The Kickstarter campaign is live now and will be available through Tuesday, December 31st at 6am Central Standard Time.
Dr. Doresa Jennings with her newest book cover
Nationwide — Dr. Doresa A. Jennings has launched a campaign on Kickstarter and is seeking to raise a minimum of $2,000 for the second book in her Steam Chaser series which follows six Black characters (Shar, Terrence, Ebony, Akiya, Marcus, and Chase) as they learn more about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM). In the books, the characters discover contributions that Black Americans have made to our everyday lives through the STEAM fields.
Dr. Jennings has been an educator for over twenty years, and she has experience working at NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration). As a result, she is uniquely positioned to bring to life the world of STEAM for young people.
The new book, entitled The STEAM Chasers: The Blackness of Space! is part of a middle school book series that delves into themes of social justice along with an exploration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The characters are relatable and bring six distinct Black American voices to the middle school reader.
The purpose of the Kickstarter campaign is to get as many copies of the STEAM Chasers: The Blackness of Space book in the hands of kids in homes, libraries, and schools as possible. The campaign is also aiming to raise funds to produce the book in an audio format to be accessible to students with learning and/or physical differences that require them to have an audiobook accommodation. Rewards offered include digital posters, digital copies of the book, print copies of the book, signed printed copies of the book, and “STEAM Chaser kits” that include logoed duffle bags and other STEAM themed items. Backers can also sponsor books to be given to libraries, classrooms, and schools of their choice.
Here is a link to the campaign:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thesteamchasers/the-steam-chasers-and-the-blackness-of-space
The first book, The STEAM Chasers: We Made That, is already available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble online, Books-A-Million online, and other retail establishments. The book is available in print, ebook, and audio formats.
About The STEAM Chasers
The STEAM Chasers book series will introduce middle school readers to Shar, Terence, Ebony, Akiya, Marcus, and Chase as they go on an adventure learning about the contributions Black Americans have made to our everyday lives through STEAM. The Blackness of Space will introduce readers to twenty Black Americans that have helped to contribute to our knowledge of space science, astronomy, astrophysics, flight, and space exploration. This education is done in a fun and unique way, with the characters having an amazingly magical experience at Space Camp (held at the U. S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL).
Meet the STEAM Chasers:
Shar is one of the bravest kids one will ever meet. Her quick wit and bold commentary help to keep her friends focused on the task at hand. Her love of chemistry is infectious, and she is always ready for an engaging experiment. Terrence is often the voice of reason for Marcus and Chase, yet he still knows how to have a great time. His love of the environment and animals often manifests in him being an all-around kind and gentle soul. He is an expert in model building and mechanical design. Ebony loves all things astronomy, astrophysics, and rockets. She also expertly navigates living in two homes at the same time, something many children face today. Akiya is a walking encyclopedia who is a prolific reader and loves geography and learning about other cultures. Marcus loves all things drone and emerging culture. He is the youngest person to obtain a drone license in his city and is a constant practical joker along with his cousin Chase. Chase is a computer genius who loves programming and app design. He Is also known for a bit of ethical hacking. He and his cousin are known as “The Lightning and Thunder” – a nickname well earned.
The purpose of this series is two-fold. The first is to introduce all middle school readers to the world of S.T.E.A.M. and provide a blue-print that even upper elementary and middle school students can begin to follow to find their place in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math. The second is to introduce all students to contributions to all aspects of S.T.E.A.M. that have been made by Black Americans. While the first book in the series,We Made That explored the world of Black American Inventors and Thinkers, the second book, The Blackness of Space, delves into Space Science, Human Space Flight, Astronomy, and Astrophysics.
PRESS CONTACT:
Dr. Doresa A. Jennings
writerinbox@doresaayanna.com
770-315-9757