Rhode Island needs a STEAM Summit and a STEAM Council to support its next Economic revolution.

I attended the Science  Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Summit in Massachusetts last Wednesday at Gillette stadium .   It was opened by Governor Deval Patrick who gave an inspiring speech about why we must give our students every opportunity available for them to have a successful and rewarding career whether be in the trades or on an engineering or science path .   I attended two Sessions at the Summit.    1.)Scaling the Applied Manufacturing Career Pathways Pyramid   2.) STEM Pathways from Secondary through Post-secondary education.   In  session 2 , David King, the Associate Commissioner for Economic and Workforce development , ran the meeting.   Their Economic committee is similar to Rhode Islands Economic Development Group ,but they added the Workforce initiative as well. A very powerful move.   These were very inspiring sessions .   Ten years ago , Massachusetts created a STEM council lead by the lt. governor that reported directly to the Governor.   This program ignited the Economic Revolution in Massachusetts.   I feel that we need to do the same.   Our Newport County Mentor/Co-Op Group has asked for an audience with the Commissioner of Education to ask her support in the creation of a STEM summit to be held at Salve  Regina, which we are now developing.   Massachusetts in now  in the process of developing and introducing  their STEM Plan 2.0  program.   Rhode Island needs to develop our STEM Plan 1.0 program and add the Arts to the initiative  as well.    Rhode Island needs a STEAM Summit and a STEAM Council  to support its next Economic revolution.