Изобретатель из Филадельфии создает программы для вдохновения чернокожих детей наукой

For Steven Stotts Jr., a Black child growing up in Olney, the television character Steve Urkel was more than a fictional figure. Urkel was one of the few inventors Stotts saw represented on screen. Outside of Michael Jordan, the quirky character from “Family Matters” became one of his heroes, inspiring a fascination with creating, tinkering and solving problems. Today, that inspiration has come full circle. Known professionally as “Stevie The Inventor,” Stotts has transformed a childhood passion for invention into a mission to introduce more Black and brown children to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. Through robotics classes, books, animation projects and educational programming, the 41-year-old entrepreneur is creating opportunities he believes were often unavailable to children in neighborhoods like the one where he grew up. His own journey into STEM began in 1998 when he won a school science fair with his first invention, “The Clean Cut,” a pair of hair clippers designed to vacuum hair as it was cut, reducing cleanup time for barbers. “That was the start. It was born from there,” Stotts said. “I had to get beat up in the world in order to find my true calling, but those experiences were great for me.” The Roxborough High School and Cheyney University graduate said that early success helped him realize he belonged in STEM, a field where representation often felt limited. Instead of accepting those barriers, Stotts said he decided to do something about them. “Instead of complaining, I wanted to be the difference and wbring that into the community,” Stotts said. “We started offering classes on Dec. 24, 2024. Before that, it was mostly me selling products, but the class idea has really taken off.” What began as a plan to distribute Build-A-Bot kits designed to spark children’s imaginations has grown into a multifaceted enterprise that includes animation projects, books, games and educational programming. Stotts’ long-term vision is to create a children’s arcade and play space similar to Chuck E. Cheese, but centered on STEM-based games and learning experiences. He hopes the concept will allow Black and brown children to see themselves represented in science and technology while inspiring them to pursue careers in those fields. Black Americans represent only about 7% of the nation’s technology workforce, according to national workforce data. “It’s hard to really get it when you’re not exposed to certain things,” Stotts said. “Friday nights in the ’90s were my exposure to someone who looked like me. Then you start to uncover that there are plenty more Black inventors, but they weren’t advertised or marketed.” That lack of visibility inspired Stotts to write Stevie The Inventor and the Book That Changed Everything, scheduled for release Sept. 8. Through the book, he hopes to make Stevie a recognizable face of STEM education for Black children across Philadelphia and throughout the country. He is also preparing to release a comic book series. Stotts funds his venture through a combination of personal investment and grants from the Free Library of Philadelphia. “He impacted my children’s lives, to be exact,” said Michael Allen, whose children attend Stotts’ classes. “I have four beautiful children, and they get excited every chance they get to build a bot, get a book or learn about the invention process.” Allen said Stotts has inspired his children to stay engaged and creative, particularly his youngest daughter, who is 5 years old and enjoys building things with her own hands. What sets Stotts apart, Allen said, is his passion for helping young people and his commitment to the community. “His passion for seeing younger generations follow in his footsteps is inspiring,” Allen said. “That motivated me to be more involved in the creative process with my children, because anyone can be a father, but it takes a lot to be a dad.” Stotts offers simple advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: Don’t allow rejection, setbacks or a lack of support to derail your vision. Stay consistent, remain adaptable and don’t be afraid to adjust your plans. When he isn’t teaching, writing or speaking, Stotts enjoys fishing, spending time with family and taking nature walks. Those quiet moments, he said, are often where his best ideas are born. “Philadelphia didn’t just give me a place to build my business; it gave my business its purpose,” Stotts said. “I was born and raised in Philadelphia, and Olney is a major part of who I am. ‘Stevie The Inventor’ is about much more than building robots. It’s about building confidence, creativity, literacy and hope.”