Chicago Griffin Museum of Science and Industry Hosts Black Creativity Career Showcase for Black History Month

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry was bustling with Black creativity this weekend.

Saturday saw the Black Creativity Career Showcase take place, where Black professionals from nearly thirty companies and organizations, deeply rooted in science and the arts, gathered together to exhibit their work and experiences.

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“Our aim is for adults and the individuals they bring along, especially young people or families, to engage in conversations about their own experiences when approached by a curious 10-year-old,” highlighted Manny Juarez from the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

Children from diverse backgrounds had the opportunity to explore various career paths, from constructing with Legos to practicing a simulated surgery on chicken breast and many other exciting activities, opening their minds to a world of possibilities.

“The two activities we have today are building your dream house with Legos, and building a tower with marshmallows and spaghetti,” said Jasmine Gunn with the National Organization of Minority Architects.

Gunn is represented the Illinois Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. She said she hopes to inspire the next generation of architects.

“The design profession is not representative of the people that live in the world, so our mission to increase diversity,” Gunn said.

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Tamera Jones was at the event with a group called Girls 4 Science, working to expose girls from across Chicago and the south suburbs to different STEAM fields.

“It gives them the opportunity to see how it all works, how it’s all put together,” Jones said. “When they see the pieces get put together, the lightbulb comes on… it’s like, ‘I’ve seen this before!'”

ABC7 spoke with two 13-year-old girls from Girls 4 Science who are aspiring to take their future careers to new heights.

“I like seeing all the different things and experimenting with little things,” said Anya Cole with Girls 4 Science. “It makes me happy.”

“I’ve seen a lot of science and engineers and stuff and just how they promote the museum, it’s just really cool,” said Kadence Baugh with Girls 4 Science.