimidating
- How to build a career in STEM that aligns with your values
- How STEM careers can drive social, environmental, and community impact
- Non-traditional and interdisciplinary roles that expand how we define STEM-related work
- Why your voice, background, and perspective matter in shaping the future of STEM
If you are interested in imagining how your interest in STEM could be transformative for you and those around you, this event offers inspiration, insight, and encouragement for your next steps. This program is especially suited for high school students, undergraduates, and recent graduates, but is open to anyone interested in STEM, equity, and career pathways that make a difference.
Networking Session for In-Person Attendees
Immediately following the panel, in-person attendees are invited to stay for a casual networking session featuring light snacks. Connect with panelists, meet peers with shared interests, and continue the conversation in a friendly and open atmosphere.
Speakers
Kwolanne Felix
Kwolanne Felix is a NYC-based writer, historian, and gender and climate scholar. Kwolanne is pursuing a PhD in environmental history at New York University and works as the Fellowship Manager at Black Girl Environmentalist where she runs an exciting program empowering women and gender-expansive folks in the climate sector. She writes articles, essays, and opinion pieces about climate change, politics, gender, and American and environmental history, and she has been featured in Truthout and Ms. Magazine.
Naziat Hassan
Naziat Hassan is a licensed mental health and substance abuse counselor in New York. She has over 11 years of experience treating children, adolescents, and adults with various mental health related conditions. She is an avid advocate for quality mental health services. She has a platform, Pearls of Wellbeing, which aims to dismantle stigma around mental health in underrepresented communities. In the past 3 years she has received a number of accolades for her contribution to uplifting her community.
Moderator
Jenevieve Joseph
Jenevieve is Hudson River Park’s FAO Schwarz Fellow dedicated to transforming academics through environmental pedagogy. She serves alongside full time staff members leading field trips and public programs and has a specific focus on evaluation and social statistics. This past summer, Jenevieve graduated with a Bachelor’s in Sociology & Anthropology from Spelman College and moved to New York to continue pursuing social impact work. After matriculating through her fellowship, Jenevieve plans to continue advocating for environmental justice throughout her career as an educator.
Pricing
All: Free
Registration
This event is not yet open for registration.